As you know for many years I craved being in the country, out of town. I didn't want to have neighbors. I no longer wanted to live in a crowded subdivision with people in front of us, in back of us, and on the side of us. I no longer wanted anyone watching to make sure we followed 'the rules' of cleaning up after our dogs and noticing how many we had. For ten years this was how we lived and it was okay. But I longed for solitude and privacy. We got that when we moved to where we are now. The house we live in was not what I dreamed of, but the property is. For three years we've enjoyed the privacy, peace and quiet of the country. We've enjoyed walking the dogs on the 30 acres of open fields that surround our property. But in the last couple of weeks, we've noticed some changes. It all started the morning I had the encounter with the bow-hunters. Later that morning a truck that I didn't recognize pulled into our driveway. It was Fred, who owns the land around us. I guess it was an omen because of course I wondered what his appearance after 3 years meant. Added to that last week I noticed fluorescent tapes on the trees marking property lines. I'll keep this part of the story brief and just say that my fears were confirmed, Fred is selling the property that surrounds us.
If you stand on the road facing our house to the right of our driveway is 20 acres of Fred's land. Directly in back of our property at the top of our driveway is a second parcel of 10 acres that he owns which is partially cleared. Our house is situated in the back of our property, very close to the 10 acre property line which is wooded. Of course my worry is that someone will buy the 10 acres and clear all the trees. I asked our realtor (who is also a long-time friend) inquire about the property and they're asking a whopping $225,000 for the 10 acres. (Actually, it's a reasonable price for property in this area). Needless to say, we can't afford that. But yesterday I had our realtor, MaryEllen inquire if they would be willing to sell us 2-3 acres of those woods, (pictured below) creating a buffer between us and any new neighbors. It would be wonderful to have this part of the property so that for me and of course the dogs, our paradise would not be lost.
If you stand on the road facing our house to the right of our driveway is 20 acres of Fred's land. Directly in back of our property at the top of our driveway is a second parcel of 10 acres that he owns which is partially cleared. Our house is situated in the back of our property, very close to the 10 acre property line which is wooded. Of course my worry is that someone will buy the 10 acres and clear all the trees. I asked our realtor (who is also a long-time friend) inquire about the property and they're asking a whopping $225,000 for the 10 acres. (Actually, it's a reasonable price for property in this area). Needless to say, we can't afford that. But yesterday I had our realtor, MaryEllen inquire if they would be willing to sell us 2-3 acres of those woods, (pictured below) creating a buffer between us and any new neighbors. It would be wonderful to have this part of the property so that for me and of course the dogs, our paradise would not be lost. 
I am crossing my fingers that they will let you buy a few acres and that it won't be too much money! It is so sad when beautiful trees are cut down.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Kim!
xo Catherine
Oh Kim,
ReplyDeleteAlways awful when the dream seems to come crashing down. I think you were extremely smart and quick to contact your realtor though in order to protect and ensure your paradise! We are crossing our fingers for you! (We're learning from you - we need to sell our (subdivision) house by next August, no matter how and would love to find something small and amazing like you have found!)
Hugs xoxoxo
Sammie's and Avalon's Mom
Oh, I know just how you feel! Cannot stand the people and the noise!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the land purchase. I do hope it all goes smoothly.
Oh, that is everyone's biggest fear - that your perfect Eden suddenly gets surrounded by a development (or even just one bad neighbor). I hope they will consider selling you a buffer parcel, although I know that's probably a long shot (to break up a 10 acre parcel - unless they're selling it as acre lots - would be hard to do). Wish you could win the lottery so you could buy up all 30 acres from him, but that's an even longer shot...
ReplyDeleteI hope it all works in your favor. Keep us posted! And I'll keep my fingers crossed...
I can relate to your fears. We have 80 acres of land, but of course, they had to build the house on a corner that faces fields that on one side belongs to the donkey rescue (fine so far, just some steer graze there) and some huge fields that belong to someone else. Have no idea who. So far so good, but I can relate and I hope Fred will sell you a part of that land.--Inger
ReplyDeleteOh Kim I am praying for you that you get the property! I know how much this must mean to you as I have long dreamed of having a place where I could have a large enough space to adopt older dogs no one else wants. I have a good feeling that it will work out for you, the Lord watches over his "special" angels and you are definitely one of those to your Goldens! Please keep us updated!
ReplyDeleteTina xo
Oh, I so hope the answer is yes. We face a similar situation. Behind us is an historic area that can't be developed unless, of course, our government decides to repeal that, too. Next to us and quite close to our side yard is a farm field. The farmer doesn't use it, just cuts the overgrowth a couple times a year. We asked him if we could buy an acre or two as a buffer and he said he was saving it for his kids. We interpret that to mean that eventually his kids will sell it for development. We hope we can get it then, or maybe move East again before that time. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteCrossing fingers, would be addition cost of a survey and price per acre would go up, but it would be the answer.
ReplyDeleteXXX
I certainly hope that they accept your offer. My mom, who has multiple dogs as well, also dreams of moving to the country. I'm also hoping that no developer buys that land as that would be horrible for both you and then environment!
ReplyDeleteHow is the property for sale zoned? I'm assuming this is under county authority. If you don't get to buy the buffer acreage, start pouring through the timber and farming regulations to see if there is a way to prevent clear cutting or a mink farm! We did this in Idaho when we were in the boondocks. It paid off. Conservation groups have a few tricks up their sleeves too.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim
ReplyDeleteThe property looks so beautiful & peaceful. We hope you can buy some of the grounds & keep your paradise. I can imagine your concern as these events transpire.
