A big adventure ahead

Life has been very topsy-turvy these past few months, so topsy-turvy I have found it very difficult to write….anything. While life has not calmed down, I think the road ahead is clear enough now to begin again to write and share the adventure with you.

Chris and I did indeed end up purchasing the lovely property I wrote about in a prior post.  There were many stops and starts, disappointments and complications with the drilling of a well, but ultimately adequate water was found. The sellers came back to us asking if we were still interested, and the purchase was made.   Since mid-February we have been the owners of a beautiful 9.2 acre, partially wooded piece of land in a charming area on Whidbey.  Standing at the corner of our new property, looking at a nearby pond and the rolling fields of our neighbors, I feel I have stepped back in time.

Sometime this year we hope to break ground on a new home, but let me tell you, this journey is not for the faint of heart! We have looked at each other more than once and asked “Are we doing the right thing?”  We’re walking on faith here.  Our current home was built 21 years ago and it was a cakewalk compared to this endeavor!  Back then we built on 2/3 of an acre requiring only a little clearing, with power and water hook-ups conveniently located right where our driveway would be.  We were young and naive, and in retrospect I think we were so lucky!  This time we are developing a totally raw piece of acreage. It is a different can of worms and a really slooooooow slog!

We are making some progress, however.  House plans are nearly complete and the septic system has been designed. The site plan showing where the house, workshop, septic, well, driveway, etc.,  is just about ready. We have selected a builder to work with, rather than manage it ourselves, AND thank goodness, we finally have a logger lined up and our logging and clearing permits ready to submit next week.  Yay!  We are just comfortable enough with how things are going, to actually put our house on the market.  I still find the realtor’s sign out front quite startling, but this home must be sold in order for us to build the next.

There is much to be done, and so many choices to be made  We really are just a short way into this adventure.  Follow along if you like, I’d love to have the company!