EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

While shamelessly check off an increasing number of decades, I’ve had the privilege of residing in several locations. Populated and not so populated. Lovely and not quite so lovely. Urban and rural.

In previous blogs, I’ve mentioned growing up on a small dairy in South Carolina. I moved to various towns to teach school, work as an engineer, further schooling, etc. My career overseas was also a mixed bag — settings in refugee camps, rural project sites, urban offices, etc. so I am not considering this. After marriage, we rented and later bought in the city of Victoria, BC Canada, where I lived for 15 years.  Also I have a home in North Carolina in a wooded location, but I’ve not really lived there. It’s waiting patiently for my retirement.

Both urban and rural locals present challenges, and I will only generalize here. The urban setting offers conveniences. Near to almost everything for self and family.  It’s a vibrant, exciting lifestyle, if one choices to embrace it. But it also can be expensive, depending on the cost of housing, living, entertainment, etc.  On the other hand, the rural setting has costs, especially for logistics. There’s a price for travel to get almost anywhere, especially here, when Canadian gas prices rival those in Europe. Whether to school, work, a meeting, a social or sporting event, etc.  Other costs also can be high, unless one choices carefully.

About a year ago, I left the urban setting of Victoria, and moved about 10 miles out of town. This may not be far, but enough distance to say that I now legitimately live on a farm.  But with this comes noted costs. My travel into town involves traffic. Sometimes ridiculous traffic volume, and that high price of fuel. Therefore I have to take measured trips, and accomplish multiple tasks during each visit.  This is very different from the convenience of riding a bicycle, which was my primary transport means while living in Victoria. For two years, I didn’t even own a car.

Is the farm life worth this cost? Absolutely! Primarily on the ‘QOL’ scale – Quality of Life.  What price can be put to live on a quiet road, with verdant orchards, rustic rows of grapes and berries, and a peaceful garden? Overall a lovely setting. Of course, this is my opinion. And for others, this may not be their cup of tea. I respect that. But for me, it is.

Not to say that there is not work involved. I am up early with weeding rows and picking berries, especially those back-breaking strawberries that grow so low to the ground. Or reaching up on ladders for the apples, plums, peaches, cherries, and pears. The days are full and tiring – but it is a good kind of tiring.

Most evenings during these weeks, I am still gathering beans, potatoes, spinach, onions, kale, berries, and apples. This is my dinner – or a large portion of it. It’s nutritious, delicious, and satisfying. And cheaper that the grocery.

But the value is much more than monetary. The rural life seems to offer more choices. Choices that I can accept – or reject. I have the choice to plant, to grow, to harvest. To witness the value of work. Of accomplishment.   What price can be placed on this? The farm is my home. My idea of quality of life.