I bought Big Red in October 2011, which is ten years ago. It seemed like 2021 was so far away at that time – I correctly figured ten years would be the best years for Red but then I could limp it along a few more years beyond then with repairs.
I figured out the cost to own Big Red over those ten years when I bought the truck knowing that 2021 would eventually come but as a 28 year old young professional, that seemed so far away. I mean only ten years earlier I was in High School. The truck was so shiny and new.
At this point though I don’t really care that much about owning a nice truck. My truck is still pretty nice, lifted with the camper shelf and everything else like the solar panel and CB radio but it’s nothing I really aspire to at this point. The experiences and memories matter more than the truck.
One thing I’ve noticed as a mid career professional is many people with good jobs and savings often get nice cars and trucks after they reach their first peak in earning potential in their early 30s. Then when that vehicle wears out as they reach their forties, they go for the basic car – the Honda Accord, the Kia or if they have children the Minivan.
Money goes elsewhere. People have babies and they buy houses. In my case, I’m really focused on saving to own my own land. Not a fancy house but acerage.
Moving to my dream state is often a big challenge and a leap into the unknown, one that is fairly far off – I’m committed to New York – saving and investing, working hard in New York while I still have family locally.
But eventually I want to move. I want more freedom to own the guns I want, have fires, burn trash and not have to deal with silliness like plastic bag bans or whatever else the legislature dreams up in the coming years like banning trapping as happened in California. I like my big truck and I want my off grid cabin to be in a place with as much freedom as possible.
But the truth is it’s such a big jump into the unknown. Rural communities are more homogenized than ever before due to centrally produced television stations and social media but moving to a new town with no friends, no job, no place to stay is a big jump into the unknown. Honestly when I do it I will be a lot more financially stable but still its a big leap.
That said, careful planning can help to make the leap smaller. Places like West Virginia and rural Pennsylvania I know fairly well, especially in areas where I regularly camp. They’re a smaller leap. With the internet I can also research local opinions about an area and what folks are saying about it – along with state and local laws enforced or otherwise. I can take a trip out to other states, interview for jobs, and ultimately when I settle there rent for a year before committing to buy land and home as my off-grid property.
When I move I can make it a priority to be socially engaged, join civic organizations and volunteer to make new friends. Join my colleagues out at the bar and when I have my off grid property invite them out there for a bonfire and beers or allow them to hunt the land. Friendship is more important than having that perfect deer in the freezer. I’d probably stay away from politics as I don’t want to alienate potential code enforcement people I need to work with to make my off grid property a reality.
Honestly, I do like the break to something new. Too much of my identity is still tied up with my hometown and my jobs in Albany. While I do good work, when you’ve been around as long as I have there is still a lot of baggage around that’s hard to escape. There are memories and institutions I really would like to put away for good.
The fact is the days have gotten very short, and while the mornings aren’t quite as dark, you have to make the best of the limited daylight. It’s just part of living in the northerly climate.
