Good morning! I appreciate your straight up and honest approach. Your experience speaks volumes. Thank-you for sharing your wisdom. I did a Presearch for Joel Salatin. Watched a short clip on him. He was philosophic not discussing farming. Sometimes it helps to not know what you don't know! I have been meaning to get involved with the Permaculture groups in my area for years. An event is happening soon i'd like to finally jump in! But, i do not plan to stay near the city where I am. The country is calling. That's why I am helping my sister with her garden. Biting off small chunks at a time. Trying to be content with where I am at. But, all my studying has been via the internet and recorded classes. Nothing formal at all. I spent quite a bit of time understanding a few principles. It's paradigm shifting stuff! My experience started 5 years ago. With a tiny tiny balcony garden in a tiny apartment in the city. Then we moved to an acreage and started the garden mentioned above. My experience is so limited! I am surely naive. Though i did grow up on a farm so i do know that in these next few years of planning i need to grow relationships so that I am not alone in my endeavours going off grid. Community is huge! Knowing what I know --thinking i could do any of it on my own would be really dumb. My daughter may be interested. My son. No way! He's a techy and city bound --to start anyway. My parents have left a mostly abandoned piece of land 80 acres in Saskatchewan. It's a community that my family has been rooted in a long time. It's an option. Looking ahead. But, i still have about 5ish years to percolate a plan, to learn more and to gain relationships and figure out finances. Lots of things! I will be 45 by that time. Hopefully well prepared and it will be GO TIME! To get set-up over the next 5 years. Takes me to 50! God willing!!! Just need to get this healing body back up and running at full strength-- preferably even better than before. But, as you mentioned, time has it's ways of slowing us down! What an incredible journey to be on! Blessings Fishy to you and yours.