Cooper and I strapped on our cross-country skis and glided across our soon-to-be property, still blanketed in snow. The visit was equal parts scouting mission and neighborly meet-and-greet—except the neighbors had some unexpected news. “You know the pond leaks, right?” one said. Then another… The thing is, the pond was completely frozen over. But as the snow began to melt, so did the leverage begin to appear. By the end of the week, we had a growing list of negotiation ammo—because when two of the biggest assets on the property might become the biggest potential expenses, you don’t just sign and hope for the best. (Or so we’re told…)

We’ve officially said “yes” to our forever homestead—a 44-acre property that aligns with our vision of self-sufficient living. The decision wasn’t without nerves, but trusting our shared values gave us the confidence to move forward. This is the beginning of an exciting journey where we’ll balance the practicalities of debt reduction and investment growth with the deeply personal work of building a life rooted in intention.

The simple life isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s a paradox: you have to shovel a lot of figurative (and sometimes literal) shit to earn the privilege of shoveling the real stuff. My dream is to homestead full-time, which is absolutely work. Retirement to me means not having to work for money. And when I can put an actual number on that (my FI number), it makes the vision feel so much more real. I become stoked to put money in those envelopes…