And so it begins… the purging of a 25-year life on a 12-acre ranch. When we bought the place in 2000, we had two horses and a dream. That dream, like our herd, eventually grew—to four horses, one donkey, two sheep, five dogs, and a boatload of barn cats that kept mysteriously disappearing (cue Wile E. Coyote). We poured blood, sweat, and more money than we care to admit into home improvements, barns, fencing—only to find that they often needed repairing or replacing. It seemed to be a never-ending task, but every minute of country living was worth it. City life just wasn’t in our blood any longer, replaced instead by a mix of hay, dirt, rattlesnakes, and the occasional whiff of manure.

Fast forward 25 years, and with all the animals either having passed on or been re-homed (our beloved donkey and one horse are now living their best retirement lives on amazing ranches), it’s time to bid farewell to our rustic paradise and find a new adventure. We’ve decided that this new chapter will unfold in the northern part of New Mexico, likely between Albuquerque (took me a while to learn how to spell that) and Santa Fe. Our next home might have less fencing to mend and fewer barns to build, but it promises new memories.

As we pack up (and purge) our lives, we’ve discovered that humor is our best packing companion. Each item we box up brings a memory, a laugh, and many “Do I really need this” questions. The process is chaotic, but it’s also a reminder of all the joy, hard work, and love we’ve poured into a small slice of heaven in the windy grasslands. While we’re excited about our new adventure, we’ll carry a piece of this ranch—and all its quirks and joys—with us. Here’s to new beginnings. I hope to capture the process of all the stuff that has yet to be done to get this ranch on the market and all that entails! D-Day to market is December 1. We got this. (I think)