But recently I’ve started rethinking the dream, and at this point in my life I think it would be better to find a place with more temperate weather throughout the year. I don’t need to be shoveling snow in the winter or worrying about ice storms taking out the power lines, and let’s face it winter is the season that can make or break a location. I still want a small farm, because when I’m totally honest with myself I find that I just can’t acclimate to the weather changes like I used to and the cold bothers me more and more each year. Work around the farm is hard enough without being physically miserable due to the weather.
There are a couple of pluses when one starts of looking more towards a more temperate zone: that the growing season will be much longer, utility expenses tend to be lower and there are not the wild spikes seen in other temperature zones, clothing costs are less because you don’t need as many wardrobes, and if you live in locale where alternate human-powered transportation is a goal, then a warmer climate affords you many more options.
The Central Valley where we live now isn’t too bad, it does get down to freezing at times during the winter and we generally have a couple weeks of 110+ weather during the summer but, even here the weather is changing and the spring seems to come later each year. Plus the people and culture of the area have changed greatly over the last two decades and quite frankly it’s not for the best and I would prefer not to live out my life in an area that at times seems to be inhabited by arrogance, gross stupidity, and profound laziness and sense of entitlement.
I know such a place may not exist or be out of my reach financially, but I think the weather issue is an important one to consider when one is making plans and goals for the future, especially when one is in their mid-40’s. All I know is I’d like to spend the rest of my life on working my little farm wearing my Birkenstocks.
