See post above.

MORE INFO:

People wanted more information abut me so here it is...

I live in a suburb of San Jose, California (Silicon Valley). My wife and I have lived here are entire lives, which not may people can say. Anyway when I was young it was rural here. I was in 4-H and FFA. I was an All Star for those who know anything about 4-H. I raised pigs, sheep, steers, goats, chickens, geese... well you get the idea.

20 years later...

The city has engulfed the green pastures of my youth. Which is a crime because this is some of the best farming land of the world paved over by asphalt. :O( The county fair which used to have two sessions to hold all the animals had its final year this year. No more animals! They are going to form more of a High Tech look! I wanted to cry.

My wife and I have degrees in Chemistry not a very rural occupation. And I work as an Metallurgical Engineer for a local foundry. I have two children ages 1.5 years and 2 months. We are frugal enough to have my wife stay home and raise the children. We are looking for a way to let our children have similar experience that I had.

-- Lorin (netorcs@pecbell.net), April 24, 2000

Answers

Why dont you do what Im doing? Keep your job in the city for now and go ahead and buy a couple of acres a few hours away, start building your homestead on the weekends and vacations and sell it to her initially as a "weekend getaway", get her used to living out in the country and eventually SHE will probably suggest to YOU that you live out there permanantly. If you can't afford to build a full blown homestead you could build a temporary cabin on the land that is not much more than a large room with a kitchen and bathroom, a inexpensive 12V DC generator (you can even make one easily enough, see www.homepower.com) a battery bank and some lights. It worked on my wife anyway

-- Dave (transmach@hotmail.com), April 24, 2000.

If you could get certified to teach chemistry, you probably could very easily find a job most anywhere. Might not pay what you are making now, but certainly enough to live on. (I know the public school teachers belly-ache about not getting paid enough, but they usually make more than most of the parents of the children they are teaching -- at least, everywhere I've lived). Of course, the public schools aren't very good places to be, either as a student or a teacher, but it could be a start until you could find something else to do. Teachers in small rural schools frequently have to teach more than just their major subject, though, and may end up being asked to coach something, also -- but in return, you would get your summers free.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 24, 2000.

You sound like us...thirty years ago !!!! I did a search for jobs on Yahoo by putting in "metalurgical engineers" and up popped several companies in areas where it is possible to live rural, and drive less than an hour to work..Alabama,Wisconsin, to name a few...It may be an easier transition for you both if you relocate to an area with good,inexpensive land and low taxes...rent for awhile as Brad suggested while you poke around for your dream place.From the info on the net, it seems that you are not in a bad position to find exactly the same kind of job you have now, but in an area with rural access.Mind you, it ain't gonna pay like California..but you will not need half as much of an income.I also agree strongly with Kathleen, that if you were certified to teach chemistry, you would be able to slide in just about anywhere !!!! Good luck !

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), April 24, 2000.

Lorin- A little more info on the possibility of teaching, and some advice. I am completing my first year of teaching high school science in a fairly rural school in Arkansas. I took no education courses in college-just the required science courses. I am working toward certification via Arkansas' non-traditional teacher licensure program. It will cost me $1000 dollars, 18 Saturdays over a 3 year period, and 1 week last summer, one week this summer. No education coursework required, just a couple of physics courses to be approved for an applied physics class I teach. This is a requirement even fully certified teachers have if they teach something for which they don't have the hours. I am paid on the same scale as fully certified, college-graduated teachers. Arkansas provides teachers going this route with a one year provisional teaching certificate which is renewed each year until all the requirements listed above are met, and I then get a regular teachers license. Check out this option in a state where you think you might like to move, if you think you can stomach teaching at all. As far as the advice is concerned: don't be too worried about teaching. If you have any patience and compassion at all (and I'm sure you do), you can do it. Most kids in public schools are good folks. You can endure the other ones, and remember why they are the way they are - poor parenting! Teaching is frustrating on many days, and now that school is nearly over the kids and I are both ready for summer. But, the good (or maybe more appropriately, decent) days outweight the bad for me. The income is steady, the hours are good, the vacation time is nice, and until you can make a go of it on the farm, the lifestyle is okay. With your backgroud, I'm sure you would be an asset to any rural school district. I know a man that once worked for Exxon as a chemist, and he is now teaching. Received his license the same way I am and is a superb teacher. Also, since he has a Ph.D, his pay is much better. If you have a masters or a Ph.D, you can expect the same pay scale increase over a BS. Best Wishes!

-- nmays (mays@raptor.afsc.k12.ar.us), April 24, 2000.

Actually chemistry degrees aren't bad things to have at all. State and federal rules and regs have created a certain market for people to monitor water quality for both drinking water and bodies of water. It varies, but there are rural areas where an industry or two have set up. They frequently need chemists.

(Let's see who I manage to needle here)Pretend there are two people applying for a job. Neither are specifically qualified for the job so the employer is trying to choose. Hmm, who will they pick? A nice serious obviously brainy chemist, or the other one with a degree in say, comparative religions? Rural areas can be crying for intelligent, hard working people. You'll mostly have trouble convincing them that you're serious about their dinky little job. The truth is that most well-educated people leave the rural areas.

Frankly, as degrees go, I think chemistry is one of the better ones. Many states have a central job bank, check with them. Local governments will also either need chemists or have jobs the two of you can talk your way into. Don't forget to check with the job placement office where you went to school. They'll have both job lists and ideas for creative uses for your degrees. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), April 24, 2000.

I just came back to my beautiful country home yesterday from the silicon valley where my father is a pastor. I actually grew up there until I was 15. I have to say, I feel for you. The deomgraphic changes of that area has made that place grow to unreal demensions. Housing prices alone are absolutely staggering. This is my advice. There are a lot of people commuting ridiculous amounts of time there in order to give their children something better. I think this does nothing but make the parent never see their children. I have searched for property all over California and The San Joaquin Valley areas are a little short on scenery and they are hot in the summer both day and night. In addition finding a job locally can be difficult because the towns just aren't capable of supporting the kind of businesses that hire people from your area. We finally settled in northern San Luis Obsipo county. It is beautiful here. The towns near by are small and very welcoming. San luis Obispo is within a short commuting distance. There is some technological growth beginning here. Furthermore within minutes you can be outside of town in some of the most beautiful country in California. Property prices are rather high, but nothing compared to what you are used to. Most importantly there is land, lots of land. From my property I cannot see the house next door. We are absolutely inundated with wildlife including Deer, coyotes, wild pig, turkey, bear, multitudes of birds. Our oak covered rolling hills are legendary. We are in short one of the best kept secrets of California. My husband and I are actually wanting to move from here, but for reasons that have nothing to do with what a nice area this truly is. We may stay or we may go, but this place will always remain in my memory as one of the nicest places in California.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), April 24, 2000.

Hi we are in a very small farming town within 20-45 min of several good colleges ,Paul Smiths ,Clarkson ,and several others .Land is still cheap and people are good. It is possible to find land and good schools to work at .Good Luck .The funnist thing to do is see farm life through my 9 months olds eyes .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), April 24, 2000.