Today is the first day I’ve woken up to quietness. No sirens. No car horns. Just silence.

I start my day with a cup of coffee. The early morning rush to get ready for work has now been replace with a calm early morning routine of chores. First I gather the eggs from the chicken coop. Next I feed all of my animals and make sure they have water. First the chickens, then my goats, and last my two cows, Rachel and Sally.

For the past couple of years I’ve dreamed of this life. The crowded streets of the city and the mad rush at work were overwhelming. Finally I had enough.

I’ve spent half of my savings to start this lifestyle. Not a penny wasted. I bought this piece of land at the beginning of the last year. When I wasn’t slaving away for a big corporation I would leave the city and come here. It took me seven months of what little free time I had to build this cabin. Another three months for the chicken coop and the pens for my goats and cows.

I get electricity from the solar panels on the roof of my small cabin. I use the electricity for my freezer. For cooking I use the wood stove the keeps the cabin warm. For water I have a barrel that catches rain water and if it runs out theres a mountain stream that’s close by.

At lunch I cook some rice and eggs from this morning. Before I would usually get fast food to eat on my lunch break. McDonald’s got old really fast.

After I get done eating I grab my axe to go chop up some wood I cut up a few months back. Today I found out that the cubicle I’ve spent the last year in has not been kind to my body.

The sun starts to sink and the day comes to an end. I spent most of the afternoon chopping wood. I’m exhausted. But I love it. Compared to being burned out in an office, exhaustion is sweet relief.

After supper I sit outside and watch the stars. I would never see so many stars in the light drowned city. Today, my first day away from the hustle and bustle, has taught me that there’s freedom in simplicity.