I have started finding myself more and more attracted to the idea of living in a more remote area rather than in the city or immediate suburbs. As much as I love my cities and have lived in LA, NYC, and Sydney, I have also found immense joy from escaping the crowded, fast-paced, always connected lifestyle that we all live in now.

I don't know if I could really live too far off the grid - I'm not about to go run off to the middle of no where. But there are some nice areas in Central California that are about 30 minutes from a real town - close enough to get groceries and get to the airport, but far enough that you aren't bothered. I would rather be on a piece of land that's separated from most people but within reasonable driving distance to a city than live in a small town though. Too much drama and interpersonal relationships when you get to small towns. I dislike the concept of everyone knowing all my business.

I would love to build a dream house on a huge piece of land, lots of space, maybe a couple cows because cows are fucking awesome

Go into town once a week, get groceries, freelance or telecommute from home, I could even see me with a couple little ones running around or on ATVs or something. Maybe I'm just overly stressed from work, or sick of being surrounded by million dollar homes that I know I will never be able to own, but it's been on my mind a lot lately.

There are some ranches and farms on the Jalama Beach Road that seem just about perfect. 30 minutes from Lompoc, 45 from Goleta/Santa Barbara. And they have cows. I'm really falling in love with the greater Santa Barbara area - I always partied there since a ton of my friends went to UCSB, but it's such a great location once you look past the college party animals - less traffic than LA, mountains and a lake on one side, state beaches on the other.

We took a detour (aka got lost) and ended up driving through these windy roads above SB with immense gated houses and glorious views. My Zillow app told me the houses were 10m-30m range. Even if I could magically afford it, it seems way too upscale for my taste. But the houses were gorgeous, albeit fucking huge. If you are bored, jump onto street view on the above link and check them out. Insane.

As for the remote living - huge property with nice homey-house - I don't know if it'll ever happen. I'll probably get over this little fantasy in a bit. But right now it sounds phenomenal. It's actually more realistic than owning a home in the city I live in.

Does anyone else have fantasies like this? Is anyone here from a remote area - do you love it or want to live in the big city?