How I Discovered Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Life Lessons From a 22-Acre Farm
A good bit ago, we (meaning the hubs) had a dream to move to the country on lots of land. I was convinced we could make it work, and that started the hunt for property in a rural community. The kind of place you can sit on the front porch, breathe in the fresh country air, not have to listen to city traffic and watch the sunset over the farm lands. Perfect scenario, right?
Well almost and here’s what happened.
Catching the Dream
We found the “perfect” space — a 100-year-old farmhouse on 22 acres of land. It needed a bit of TLC, but we wanted to put our touch on it anyway. I imagined all the things I could do with this rustic dream in the making.
So, we put in the offer and made plans to move. The excitement of it was overwhelming — giving up the norm for a new, adventurous dream.
Reality Set in Quick
For the first few weeks it was wonderful, exciting possibilities for the honeymoon phase. Every morning I’d wake up, take a walk around the pond and property and bask in the silence.
But the reality set in — the house was huge, the property was even bigger and there was a lot more to do then TLC stuff. The maintenance was unsettling, from the old outdated appliances to the critters that made a home in the attic. And we won’t talk about the heating bills from the old oil furnace. I was starting to regret this part of my dream life.
And the property. At first, it was great to have all this space. But soon I felt the loneliness of the seclusion. Not to mention the upkeep of mowing the lawn and who knew there was upkeep in the wooded areas.
Where Did We Go Wrong?
Here’s the thing that no one told us about moving from the city — it’s a ton of work. It’s not just about maintaining the space, but not having our circle of family and friends to rely on. Every time I looked at the pond I thought it would be so nice, I saw the scum and overgrowth.
And the house was so big, and so old. Sure, it had character, but there were a lot more spaces to keep clean and heated. I missed my single story, 3 bedroom ranch house. This house felt huge and empty — the memories were all gone.
Downsizing At First Chance
Not quite two years after our big move, we wanted out. The rural dream was draining us — more mentally than physically. The upkeep, the space, the loneliness…it became too much. Luckily for us, there was an interest in the property, and we jumped at the chance to sell.
Let me tell you, to say we were thrilled with the decision to sell is an understatement. Suddenly, I had more time to concentrate on growing my business. More energy to get back to hobbies and fun stuff. I didn’t have to worry about the next project, and more importantly, we now were in a neighborhood community. Sure, I didn’t have the quietness anymore, but I had a space that I felt connected to again.
The Lesson: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Looking back on it now, it was a great idea to give it a go. There’s something about wide-open spaces that many don’t get to enjoy. But for me, bigger isn’t better — it’s more things that can go wrong and cause added stress.
I need small and intimate, Things that allow me to connect with people, places, and things. Much like how I structure my business. Enjoying a handful of clients on projects that bring them purpose and joy. Because I want things that truly improve life — physically and mentally.
Sometimes What We Think We Want
Moving to a rural area wasn’t my ultimate dream, but I thought it’s an adventure, let’s make this work. Occasionally, what we think we want isn’t actually what we need.
There’s no shame in realizing that bigger isn’t always better. We don’t need other people’s dreams or benchmarks. So if you’re tempted to go big because someone told you should — think about the joys staying small will bring by the simpler choices.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it might be time to rethink what you really need to be happy.
How about you…have you ever regretted a decision because it was bigger but not better?