Intro - Before We Move

Less than 2 weeks until we move to Cornwall! All those happy hols ended by grumpy trips back up the M5 are now finally evolving into us actually living down there, by the sea, by the cliffs, and on the land...

We've handed in notice to our jobs and tiny flat; we've been accepted by the community as first-stage associate members, and are getting minutes of board/management meetings; we've been told we can have the wooden cabin we love; Marie's got a job fairly near by and I'm in the middle of applying for one; we've got a great mentor there; I've been given loads of demijohns through freecycle for winemaking; I've contacted the local gig boat club; we've hired a van for the move... It's happening!

I'd been anxious about telling managers and colleagues at work - some sense of guilt at jumping ship at a time of both developments and closure next year of the homeless hostel I manage; and also not wanting to sound too smug and gloating at my life change! What's been brilliant though is everyone's enthusiastic support - that you've got to follow your dreams, have the balls to go for things so you don't end up with regret on your deathbed, etc. And it's been fantastic learning new sides to people - one colleague has a 10 acre farm back in Somalia that he really misses; another Greek colleague grew up with pet goats who were best friends, even after they broke into her bedroom and ate her duvet; and my dear regional boss also kind of likes getting maggots out of flystruck sheep! I know I've worked hard in the sector and given a lot of myself (and hope to continue to in some way) and that it's the right time for us to make this move, but it's still lovely to feel a sense of blessing from everyone!

Communicating this leap to my parents also made me a bit apprehensive. I'm 34 and obviously old and wrinkled enough to do my own things; but still, it was important to me that they understood and were positive about it. We've already lived fairly unconventionally - since leaving university 12 years ago, I've lived in China for several years, Canada for a bit, and as a residential volunteer in a Scottish community for young homeless people (also on a smallholding) where I met Marie. We then lived as 'wwoofers' at some really inspiring smallholdings in Wales and England, on several organic farms that Marie's worked at, in a cabin in a wood, on a lovely but sometimes truly frozen narrowboat, and all sorts of stepping-stone rented places in between.. Having sold the boat, and with the privilege of some more inheritance money, my loving parents were finally thinking we might settle down and get on the property ladder (my mum's an estate agent who's given endless sound advice!) Yet we're moving to a community of lots of different characters, where (after a trial period) we'll hopefully invest and share in a mortgage as company directors, giving up jobs during a recession and moving to a pretty isolated spot where they're unlikely to be abundant as the wildlife. Yet all of our parents have been really positive once they've got their heads round it! 

It's not just the beautiful location and the big waves down the hill. It's the opportunity for Marie to use all her experience, insight and loving care to have some of her own animals (we hope to buy goats and make cheese and soap), and help look after the shared pigs, sheep and hens - as her own boss, or co-op comrade! And for me to spend more time on the land, milking, hedgelaying, building things, growing veg, etc - all the things that I've loved having tastes of, but never had sufficient time, stability, or energy really to get into. I really like how Trelay Farm is now, but am also very excited about the potential of the place to become more productive and approaching something like reasonable self-sufficiency in food, energy, water, and income sources; as well as being a place of holiday, retreat, therapy, learning, inspiration for others. The community has made great strides in its 5 years so far renovating and expanding the hamlet, get polytunnel, veg plots and businesses going, evolving legal and work structures etc; and now there's further vision, energy and detailed plans to grow these considerable shoots :) It's not only a viable way for us to be closer to the earth without being millionaire peasants; we're also really drawn to living more healthily, resiliently and mindfully (defined by the community as economic and social, as well as environmental, sustainability) - for the benefit of individuals there, but also as one of many tiny models for a better future. Lots of things we've been trying to do and yabbering about for years, all happily coming together. And by the big blue/black sea.. 

High minded and happy stuff..but there will be challenges of personality clashes, money, long dark winters and much much more. Having spent two really informative interest weekends down there though, I'm really confident they will be challenges well worth struggling through, and it will be more than worth it for me/us/the wider us..

Well, that's more than enough. Got a wee bit carried away.. If anyone's made it this far, thank you; I hope that was a vaguely coherent introduction; and I hereby solemnly promise never to write as much in a post again! I'll be wanting to be out and about apart from any considerations about you.. To follow will be random little snippets and photos of what I get up to at Trelay which I really hope will be of interest to family, friends, as well as anyone considering coming to stay or live there..