Modern Farmhouse – John Marshall Custom Homes via Hooked on Houses
Sometime about a year and a half ago we almost made an unexpected life change: we seriously considered buying an alpaca farm. I hadn’t mentioned it earlier because I had just written a book about appreciating and settling into the home you already have, and the idea of chasing a new, wildly different dream felt ironic and a little awkward.
Before we even thought about moving to Seattle to be closer to family, we explored a very different kind of future — life on a farm with alpacas. Our focus at the time was to find ways to increase family togetherness, and the idea of a larger property with room to gather and create seemed appealing.
When the alpaca farm came up for sale, we toured the place and fell for it: the farmhouse, the circular driveway, the spacious studio, the substantial barn, a rentable apartment, and the way the buildings were arranged on the land. And yes, the alpacas themselves were utterly charming. While we walked the property, the animals trotted along the fence to greet us, and we immediately pictured a future filled with simple, creative living.
We imagined hosting events in the barn, holding craft days in the studio, and turning the property into a welcoming place for friends and family. We pictured mornings making farmhouse breakfasts, watching our doodles Jack and Lily romp through the fields with alpacas nearby, and even keeping chickens. The possibilities felt both practical and whimsical.
The idea captured our whole family’s imagination. We loved the potential, but before making any major commitment we took a step back to evaluate our true priorities. My tendency as a dreamer is to leap into big ideas with enthusiasm, which can be a strength when the timing and resources align — but it can also lead to choices that complicate life rather than simplify it.
As appealing as the farm lifestyle sounded, we had to be realistic about our capacity and the season of life we were in. We weren’t farmers, and we weren’t set up to manage a large property on top of everything else we were already juggling. Rather than adding responsibilities that would pull us in too many directions, we chose to simplify and concentrate on what mattered most to us at that time.
Ultimately, we recognized that we loved the idea of the alpaca farm more than we would have loved the actual work it required. We could have learned the ropes and become farmers, but becoming successful at farm life would have required time, money, and a level of commitment we weren’t ready for. Instead of stretching ourselves thinner, we decided to focus on fewer priorities and invest our energy where it would matter most.
Being a dreamer means carrying more ideas than can fit into a single day. To keep my life and home peaceful, I have to regularly pare down, refocus, and simplify. That means being intentional about what I invite into our lives and what I say no to—even if the thing I’m turning down is delightful.
Sometimes simplifying means letting go of a grand dream like owning an alpaca farm. Sometimes it means clearing out the clutter in a closet. Saying no to one appealing thing makes space for what truly matters, and that trade-off is worth it.
Letting go of the alpaca farm dream opened room for the priorities that matter most to our family.
And sometimes letting go starts with something as small as clearing out a closet.
Being intentional about choices — big and small — keeps life focused and manageable. It allows us to thrive in the places where our time and energy make the biggest difference, and to enjoy the simple pleasures that fit our real goals and season of life.