Last Saturday afternoon Tom and I went to a wine tasting at Heartland Farm Sanctuary, which is where the photo was taken. (Those are llamas in the background.) The tasting was sponsored by Whole Foods Market in Madison, and the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful. Heartland had set up a tent on the sanctuary grounds, overlooking the barn and rolling hills of Verona, Wisconsin.
We sampled several delicious wines, paired with fruit, chocolate, and cheese (for the non-vegans). As we sat there, enjoying the weather, the wine, and the scenery, I mentioned to Tom that sometimes I can see myself living in a place like that. We have both always considered ourselves city people, but had to admit there is something special about having that much wide-open space.
Here’s a picture of Tom awaiting his first taste of wine:
After the tasting, we got a guided tour of the barn, and fed our leftover fruit to some of the animals. Apparently, goats love strawberries. Who knew? I also got to meet one of Heartland’s newest residents, Lola the miniature pig. All I can say is, I am in love. If we lived in the country, maybe we could have a Lola of our own!
I grew up in the country. My parents have eight acres of land, complete with a spring-fed pond that attracts tons of wildlife, including cranes, otters, muskrats, herons, geese, ducks, and the not-so-cuddly animals like snapping turtles, snakes, and leeches.
I’ve never been a play-in-the-mud kind of girl, so I didn’t truly appreciate my country surroundings when I was growing up. I often felt isolated from my friends, who lived farther away than I could bike, and we were 20 miles from the nearest “big” city.
Not that it was all bad. Far from it. I had a lot of good times in the country: ice-skating on the frozen pond in winter, playing with the dogs, making forts in the woods with my brother and sister.
But when I grew up, I was drawn to the city. I wanted to live in the heart of things, and be close to friends, entertainment, and dining. I enjoy being able to walk or bike to my favorite restaurants, and if I need something from the grocery store, I can get there in back in 20 minutes.
Tom and I sometimes talk about moving to a condo downtown when we get older. No gutters to clean, no driveway to shovel, no grass to cut. As long as we had a terrace for planting a few vegetables and herbs, I am completely on board with this plan.
But then I have a day like last Saturday, and I wonder if maybe I am a country person — at least partly.
Are you a city person or a country person?
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Definitely city, but mid-sized city. I grew up in a small, rural community and have also lived in New Orleans, New York, & San Francisco. Madison is the perfect size for me. We’re fortunate to live by Lake Waubesa, which is an almost-rural part of Mad-town; so I’m happy to have the essence of it all.
I prefer small town living within a half-hour of a big city. I feel safer and calmer in a small town. I love to visit big cities but am also happy to leave – too much traffic, noise and pollution for me. I do love the country, and sometimes dream of living in the middle of nowhere. Then I think about the realities of plowing the driveway, well water, septic systems, 911, pizza delivery and all
I am both. My ideal would be to have homes in a big city (I do now) and have a home in the country, preferably near the ocean. That would be true bliss for me. I enjoy the energy and activity in the city, but then my soul years for mother nature as well….
I always thought I would end up with a condo in a big city. That all changed the moment I visited the Oregon coast for the first time last fall. Now, I am totally in love with the small town, wilderness vibe and would like for nothing more than to live in a beach town and enjoy going for walks on the beach with my dog, hiking in all the nearby parks and enjoying the small local art galleries and farmers markets…..far from the city. My how life changes when you least expect it!!!