Come Fly the Coop with Me, Let’s Fly, Let’s Fly Away…

I am Coop, and I am indeed flying the…ya know!

After living in Columbus, Ohio my whole life, I am long overdue for a change of scenery. Add in the fact that the relatively sleepy city of my youth has now become a hipster haven and bustling bourgeoisie “paradise.”

Then there are home football weekends for our local Big 10 university. Oh boy…it’s a little overwhelming for someone who longs for 🎜quiet nights of quiet stars🎜.

I can’t argue with progress. Who would listen, really. And besides, I don’t begrudge the city its growth. For years, it’s been clear that the diversified economy of Columbus—including data centers and other technologies, finance and insurance, research and education—were driving Columbus toward serious growth that would lead to large-scale economic, infrastructural and population changes.

I’m just too old to enjoy the nightlife, OSU football games and growler stations that are a dream come true for millennials and younger. I was too old when I was young, honestly.

The past few years, I’ve had a few variations of the same nagging mantra stuck in my head. In spite of not having reached official retirement age and the slowed-down life that comes with it, the mantra came out as “I want THAT life.” And I wanted it as soon as possible, as in 🎜I want it NOW🎜, a la Veruca Salt.

I want to pare down, whittle and purge my belongings then strike out to an area with lots of shimmering blue water, lush green grass, serene azure skies, all kinds of flowers and trees, and plenty of sunshine. Thanks to some fantastic websites like Landwatch and LandHub I’ve explored the country from top to bottom and side to side. After dismantling it all, I started all over again. I’ve loved every minute of it.

My main concern was that I also had my heart set on a tiny home and wondered where I could go where zoning wouldn’t prohibit me from pursuing as many of my dreams as possible. I mean, they are small dreams, right? However, the “tiny revolution” is still evolving, but I do think area zoning boards around the United States are starting to understand the tiny house and off-grid phenomenon and work with it. More on that later…

Anyway, I wanted to blog my progress, along with any helpful information I find. Maybe my trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs that I experience along the way might help you decide if and how you might like to fly the coop yourself.

I hope you won’t think of these posts solely as “misery loves company,” (I mean, let’s face it, I’m going to need to whine sometimes) as much as “feel free to learn from my mistakes.” And who knows, I might earn some victories along the way. Come on then, 🎜come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away🎜, and check it out together!