How you envision retirement?

[Henderson]

I've done the same song and dance for the past five years. I start the spring by announcing that this is going to be my last crop, my last batch of chicks, my last full season as a farmer because I'm going to retire. But I'm never really ready to let it go. Winter thaws and it's time to plant my last crop - again. I'm not a spry young man anymore, but I suspect the call of spring will get to me again next year. How do you envision retirement? Do you think you'll ever get there?

 

[RichZ]

Farming was never my main income, but it was something that I loved. I had to retire from farming because of degenerative disc disease. I've had three back surgeries, and I finally couldn't maintain 103 acres, producing my own hay and running a dairy goat farm, and also raising sheep for wool and an egg business. We also had 15 horses, 6 llamas and 6 alpacas. My wife also developed fibromyalgia, so she was limited in how much she could do. Last year we sold our farm and bought a small (9 acres) rural property. Our property is now mostly wooded, but we have a large garden and still have a pet goat and sheep (as well as 4 dogs and 2 cats). We have a series of trails thru our property that my wife likes to maintain, including her "river walk", a trail along our creek, that she built herself. Believe it or not, every one of our animals was a pet, and finding them new homes was the hardest thing we ever did. I miss farming, but I especially miss all of my animals.

 

[TammiT]

I love that Rich! All of your animals were pets! I do envision retiring at some point - way too young right now. I am hoping that one of the children will keep running our family farm. I want to travel the US in a RV.