The Canadian Dream

Have you ever heard someone say 'when we retire we'll live on a hobby farm outside the city, and renovate an old farmhouse... we'll have a horse, goat, a couple of chickens and an apple tree'.

It may not be for everyone but I know my parents talked about it a lot, they have their health and the means so I'm not sure what deterred them.

Anyway, kudos to a pair of friends I have who have done exactly that - and in their working years, while they raise children. A very secluded, traditional small farm where land is worked by a neighbour and they have accumulated 2 horses, a pony, a goat (Millie, she wanders the property and never leaves) rabbits, cats and a "used" dog named Dallas. A stray house kitten just joined the mix - she's orange and her name is Daisy.

It's always a breath of fresh air to visit there, not that there's no action, just that the pace of life is different somehow - everything slows down to something that is managable and more meaningful. There are still all the modern conviences of phone, TV, internet, but there is always something else to do. Caring for a host of animals would seem to me like having a family of 10 kids but it's such a part of the routine that it doesn't seem overwhelming.

It's nice to have friends in such different surroundings - it really broadens your appreciation of life.