You can’t take the country out the girl.

Since leaving our country home a few months ago to downsize, I have missed the peace and tranquility of country living. Our new town neighbors were friendly and kind, but just a little too close. As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t get used to being able to hear every word the neighbors said if we were in our backyards at the same time. I know “Tim the Tool Man” on Home Improvement enjoyed this scenario, but not me.

Mike and I had been toying with the idea of owning rental property as a retirement income and decided this might be the perfect opportunity. We decided the house we were in would make an excellent rental for a young couple who wanted to be near everything. So the hunt was on to find a property with a little larger yard that we would both be happy with. We made a list of things we wanted in a home and began to look.

After searching the Internet and working with a realtor for what seemed an eternity, we finally found a house that met almost every wish on our list. It was quiet for me, and close to town for Mike. I can sit on the back porch and watch waterfowl fly into the small lake, but it’s not the huge yard to maintain that we once had.

Perhaps most exciting of all is the fact that a lovely young couple are going to be renting the home we are moving out of. God is so good, and his timing is always perfect. I have to admit that I wondered several times if we would be able to find a house that was as nice as the one we left. I think they call it seller’s remorse. Anyway, I had a bad case of it!

But today, the last piece of furniture was relocated to its new home. A few pieces are a little worse for wear, but they just look well loved to me. No more interstate traffic noise, no more neighbors’ dogs barking. I guess it’s true that you can take the girl out the country, but you can’t take the country out the girl!

Jan Penton Miller can be reached at lilsisjan@yahoo.com.