And so we jump. Off a cliff. Into the unknown.
We have made the scary but awfully exciting decision to deregister our IT company and sell off everything we own to take our little family of four on a big adventure - road tripping round Australia for 9 months. Starting after Easter.
Gulp.
I am writing this when I should be packing, (but I am SO SICK of packing) as we move out of our idyllic renovated Queenslander on rural acreage in the Northern Gold Coast in two weeks.
Eeeek.
We are going to stay at my mum's unit for the next few months while she is away, and will use the time to renovate our vintage Millard caravan (well, almost vintage) and plan our itinerary for the trip.
When we decided to do this trip, we were struggling with our business, our government's change in so many policies, our boredom with working to live and our growing desire to change our lifestyle.
We moved from the city to this beautiful acreage nearly two years ago, and have enjoyed growing our own fruit and vegetables, raising chickens and even hand-rearing a baby goat. We have looked after horses, rescued and revived injured wild animals and observed our wondrous environment and our impact on it in a real and in-your-face way. And you know what we found?
We love it.
We love farming. It's hard work, and you can't take off to visit your friends whenever you feel like it, and there is never a day when you don't have to do farm chores, but ...
it is so rewarding to watch the seasons, watch the life cycles, understand the origin of your food and the efforts of the farming community to bring you your sustenance, and to feel true peace each and every day as you marvel at the natural world around us.
I hear you say ... "Wow! Sounds like you have everything!". Truth is though, our little acreage, which is really no more than a lifestyle block, is not quite enough. We want irrigation that works. We want to build a diverse environment that produces more than one crop, that encourages natural diversity and strengthens the world around it. We want fences that actually keep animals safe in their paddocks. We want a community that surrounds us with similar preferences and ideals for organic and sustainable living.
So ... we thought ... let's go! Let's take off ... jump off the cliff ... stretch our wings ... and explore this beautiful country. Now. While we can. Before the Reef is destroyed from mining and dredging. Before the forests are milled and the habitats obliterated. Let's show our kids the magic and wonder that exists beyond the tedium of 9-5 day jobs and schooling behind a desk in front of a screen.
Let's jump.
Maybe, just maybe, along the way we will find the place where we can grow roots, and farm our way.
So, to all those who think we're crazy?
We probably are. But it's going to be a wild ride.
Anyway, I kinda like crazy.