Woofs
Nadine & Neeli
Angel doggie Apples (1994-2010)
Good luck on buying a little more of a buffer. Parking a couple of junk cars out along the road may help bring the price down. Or maybe a sign out along the road with an arrow pointing your way with the words "Leprosy Hospital, This Way".
ReplyDeleteMogley G. Retriever
Sad news, it's so beautiful where you live and the surrounding area. I do hope you are able to buy the stunning area of woods you pictured.
ReplyDeletexxx
I hope Fred id willing to sell that bit to you, it would be nice to have that bit of woodland between you and the inevitable. Keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteI do hope that they will be willing to sell you the land so you can protect your little corner of 'heaven'. :o)
ReplyDeleteSolitude is good for the soul... Hope it works out that you get the buffer you and your buddies need. Tucker.
ReplyDeleteWe lost our paradise years ago - so I know what you are going through. Good luck purchasing those extra acres.
ReplyDeleteSam
Oh I can see how worried you are - we back onto farmers' fields & with the current economic troubles plus housing needs live in fear of building.
ReplyDeleteThat's a rough one. I really hope your wonderful idea of purchasing a buffer zone comes to fruition.
ReplyDeleteNothing ever stays the same, does it? Sometimes that's a great thing, and sometimes it just plain sucks. What it does, though, is remind us to really treasure the times when things are feeling right and happy, and to not despair when they feel bleak - the wheel will circle around again and soon we'll be enjoying the spectacular view again!
in the uk that kind of money would be cheap!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope so much that Fred sells you the land. In my first marriage I lived in an area much like this for almost twenty years. After leaving life in the country, now I can only dream about the beauty and feel of serenity that I felt back then. I don't care for city life or even suburb life at all, but I try to make the best of it. I've always wanted to find a place out-away-from-it-all again but I think we're stuck till we kick the bucket or till Jesus comes.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, I'm with you about country life, even though we are in the midst of suburbia(hubby's desire)so girl you can count on me to be upholding this need before the Creator of the land and the woods.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Noreen
Sorry to see that -
ReplyDeleteSadly, 'we' aren't going to be happy until every acre of land has something built on it -
:-(
Bugger. I hope you get your land, it would be awful if they built on it right up to your place. xxx
ReplyDeleteOh, those acres look so beautiful. We are hoping this all works out for the very for you. We know it's tough when changes happen.
ReplyDeleteDexie and the Peeps
Oh, I do hope you can purchase the buffer! The land is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou are SO in my prayers! When my children were younger and all living at home, my late husband and I bought a simple, but lovely, ranch home, on top of a hill, surrounded by woods, beyond the end of a dead end road! It was absolutely heavenly! So beautiful and private. My son used to say it was like we owned a park (only much bigger. Until the day that the guy who owned the land down at the bottom of the hill decided to build a body shop (he was a mechanic) on his property. He didn't live down there but he built a big pole building and put up a huge security light that shone in our living room window all winter long (when the leaves were off the trees). I hated it! It was like our paradise had been defiled.
ReplyDeleteFor all the good that you have done ~ for the love and joy that you have given to the beautiful animals you care for ~ you deserve to have your paradise. So do your dogs!
Fingers crossed that he sells you the property. It would be awful to lose the wonderful world you now have to explore with the dogs.
ReplyDeleteI am so hopeful that this works out for you! Your story is SO similar to ours, including being more sold on the property than the house. :) Though my two-leggers unfortunately bought the land behind us at the peak. But they don't care too much - no one can build back there!! Fingers crossed for you!
ReplyDeleteWags,
Zona
Omigosh - don't get Mom started on this! We TOTALLY understand what you're feeling! Mom & Dad bought 5 acres for all of us to play on in an area that sold only 5-acres lots. Behind us are cows, yay! One side has a house far away from us. No one was next to us on the other side for the last 5 years - just woods - yay! Then the owner sold it a couple months ago and NOW the new owners came in and cleared so many trees to build a house. We've totally lost the privacy we bought it for and feel claustrophic! You have our empathy!
ReplyDeleteThe Road Dogs (and Mom)
We tried to leave a comment yesterday but blogger was being cranky.
ReplyDeleteWe feel for you, and all the anxietys you are feeling over this.
We hope something can be worked out, a buffer would be ideal.
Its sad to see changes like this disrupts the peace and harmony that has been around for so many years.
We hope you can buy a few acres.
love
tweedles
I hope you are able to get that 3 acres of wood.......
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
I know exactly how you feel. We moved to our rural area to have peace and solitude. I think that your idea of 2-3 acres of buffer is great. I hope that Fred entertains it.
ReplyDeleteThere's one property that we've always said that we would move mountains to buy if it went on the market, just to keep our privacy so I really do understand.
If it's any consolation, around here, people often buy land with big plans to build and never do. So, many lots have changed hands many times without houses being built. I hope that happens for you.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this post my heart really was going out to you, Carl and the dogs. I know the beauty of having lots of trees as a buffer around your house. It gives you shelter, privacy and a sense of always being in the outdoors. I hope Fred will sell you this land at a reasonable price. New Subdivision no matter how small always want to cut down trees, why I have no idea. They say they want to live in the country and the first thing they do is chop down 50plus year old trees. We have seen it happen so many times. We have a side lot that we own part way into but would love to buy it all because like you one day someone will cut it all down for the lumber. You can't build on it but the wood is worth it's weight in gold. They should be made to replant after they rape the land.
I so hope Fred can see the forest through the trees(or money dollars) and does the right thing by selling you guys a few acres.
AND......I'm waiting with bated breath!
ReplyDeleteOh my. Just back tracking here on posts. Properties are tough. Will read forward now.
ReplyDeleteHugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose