[Anke]

Think kids changed me more than smallholding - from running multi-million pound architecture projects to changing nappies, it gradually wore me down, I was killing myself.  Think women have been told we could have it all but it was all at huge cost and I had to make a choice in the end.

Similar story here - I couldn't do the career and children thing, and with blatant sexual discrimination in the workplace still an ongoing thing I decided I was better out of it... ALL skirts and suits went to the charity shop and I have so far defied all prediction from my ex-colleagues that I would be back in a job within 6 months...(that was 7 years ago!)
 
Don't miss the work place - happier with my goats, human and caprine kids, and haven't bought a pair of shoes other than wellies or (walking) boots in the last 7 years. Jeans and old t-shirts and fleeces only things I wear, but I do have a couple of "city" t-shirts.
 
Although the "car" thing always passed me by, I could never see the point of a personalised number plate - only made it easier for the police to remember your car...

[Fleecewife]

Wow - all you high-powered ladies.  I'm glad you've changed or are changing 
 
I've never been one for high heels and make-up, hairdressers and statement cars (fast bikes, yes  ).  I grew up on a farm, lived in a city for uni, worked with my sleeves rolled up, raised my kids and grew our food.   Now we have our smallholding and we just do the same things on a slightly larger scale.
I am very different nowadays though, living more for the moment and certainly worrying less about not fitting in,  after major illness has left its mark on both me and my OH.  We appreciate everything we have and love what we do 

[Ina]

Wow - all you high-powered ladies.  I'm glad you've changed or are changing 
 
I've never been one for high heels and make-up, hairdressers and statement cars (fast bikes, yes  ).

That's me, too. Although my bike was rather slow and steady. Never managed to have a career - result, I can't afford to turn to smallholding. Fact of life. But can't say I'm too unhappy; not at the moment - this can change at any time, of course. Actually, at the time my bank statement tells me I'm skint again.

[SteveHants]

Wow - all you high-powered ladies.  I'm glad you've changed or are changing 
 
I've never been one for high heels and make-up, hairdressers and statement cars (fast bikes, yes  ).

That's me, too. Although my bike was rather slow and steady. Never managed to have a career - result, I can't afford to turn to smallholding. Fact of life. But can't say I'm too unhappy; not at the moment - this can change at any time, of course. Actually, at the time my bank statement tells me I'm skint again.

Course you can. You just need to get out of the 'must buy land' mindset. Loads of things can be done on the cheap. Henhouses made from palletwood, growing veg etc. I started with 15 sheep on somebody elses paddock. I still graze it - bung em a lamb every now and then.....

[deepinthewoods]

i totally agree.
 any back yard can grow veg,i once just had 2sqm and fed us off that for weeks! and most could keep a chook or two.

[feldar]

I lead two lives Monday to Friday i run a busy research lab for a university based at a hospital, evenings and weekends i'm out on the farm. My partner does the farming bit between contracting and AI work. it's the only way we survive by having other jobs, there would not be enough to live on otherwise as much as i would love to be on farm 24/7
I love handbags, shoes, nice clothes and polished nails but they only last a short while, until i handle some sheep then off come the nails not the clothes!! what is it about sheep wool and nails, they always snag and catch in the wool.
I do love my job and i do love farming even if i'm knackered at the end of the day, or only have a few hours sleep after lambing.
I used to work and live in London but i would not go back now.
It's all about finding a balance, i love nature and bird watching and gardening but i also love a challenge at work. TV? well if i can find anything worth watching i usually fall asleep before the end of it!

[little blue]

things have changed for us great deal over the last 10-12 years ... but for a variety of reasons.

the animals definitely keep us going,  I was going to say "sane" but that's just not true, they make us slightly crazy!

 I wouldn't change it for the world ... except maybe to be bigger, have ponies, be less muddy & not be in debt to the feed store & vets!!

[RUSTYME]

Yes the handbags, skirts . long nails , high heels etc ,  had to go with me too.
Oooops , wrong forum !
Car smash was my life changer . Now as time goes by , i step back in time a decade or three each year .
 

