I want to buy a piece of land and turn it into a beautiful place. I dream of a wonderous, wild farm that blends into natural habitats. A place of rich soil that feeds the soul as well as the body. Land that improves the world, nurturing biodiversity. Earth that cleans the water and air. A place where I can lie in a hammock after a day’s hard labor and read a book while being serenaded by a chorus of frogs in summer, enjoy a walk through a beautiful landscape in November, and still have a lovely view while sitting by the window after a bleak January snow.
I dream of having the resiliency of multiple income streams, of having the freedom to try and fail new things without crushing financial risks. I crave a better body, not the vanity of a chiseled physique, but the comfort of a dependable well-functioning vessel for my soul; to be able to relish in the mild hedonism of tasting earth’s bounty and a well-earned night’s sleep. I want to build strong relationships with others.
That is the dream, but this is my reality. I live on a tiny piece of land in the middle of America’s 3rd largest city and 75th densest incorporated place. To call my backyard a postage stamp would be to insult the postal service. Five days a week, I catch a 5 AM train to spend 10-13 hours in a sterile high rise downtown. I’m terrible about visiting the gym, and the vast majority of my food comes from cafeterias and restaurants.
Every evening, I come home, do some chores, and then veg out for an hour or two before going to bed and starting over again. On weekends, I waste my time watching tv and surfing the web. How did I wind up in this state? How do I move from now to a dream tomorrow?
I know how I got here. Much of the past five years, I’ve focused on mere survival and keeping my career moving forward despite some massive headwinds. A year ago, I received the gift of more energy. Simultaneous improvement in my health and a decrease in after-hours work responsibilities gave me space to breathe and reflect. I still work long, intense days. I still have incredibly finite personal reserves, but I have some, and I want to start leveraging them.
So how do I get from where I am now, to where I want to be?
Phase 1: Foundation
Turn your waiting room into your classroom
Jessica Sowards
First and foremost, I need to prove to myself that this plan is viable and set myself up for success.
To quote Jessica Sowards from Roots and Refuge Farm, “I’m making my waiting room into my classroom”. I’m taking on a large number of projects to figure out how to do things, to learn from my mistakes, and to pursue every avenue for learning. I’m not waiting to get stuck in.
Secondly, I need to tackle the basic realities to make this project possible. Getting my finances in order, my Chicago house in better repair and my body in better trim. Financially, this means paying off my mortgage, building up my nest egg a fair bit.
Practically, I’ll be tackling a fair number of deferred maintenance projects with my house.
Physically, I need to focus on my blood pressure, my weight, my body composition, my stamina, my strength, and my flexibility. (So basically everything). I don’t have great ways of goal setting for strength, endurance, and flexibility right now. Still, I’m starting with starting bodyweight workouts regularly, light cardio, and yoga as my body can handle them.
Phase 2: Transition
Transition is where things get interesting. Details will be clearer when I get here, but in Transition. I buy the farm. During Transition I’ll still be working my current job, but heading out to the farm on weekends. The focus during Transition is setting up the homestead for the long term. Making it a livable place and focusing on establishing the bones of the land. I’ll know more when I know my land, but I think of this as the time to plant trees and sew prairies.
Phase 3: Consolidation
In Phase 3, the focus is on moving my financial life from being centered on my job, to being self-driven.
The goal is to operate from the farm 100% of the time. I’ll be focusing on generating multiple revenue streams from both independent contracting work, new lines of business enabled by the land, and possibly other investments.
Phase 4: Escape
In Phase 4, I’m financially independent and focusing on living and not earning.