“Oh… You’re a Homesteader Now?”

When Your City Friends Start Treating You Like You Joined a Cult.

The minute you tell your city friends you’ve started homesteading, something changes. Suddenly, you’re no longer just you — you’ve become “that friend who milks goats and talks about compost like it’s a lifestyle.”

They’ll smile politely while  clutching their oat milk lattes and say things like, “That’s… so rustic of you!”
(Translation: You’ve lost your mind, and we’re worried you might start wearing overalls to brunch.)

Next thing you know, they’re asking werid questions:
“Do you still have Wi-Fi out there?”
“Isn’t it, like, lonely?”
“Wait… you actually eat the eggs your chickens lay and the chickens?”
Yes, Beatrice. That’s literally the point.

Then come the backhanded compliments.
“You’re living such a simple life!” — as if I traded my brain for a butter churn.
“I wouldn’t live like you, especially when there are supermarkets but so awesome for you”
“You must save so much money growing your own food.”
(Sure, after you buy the fencing, the feed, the vet supplies, and the tractor that costs more than your car.)

But deep down, you can tell they’re a little jealous. While they’re stuck in traffic, I’m collecting fresh eggs and watching my goats do their daily comedy routine. While they’re paying $8 for a salad, I’m eating one that grew right on my homestead — and yes, it tastes better because I did it and  I didn’t have to parallel park for it.

Quick Lesson for the City Folks: What’s What Out Here

Before Beatrice starts calling my place “the farm,” let’s clear up a few things — because not every patch of land with animals and dirt is the same:

A Farm – This is where people grow crops or raise animals mostly for income. Think rows of corn, dairy barns, and tractors that look like they belong in a museum of heavy machinery. Farms are about production — feeding communities, selling goods, and (hopefully) turning a profit.

A Ranch – Now, ranches are a whole different vibe. Ranchers are the folks managing big open land, usually raising cattle or other livestock. It’s cowboy country — less “cute chickens” and more “herding 200 head of beef on horseback.” If you’re picturing a cowboy hat and a big sky, you’re right on target.

A Homestead – That’s me. Homesteading is more about self-sufficiency than big business. It’s growing your own food, raising animals for your own table, and learning to live a little more independently. It’s where the goal isn’t “profit,” it’s “peace.” (Okay, and maybe bragging rights when your tomatoes actually grow.)

So, let them think I’ve gone full Little House on the Prairie. That’s fine. I’ll be over here with my animals, my garden, and my peace and quiet — living the dream they’ll never admit they want.

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