40 acres and a mule?

My brother, who is 7 years younger than me, called me the other day for lunch.  I also have a sister who is only one year and 10 months older than me, but I spend more time with my brother.  My siblings and I share many traits, but we also differ enough to make up our very own distinctive personalities.  Neither my sister nor my brother is fearless, but you wouldn't know it by their actions or demeanor.  They live much closer to the edge of risk than I would ever choose to do.  I'm the overly cautious one.  I admire their courage, but sometimes when I squint and look real close, I would almost swear that their courage looks an awful lot like financial suicide.

So, my brother mentioned during lunch, that he knew of 40 acres of property which was located very near to our city.  Near enough to tempt him.  He presently lives about 15 miles outside of our city proper.  He owns his own business, and wants enough land that it can be considered agricultural land, because agricultural land has the least restrictions placed on it.  He already owns approximately 7 acres upon which we (him, his wife, our family and his wife's family) built him a fairly nice house and shop.  A good ole house raising that was filled with blood, sweat and only a few tears.  We are the ultimate DIY family.  He wants to sell his current property, move and build himself a bigger shop and a smaller house.  Go figure.  

After almost 45 minutes of small talk over our salads, my brother wanted to know if I wanted to go in with him and buy this newly found 40 acres of property.  He didn't mention 40 acres and a mule, so I was hoping like hell that a mule wasn't part of the package.  Hmmmmmmmmm ... do I want part of 40 acres?  I'm not sure I do.  Hell, I'm tired of the 50x100 plot of city property I already own with its needy shrubs, cracking plaster and ongoing bedroom project ... see picture below ....

This is my ongoing DIY project.  It was quick going in the beginning, but the final stage has turned into a long haul.  I have been slowly (very slowy ... a turtle makes more progress than I do  ... perhaps even snail like would be too fast of a description for my progress) stripping all the paint from my bedroom's moulding and repainting it.  Can you tell from the bolt of fabric leaning against the window wall, that my passion doesn't reside in stripping wood off paint.  I have already re-decorated this room in my mind.  Part of my resistance during my final stretch of paint removal and re-application may be more psychological than anything, but hey ... you aren't Freud and I don't have time to tell you that part of my life story.  It probably is related to some past sexual encounter though.

Take your brains out of my bedroom affairs and go back to the 40 acres without mule with me.  I told my brother that I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to venture into rural (albiet near city) land ownership, but that I would go take a look at the property.  So, I did go have a look at it, late in the evening yesterday with a friend of mine.   While navigating the 1 mile dirt lane (hmmm I wondered where I would go if another car came along -- and clearly imagined the slip and slide it could become after a rainy season) to reach the property, we saw several horses on the properties bordering the lane, but no mules.   We shortly reached the promised land, and called my brother to ask if we were in the right place.  To my delight there was a grain bin and a few outbuildings already on this property.  I am a sucker for old buildings.  See above photo. 

So, now I tooooo am dreaming of green acres, even though I'm busy calculating all the risks involved.  That's my job between the two of us.  He's the real dreamer -- the risk taker.  I'm the one ... thinking to myself ... hmmm ... this job is looking a little less stable than it ever has ... hmmmm ... I really like my cash money.  Hmmmm .... am I up to the challenge of clearing a spot out for my dream bungalow to go?   But, smitten with the land itself, I'm back to dreaming ... I can already see my picket fence, my pet hawk snatching up any snakes (do they eat snakes?) that are hanging  around too close to my house, and a custom painted John Deere tractor to mow my field.  Man, I always wanted to live off the grid ... I wonder if my brother knows anything about solar panels and windmills.  I need to call him.