Five on Friday - Five Dreams

growing

foraging

 harvesting

making

old crafts

preserving

making gifts

self sufficiency

Boris, one of my sons dogs

crafting

time with family

baking bread

recycling

Sorry I have been so absent but as you will see I have a lot going on at the moment.  This is a very brief summary of all the things that are whizzing around my head. They are all dependent on each other, they have to all fall into place for it to work.  It is a work in progress that will take years to achieve, I hope you will be there with me on my journey, offer advice and tell me when I'm being totally unrealistic



1.  Move back to the countryside


I love this house, it upsets me to think of leaving it but I dream of moving out of the city.  I have a vision of waking in the morning, throwing on some old clothes and taking my future dog for a walk around our fields.  There will be no car horns, no squeal of breaks, no helicopters heading to the hospital, no ambulance sirens.  I will not have to queue to get out of the city and back after work. My health will improve by taking lovely walks in the country, not breathing in car fumes, or dodging traffic using our local lanes as rat runs into the city.

To make this happen I have to maximise the money we will get from the sale of this house, so lots of decluttering, cleaning, painting and gardening.  It will be very difficult for me to change my ways and keep the house tidy.  There are always projects I am working on, books I am reading and more interesting things to do than tidy.  My days are spent scouring the internet for properties, keeping an eye on the market and looking for alternative ways to sell our house when the time comes.





2. Retire at 60

I will not get my government pension until I am 67.  I would rather live on bread and water than work until then.  Don't get me wrong, I like my job but I will not be shackled to work until I'm 67.  I want to live my life now.  My parents had all sorts of plans for when they retired, my mum sadly didn't make it to retirement.  After my health scare I am even more determined to 'seize the day'.  I will get a small NHS pension at 60 (5 years time) and have plans to supplement this income.  This is dependent on Dream 1, moving out into the countryside.  I hope to set up a holiday business (well it is Cornwall) using the land for either a camp site, barn conversion to rent out or shepherds huts.  I will have the time to run it and be able to spend more time at home.




3.  Have more time 

Dependant on the above two dreams.  I would like to have more time to improve my health, walk more, eat more healthy home grown, foraged,  home cooked food, lead a less rushed life.  Have more time to spend with the family, especially as the grandchildren get older.  Enjoy my craftwork and learn new things, read more and just enjoy life as much as possible.  Also work on my 60 by 60 list, I may have to change it to 65 by 65 though! 

 I am changing my much loved mini for something that will fit 3 grandchildren, future dog and cope with country lanes.  Less city car, more truck! I will be able to take the grandchildren out and about when they come to stay with us.  At the moment I am scouring the internet and garages for something that will tick the boxes.  Negotiating with some very pushy and patronising car salesmen and trying not to be too rude to them when they annoy me too much. 



4.  Get a dog

Moving out into the country, having more time when I retire and spending more time at home will mean I will be able to have a dog again.  I miss having a dog, they are always so happy to see you and such wonderful company.  It will help with my goal of getting healthier as I will have to take walks everyday. 

 So lots of research to find the right dog for our family.  I would like to re-home a dog but with three grandchildren 4 years and younger I have to be 100% happy with it's temperament.  It will have enough energy to keep up with them as they get older and be well trained.  Our last dog had a wonderful temperament but was not very bright when it came to training.




5. Be more self sufficient.

By being more self sufficient, growing more of our food, having more time to cook from scratch, not needing good clothes for work, have time to make more Xmas/ birthdays presents, I will not have to rely on going out to work.  I will be turning into Barbara from The Good Life, knitting a suit for the bearded one :)  

Moving out into the countryside, retiring, having more time at home will help with this dream.  In the mean time I'm learning as much as I can about growing veg, preserving food, foraging, repairing and recycling.






I know many of you have similar dreams, or have achieved your dreams.  I would love to hear about them and any words of wisdom you have.  Perhaps your dreams are to move into a town/city, downsize and take it easier?  Tell me your dreams.

Chickpea xx

Joining in with Amy at Love made my home