Jai ! Congratulations - what a fantastic dream !
My husband & I sold everything we owned (in the city) when we were 40 and bought 27 acres far away in the country. We've never looked back.
We are physically & mentally & spiritually able to maintain it all. We've also learned to be pragmatic.
Any property you buy in the country will require: a good well, a generator, (if over 5 acres) a tractor, 4-wheel drive transportation, (if it is an existing home) a home inspection, a talk with the neighbors to see what the land history really is, a land survey (know what you are buying & official property markers), have a rainy day fund of $10,000, cut good drainage furrows, check easement regs, is the county considering paving the road bordering your property, make sure your house is on high ground, know where the nearest hospital is, post your property, learn how to sanitize your well.
Now that we've lived here for years, I'll tell you some of the ah-ha moments:
The farmer working the next farm doesn't respect wind direction when spraying; our well pump had to be replaced $$$$; our tractor needed a tire $$$$, new roof on 2 barns $$$$$, farmer on other side of us is thinking of subdividing & building homes, taxes keep going up, get your property rated agricultural, be sure you are insured, snowmobilers/4-wheelers do not respect anything, hunters will chase a wounded animal through your back porch during hunting season.
Don't get me wrong - we love it here
