Hello from Anita!đşđ¸
Imagine an opportunity to own 160 acres entirely free, the only requirement was to show up and claim it! This was the Homestead Act of 1862, designed to entice American visionaries to populate the Far West.
Thousands of unlikely adventurers set off on a perilous journey bumping along in overloaded covered wagons in search of a better life. These pilgrims of the plains led by their hopes and dreams, joined in the wagon trains slowly proceeding West. Needless possessions were abandoned along the way, littering the Oregon Trail.
Breathtaking vistas, marauding Comanche, raging river crossings, bear, panther and rattlesnakes, danger and wonder walked hand in hand.
As today, there are many reasons that some were drawn to leave the familiarity of hearth and home. Young Samuel Clemens claimed envy of his brotherâs prospective adventures as the newly appointed Secretary of Nevada in his hilarious travelogue âRoughing Itâ
Under the pen name, Mark Twain, he writes âI never had been away from home, and that word "travel" had a seductive charm for me. Pretty soon he ( Clemens brother ) would be hundreds and hundreds of miles away on the great plains and deserts, and among the mountains of the Far West, and would see buffaloes and Indians, and prairie dogs, and antelopes, and have all kinds of adventures, and may be get hanged or scalped, and have ever such a fine time, and write home and tell us all about it, and be a hero.â
Some emigrated from Europe seeking better opportunity, freedom and wide open spaces only available to royalty in their native lands. Texas began to attract attention when still a province of Mexico. An enterprising entrepreneur was granted a âleagueâ or 4,428 acres with the promise to settle it. He began promoting to craftsman in Germany a chance to own land themselves, with this lofty descriptionâŚ
âThe meadows have the most sumptuous stands of grass, soil so rich it never requires fertilizing, the sun and the air are always bright and clear and the cattle find their own feed. The climate resembles that of lower Italy during the summer, bees and butterflies are seen year round.â
This descriptive letter went VIRAL!
Eventually over eighty thousand individuals crowded the harbors of Amsterdam, Bremerhaven and Hamburg and boatloads of emmigrants soon arrived in Galveston, Texas. The entrpreneurs were woefully unprepared to provide provisions for so many and the journey inland was rough.
Some of the survivors that finally settled in that wild and free country made up the communities of New Braunfels, Gruene, Boerne and Fredericksburg in the beautiful Texas hill country, still known for the unique German influence of these early settlers.
There are as many motivations for setting off on an adventure as there are unique souls living. The youthful Mark Twain couldnât resist missing out on seeing these marvels face to face and possibly picking up a bag or two of shiny gold nuggets.
There is a resurgence of interest today in small farming, home gardening, homeschooling and âgetting back to the landâ. Modern pioneers face different trials, however all share that innate need for adventure and freedom, which requires resilience and courage.
Some of the obstacles to rural life today are private and public land restrictions actually meant to protect us. However, itâs critical to enter into any land purchase with eyes wide open. A good real estate attorney can help you navigate the legal terms and avoid costly mistakes, like starting the trail too late in the season and getting caught in a snowstorm on the Donner Pass.đł
When the kids were little, we bought a new house in a new subdivision. Every one of them was white stucco with a red tile roof. One night Chuck confessed he couldnât find his way home! He didnât really enjoy edging our tiny patch of lawn either. We longed to escape that neighborhood ruled by a Home Owners Association, always on the lookout for an errant trashcan.
We were determined to live a lifestyle of our own invention, no matter how difficult.
Itâs been several houses and states since those early days, but weâve never lived in a subdivision again!
As Emily Dickinson wrote â To live is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else!â
No matter your age, continuing to take on new challenges with an inquisitive mind keeps us fresh and alive.
Carpe Diem!
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A perfect Springtime blog to invite me into my local New England bog for a jolly jog! I'm so excited to go hike after a three-month's convalescence from my broken leg and sprained ankle! No more climbing boulder fields to hug a tree in too-big, non-hiking shoes!
â¤ď¸ I always enjoy your writings Anita!