How Did I Find Myself Considering Life as a Budding Farmer?

Let’s rewind a few years. A few recent milestones have caused me to pause and take a hard look at where I am in life and where I’m headed. As I crossed the 50-year mark and celebrated 30 years with my company, something clicked. The realization hit me: the clock is ticking, and the inevitable “when are you going to retire?” The question is no longer just a distant thought.

For years, JT and I had been saying we had a “five-year plan.” But I wasn’t ready to commit. I love what I do for work. It’s a great company, and quite frankly, I couldn’t imagine what life would look like outside of it. The idea of leaving the corporate world just didn’t make sense… but JT was adamant we have a plan. He wanted us to live life on our terms while we still had the time and energy to enjoy it.

And then, as if by fate, we found it.

A beautiful 30-acre piece of property with a breathtaking mountain view. We couldn’t pass it up, but we had no idea what we’d do with it.

We spent a lot of time brainstorming possibilities. But nothing felt like the right fit… until one day, we stumbled across an idea that seemed to spark something in both of us: a small mini farm.

Suddenly, it all clicked. We saw the potential, and that vision sparked a new excitement in me. It wasn’t just about the land—it was about finding a new purpose.

And here’s the thing: when you find your purpose, the plan tends to follow. It may seem far-fetched at first, but when you discover that spark, everything else falls into place.

So, here I am—a budding farmer, ready to embrace a new chapter in life, one chestnut at a time.