what comes after the trip?

(this blog post gives a pretty clear idea of what we hope to bring about ... it's a vision of the future called You're Invited)

“the trip will be over when it's over” back at the beginning I wrote "i can imagine that it's somewhere in the 9 to 16 month range, but really don't know.  could be anything.  trusting that the where and when will be blindingly obvious." that statement turned out to be a bit laughable, as …

the "when" turned out to be April 8th of 2020, after 1,932 days on the road! we started the hunting process in early 2018 and found a piece of land we loved in NE Tennessee, but detoured to Chicago for almost a year before we came back and bought it in August of 2o19. Several months of prep brought us to April 8th of 2020.

as to the where, we were hunting for a decent acreage with a southern exposure in the southern Appalachians, in the mountains with lots of trees and a view of the horizon.  we ended up with 32 forested acres of Clinch Mountain near Rogersville TN, at about 1800’ with a southern exposure, a seasonal creek, piles of lovely stones, and fabulous neighbors. we are in love.

what's the what?  we hope to eventually build a cob/stone house (after the shed and privy and fynn’s workshop and our workshop) …  one that has a big kitchen/living area with a huge beat up old table that holds endless pots of coffee, bottles of wine, and bowls of food, as well as notebooks full of ideas, many conversations, and people from all walks of life.  near the house is an outdoor kitchen with attached bath-house, a barn/studio for michael, and a pathway into the woods that takes you to the first treehouse.  probably one that the boys have built, and honed their skills on.  more treehouses are scattered about, some for rent, and some for wanderers or helpers.  some bizarre, some painted, some sculpted, and all in some way part of home.  there's a spirit of learning in the air, of sharing ideas, and of crazy projects.  once the runway gets built, there will be annual gatherings of the birdwinger society, hosted by michael.  the human powered, flappable kind.  freedom to grow and explore and think. 

this dream will take time, and many hands, and land, and materials.  wood and clay, straw and stone.  food supply.  tools (we have lots, but I'm sure need more).  vision.  sweat.  sacrifice.  cooperation.  know how.  relaxed or non-existent building codes.  some way of sustaining the place.  all things we hope to find/gather/figure out as we go.  trusting God to bring it all along, and keep us pointed in a workable direction.