April 5th, 2006.... We jumped in the Rig and pulled out of the only life we knew, at the time, to travel and search for a what else is "out there". Two years later, we have a house, a dog, a horse, jobs we enjoy, and vistas of hills and trees rather than buildings and businesses. We gave up things to have a simple life, things many wouldn't be willing to give up, like the neighborhood association that costs a lot to make the neighborhood "look pretty". Now we live in a simple neighborhood, where simple people live. We gave up "traffic" - what used to frustrate us is now a blessing... 18 minutes, usually together, since we now work across the street from each other, rather than across the county. We gave up not having a yard, a garden, irises, deer in our yard, bunny dens, and space to play with a boisterous, deaf, Australian Shepherd name Sydney. We don't live like we did in California. We spend a lot of time at home, together, or venturing out, into the Black Hills, seeing all its treasures and adventures. California is a beautiful place, but one that comes with a price. Ultra-convenience is nice, trust me, we have missed it at times, but we haven't missed the shackles that bound us to the life that we lived. Two years ago, we would have never dreamed that we would have landed where we did. We would have never thought the things we do. We didn't understand the beauty of simplicity, the distraction of status, and the joy of really enjoying life, together. What we have done isn't for everyone, we know that, but it was right for us. We smile more, laugh a lot about each other and all the "silly" things in life a little more. We dearly love our family and friends, and miss you all, but have been blessed with something we can't explain to any one of you. Most people wonder why anyone would want to move to a town so rural that it has only a "stop sign" and no signals, a "self car wash" that has a sign that reads "No Horses Allowed", and a little store called "The Little C Store" for "the little corner store", a simple life is just that... simple. We wanted to share some photos of our little world in SoDak and let you know you're all welcome to come and visit, anytime, just give us some warning and a ring-a-ling. We have a guest room, a jacuzzi, and a lot of blue, blue sky, not to mention Deadwood for the gamblers, Custer State Park for the fishermen and hikers, oodles of relaxing things to do, as well as wildlife you have to try to avoid. I'll end with the famous words, of the very famous song.... " Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play, where never is heard, a discouraging word, and the sky is not clouded all day...."
