Where Would You Homestead?

November 16, 2009 :: Posted by - Summer :: Green Living :: Comments Off

photo credit: Birgitta Seegers

When I think about the future there are always three images in my mind.

The first is moving out west, to Washington or Oregon, and buying a nice piece of land out there. I know several families who live out there and I can see myself getting along well with the general eco-friendly politics of the area. Except for the winters we could be quite happy out there.

The next is moving up to Canada. Most homesteading websites have ads for plots of land that are incredibly cheap. We could buy a few acres for less than the cost of buying a new car. And many of the Canadian politics I’m in favor of. But then that winter thing comes up again.

The last scenario, and most expensive, is taking off to Costa Rica. Warm tropical beaches, lush rainforest, and a generally atmosphere and relaxation. After a few people I know online moved down there with their kids I became overwhelmed with the idea of visiting at least. Hopefully making a more permanent move someday. That is, if it weren’t so darn expensive to move there.

I spent all day Saturday reading Costa Rica Birth and Residency. Apparently one of the ways to lower the cost of moving is to have a child in Costa Rica. Your child is automatically a citizen, and immediate family members can become citizens more easily.

I want my own little home somewhere. Somewhere where I have enough room for a real garden, for a few chickens, maybe even a cow. I want room for my kids to run and climb and play in real trees. Not the fake plastic trees bolted together at the park. I want nature to be a real part of our family. And in Costa Rica, that could happen. But it would mean moving thousands of miles away from family and friends and the things we are most familiar with.

So many choices with the future, each with their own positives and negatives. I have an image in my mind of our future home, but it’s location is still unsure.