[tizaala]

We all change, sometimes not by choice. sometimes by circumstance beyond your control, I've gone from being a butler/valet/chauffeur in charge of 10 staff looking after minor royalty and celebrities who think they are minor deities, then ran my own driving school,from there to management of a prototype department in the motor industry. This is where I got my thumb ripped off in a bad accident with a disintegrating holesaw. That was my lifechanging moment beyond my control, Ok , they paid my wages for 12 months and offered me menial work on a mind numbing production line, not challenging enough. Had to give up playing golf 3 times a week. Moved to Wales ,rented house and land ,got the animals and the daily grind/challenge of surviving, no regrets.

[Ina]

Wow - all you high-powered ladies.  I'm glad you've changed or are changing 
 
I've never been one for high heels and make-up, hairdressers and statement cars (fast bikes, yes  ).

That's me, too. Although my bike was rather slow and steady. Never managed to have a career - result, I can't afford to turn to smallholding. Fact of life. But can't say I'm too unhappy; not at the moment - this can change at any time, of course. Actually, at the time my bank statement tells me I'm skint again.

Course you can. You just need to get out of the 'must buy land' mindset. Loads of things can be done on the cheap. Henhouses made from palletwood, growing veg etc. I started with 15 sheep on somebody elses paddock. I still graze it - bung em a lamb every now and then.....

Not everybody's circumstances are the same. Yes, I do grow veg in the garden - I am lucky in the way that I live in one of the council houses that do have some garden that's not all under chuckies. But if I put up a henhouse from pallets, the council would have me out of here in no time at all - if they'd agree to let me keep hens in the first place. And anyway, the neighbour's dog would probably prevent any livestock from thriving on my tiny piece of land. And even if I kept sheep on somebody else's land - I'd have to find that first, I'd have to find money for sheep, I'd have to always have a functioning car to get to the sheep - ok, maybe I am too security aware, I just feel too old to risk my last penny on something like that. I did have a couple of goats at one stage, but lost my job along with the house where I kept them in the garden - and got into trouble about that, too - so maybe I've just had too much negative experience to try again? I'm not complaining - I'm just saying it's different for everybody.

[Bionic]

Ina,
I agree that its different for everyone. Perhaps you could find someone with animals who would welcome some help. I know its not quite the same but you might be able to satisfy your passions that way without it costing you a small fortune.
Sally

[Odin]

Just doing the things that I have always wanted to do, never wanted the high power jobs because them type of people I find difficult.
A bloke brought his BMW Z4 gay lord does my bum look big in this thing to us for an MOT. It failed, broken rear springs. After repairing the car, he returned complaining that the drop down sun roof no longer worked ? I was polite with the chap, so was my mechanic, but the owner turned nasty? What happened is that because we had raised the car and rotated the road wheels, the cars computer is programmed to lock the roof closed to protect the Yuppies inside because the car thinks that it is having an accident ??  I had to pay the BMW agent to unlock the roof. The owner went on to threaten me with violence. A Range Rover owner was similar because his pompus monstorous Chelsea Tractor failed the MOT on lights. He states that I should have repaired the lights on the MOT. He also threatend me. All in the space of one month. Neither of them frighten me, but certainly upset me, but as a lowly MOT Tester I have to behave impeccably, which I do.
Money and big cars change people, puts them above the law and every one around them. Allows them to park on pavements & Yellow zig zags to drop Penelopy and little Jimmy off at school. Stresses them out as they have no time. 

[Bionic]

Odin,
I don't think you can lump everyone together.  I probably didn't have the sort of money that you are talking about but was nicely off through working hard. I would never treat anyone as you have been treated and never park on pavements or yellow zig zags, Mind you I probably would have been frustrated if my convertable roof stopped working after a visit to you too.
Sally

[deepinthewoods]

hes right about the z4 tho...

[sabrina]

Cancer changed me, I was always busy with work and my ponies that I felt run down and had little time for anything. Now I take each days as it comes, spend as much time with the animals that I can as this helps me relax. like the others I live in jeans or leggings. I do have posh clothes so now and again if we are going somewhere I do make the effort. OH likes this. Since the age of 15 I have worn perfume every day, its just part of who I am. although I still try to make time for other people not so quick to jump in now with offers of help. My time is precious to me. I think I am so lucky to have a way of life that means I can grow our food and raise our meat. not many get to do this.