We’d walked by the sign day after day, week after week, and year after year.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have more acreage? We could build a trail for the dogs” I said.

“Better yet, we’d be able to mitigate it and better protect our house from wildfires” my husband replied.

The vacant lot next door to us had been on our minds for a long time. At one point, it came down to buying the land, or building a garage. A snowy winter helped make the decision for us and the garage won out. With fewer and fewer buildable lots around Nederland, we thought surely someone would buy it one day.

At one point, a couple with two small children stopped by to look at it. I won’t lie, I introduced myself to them and promptly brought up the mining pits.

“It’s very dangerous in here with all those pits. And did you know we were evacuated last year for a wildfire that got within a mile of here?”

Later on when a contractor stopped by to look at the property, I mentioned problems with wells. “You know our neighbors had to re-drill theirs just last year — it was really expensive!”

Even though we hadn’t pulled the trigger on buying it, I didn’t want anyone else to have it either. I’ve always loved that peaceful stretch of road through the woods. Many a day, a walk with the dogs brought me peace and solace. Every time I walked down the road, John Denver’s words sprang to mind.

“Country Roads, take me home, to the place where I belong…” The thought of another house being built and marring my “country road” landscape annoyed me.

Last year the “For Sale” sign came down. Had the owner decided to keep it? Worse yet, maybe he was going to build on it?

Finally, last month we decided to make an offer. Since it was no longer listed through a realtor, I contacted the last realtor who had listed it. Fortunately, she had the owner’s contact information. I took a flyer and emailed him with an offer. Days went by with no response. Maybe he wasn’t interested, it wasn’t in the cards for us.

When I had just about given up, I heard back. He would accept our offer!

Today, we closed, and the land is ours. Unlike many, we’re not looking at this as an investment, a lot to turn around and sell to get developed later on. We’re looking at it as an investment to provide more room to enjoy nature at its best. To provide habitat for the moose to nestle down in the willows, and allow the aspen grove to thrive.

Our own little piece of Nederland heaven to add to our existing property.

Life is good.

 

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