I never thought this could happen, me being stuck in paradise, in my log home in the woods. I never thought of the frustration, not able to pack up and move on, and that my log home living would become a pain.
The Canadian Dream
I live at the edge of the wilderness, in an old rustic log home in Southern British Columbia. My log cabin is located in the middle of nature, surrounded by forests and mountains.
Looking out the window on a December day, I see a few patches of blue clear sky and a few snowflakes are glittering in the sun. The horses are digging through the snow for some green forage. There are no neighbours nearby, a place like heaven should be. This is log home living at its best!
My log home is the nearly perfect Canadian dream for living on the edge. I have been living the Canadian dream for over 17 years. Sadly, being stuck in this idyllic lifestyle can easily become a pain. You decide to move on and you can’t sell the property.
I believe in the secret and the law of attraction. What I think and feel and want will become. It has always worked for me, but now I feel trapped. Early in the year, I was pretty sure that I would sell my ranch. Now it’s December and I haven’t sold. Another winter here in isolation, that’s NOT what I wanted.
My backpack is in a corner of my bedroom, ready to be packed up and be used before more dust gets on it. According to the secret: “Believe that you already have, or that something you desperately want has already happened”.
So I did this. I bought my backpack two years ago, to be ready for the change. Travelling was just around the corner. But my property didn’t sell and I’m still here.
My guest ranch business is closed down. The herd of horses is reduced down to Ruby, the 28-year-old mare and Belle, the little mare I have had for over 16 years.
Log home living in despair
How could I be so positive when my fate depends on the Canadian Real Estate market? The Canadian housing market for rural property is tough. Small places turn over faster, but sadly, for larger, unique properties like mine, it is hard to find a buyer.
I believe that I live in the most amazing place in Canada. But now it’s time to move on and hit the road, and blog about my new travel adventures.
Just me and a reliable 4WD vehicle, a laptop and maybe my dog Trooper!
To be free of clutter and all unnecessary things is my plan; I want to down-size to the minimum. What a great feeling this will be again, no mortgage to pay, no property tax bill, no worries about the upkeep of the ranch.
This will be Real Freedom!
But then again, who wants to drive the Dempster highway up in the Yukon Territory in winter. I might as well enjoy the coziness of log home living for another winter and explore my odds when the snow melts.
Have you ever felt being stuck in a place? Please leave a comment!
Yrene lives in the Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, and is the founder of BackcountryCanadaTravel.com. She was born in Switzerland, lived and worked on different continents and has travelled the world. Yes, that's me, an Entrepreneur, wilderness nut and animal lover who prefers off-the-beaten-track places. I write about things I love. Mostely.