Leaving suburbia for city horse-keeping
And with this news, I reboot my blog, at last!
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The natural progression when you are constantly wanting more room for your animals is this:
Home on small city lot –> Home on bigger suburban lot –> Country property out in the sticks
I think I just did this wrong. I am going from a small house on a small lot within city limits (1989) to a small house on a much bigger lot in the unincorporated county (2003) to … a bigger house on acreage with pastures and a barn in the city limits of the city across the river (2012).
Not more than a couple hours ago I got word that my offer has been accepted for a three-bedroom 1957 fixer on a tad over an acre, in an area that’s actually closer to the Capitol dome of the State of California than I have ever lived in my entire life here in Sacramento County. But now, I’ll be in Yolo County, and not only that, I’ll be in City of West Sacramento. City limits, with agricultural zoning.
Rancho Buena Fe´is no longer imaginary. I have home for everyone — the dogs, the cat, the chickens, the ducks and, coming over from the boarding stable, the two horses. A barn. A pasture. Room for the garden of my dreams. Within an easy commute to downtown, by bike should I be so ambitious. Wow.
In the weeks and months to come, I’ll be writing about the rehab of the property, which is a fixer, but not a bad one. The horse and the rest of us will move onto the property about April 1, after it’s made safe for all of us with fencing and some critical upgrades, such as electricity.
It’s finally happening.
Hope you can find some reliable electricity. (If not, there are always extension cords.)
Gina, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am for you! No one deserves it more!
Looking forward to visiting first chance I get.
Congratulations! This is such exciting news….I was worried we were going to lose you to Oregon! I’m voting for goats….you just gotta have goats! Mine just sticks close to the horse….or follows me around. She has so much freedom she doesn’t think of doing anything naughty! Like stand on the car! I want to be on your “work crew!”
Sounds like there’s room for a party for the inlaws!
Absolutely.
So happy for you Gina! Sounds like heaven!!!!! I know this has been along time coming together with a few false starts along the way. Wish we were nearby so we could come over to help celebrate tonight!
So happy for you! I spent many years in W. Sacramento, as that was where Tower’s corporate offices were located. Sounds like you’re just down the road a bit from Emma’s Taco House (one of my faves). Looking forward to reading about the rehab and relocation of the crew.
With any luck, our houses will be just a kayak away. Maybe you could harness up Bernadette and let her tow you…
Wowie Zowie – a dream come true. LBD wants to know if you have plans for a pond!
Not immediately, but the Sacramento River is very close by.
SQUEEEEEEEEEE…!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, it’s finally becoming a reality. Although the square footage is the most obvious thing that’s growing, it’s the growth of your dream, your experience, your vision that is probably the most rewarding. I think I see some room for agility equipment back there and maybe some goats too!
Christopher … agility equipment, definitely. I’m going to think long and hard before adding any additional animals, though. I’m inclined to stick with what I’ve got and keep all the care manageable. Goats are very tempting, but they’re also kind of a pain because they are so clever!
I figured Dr. Khuly would have you sold on goats, but then again you have horses so the [x] hooved animals box is checked. Plus, there’s only so much poop one person can take care of on their own, right?
After seeing some cheese making in Italy I always thought it’d be fun to be an artisan cheese maker with some goats, though.