In 2007, I moved from Los Angeles to a small ranching community in Montana with a population less than 100. The nearest sizeable city, Billings, is 90 miles south. My house has been in our family since they homesteaded here and built it, around 1916. My move wasn’t a huge culture shock because I’d summered here most of my childhood, and was a frequent visitor as an adult. Except for some trepidation about winter survival, I had some idea of what to expect.
It helped that my parents had lived through the Depression and World War II. They passed on to me habits and knowledge they’d acquired out of necessity (along with a lot of stuff), although not many actual practical skills that I could have used. They doubted I’d ever need them. I had a college education after all.
A foxhole by any other name…
I’m quite sure they never in a million years could have predicted I’d move back here. My dad called this a “foxhole,” a place to escape the city. Which is exactly what I wanted to do all my life.
Based on my highly subjective experiences, here are 7 personal qualities, 7 random practical skills, and 7 skills I intend to learn that can make living in an old house in a rural area possible.
7 personal qualities to cultivate
1. Resourcefulness
2. Awareness
3. Thrift
4. Patience
5. Humility
6. Gratitude
7. Neighborliness
7 random practical skills to acquire
1. How to safely build a fire in a wood stove
2. How to keep your pipes from freezing
3. How to catch mice (preventing their access to an old house is a myth)
4. How to identify toxic vs. benign (even edible) weeds
5. How to use large yard machines and small tools
6. How to pee, do laundry, wash dishes, and bathe when your plumbing goes offline (for weeks)
7. How to work remotely with no cell phone coverage
7 things I intend to learn
1. How to chop wood
2. How to use power tools
3. How to wire a light fixture
4. How to confidently ride a horse and not fall off
5. How to raise chickens and goats
6. How to make pickled garlic, good bread, and fruit-flavored kombucha
7. How to build a shed and a root cellar
(Corollary: How to demolish a derelict outbuilding)
Lifelong learning
These are just the tip of the iceberg; it all boils down to being willing and able to solve whatever problems are thrown in your path. Hopefully you won’t have to learn the hard way, but unless you’re very lucky you probably will. The real secret to survival in an old house is to find an old-timer or two willing to help out and share their wisdom. YouTube is good, but watching an experienced DIY’er in action is gold. Plus, it’s fun to learn old words to amuse your friends. Like hasp. And mullion. And turnbuckle. To be continued…
— Adele
Adele Field is a writer and editor based in rural eastern Montana.