Daily observations of my simple life.

Living At The Ranch:

I was about to take a shower, the bathroom door was slightly ajar and that is how I met one of my neighbors. She was down to take a shower at the ranch. While she dried her hair we talked. She and her husband had a home in Maine close to the ocean. They had lived there for many years. She was a nurse but was now doing travel tours in the summer and they were living on their property at the ranch in an old 5th wheel. They had solar and rain catchment. They didn't want to sell their home in Maine but loved living on the ranch. They loved the open spaces and uncomplicated life. She said she showered every few days at the campground restrooms and felt that was plenty.

I noticed he had a small air conditioner on the back window of his pickup truck. I had to ask how it worked. He said he had an inverter that he plugged into his cigarette lighter and then plugged the airconditioner in. He said the air conditioner in his pickup broke down and it would have cost close to $1000. to fix so he improvised. He had bought a 20 acre parcel that had a patio and place to park his trailer. He had come to the ranch from Arizona where he had been trying to find some property to live on. He was retired on a small income and did some maintanance for the ranch to add to his income. He enjoyed the beautiful country and simple life.

She worked in the office at the ranch. A couple in their late 30's - 40's , they had decided to try early retirement and hit the road. They have dreams of travel. Michigan is cold in the winter so they headed South. Somehow they heard about the ranch and bought a small piece of land. They work at the ranch part time and travel part time and live in an older class A motorhome.

They are a couple in their late 40's - 50's. He hiked Big Bend National Park when he was younger. Early retirees they found a lovely stone house on 160 acres. The house sits below a mountain version of half dome at Yosemite. A lovely setting with outstanding  views of the sunset. They live there on their retirement close to long hikes while raising grandchildren. They are educated and fun loving and often at the local dances and musicals.

He is an eccentric. He bought 20 acres with a well and a cabin at retirement. He lives below the poverty level so as not to pay taxes and not to support the war. He raises goats for milk and spends his days inventing various dome homes and plasters. His land is dotted with domes in various stages of completion. He was a professional and college graduate.

He was a computer nerd and quite intelligent. He lives in a old bread truck and just recently bought a lovely 20 acres. He helps a friend build rock structures and lives very simply. He is very tight with his savings so as to make them last but always helpful and pleasant. He shops for groceries 2 times a year. He plans on building  his own house.

They are a couple who followed the hippy culture. He creates silver jewelry and she does crafts. They bought land and are building a home. They live in their van and tent.

They are  a retired couple with a grown son who lives with them. They bought a little cottage with a good well. They spend their days remodeling and building onto their home. They have greenhouses and gardens and are creating a real showplace.  They are friendly lovely people.

She is an artist who lived in Santa Fe New Mexico. She is developing a small piece of land and dresses like a gypsy. She attends yoga classes in town and attends alternative building classes. She enjoys swimming at the ranch pool and socializing on the PORCH in the Ghost town where locals meet.

She is an artist who is building an adobe gallery on the most spectacular site. The view is breathtaking. She holds adobe workshops to get help with her building project. Her paintings are wonderful.

This is a small vignet of some of the people I have met on my visit to the ranch. 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 18:19 | link | comments (3)

Comments:

#1  10 February 2007 - 11:19

 

i think you have the Lone Star States version of Northern Exposure going on there. Sounds like a fascinating bunch.

rustymadgal

#2  10 February 2007 - 14:43

 

I envy you and your simple life. I love to people watch to discover what brought certain people to the same place as myself. Very interesting post...!!

Mernie

#3  11 February 2007 - 14:39

 

I think it takes a rugged independent type to live so far away from amenities. When land is cheap these rugged types come and begin to build . I do believe they are probably like Northern Exposure in that way. LOL I love it. It's like finding an original design among a bunch of factory made dresses.

cactusandquail

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