My dad lives in Florence, KY for the time being and is recently retired. A few years ago he bought some land in Central Kentucky for his retirement property. When they did the land survey, appraisal, and titlework, etc., the deed said “10 acres, more or less.” (There’s a large spring-fed pond on his property that crosses into his neighbor’s property.) He did some reseach and found that that is how they estimate things there. I don’t know if he meant in that county or in KY, but he said it went back to the days of Daniel Boone. Did your deed say anything similar?
Have you met your closest neighbors? My dad said it took quite a while to meet his. They are fiercely private and shun outsiders. He held a large BBQ and posted signs to invite everyone within 100 acres. The immediate two property owners came over with food and once they figured out he was “good people,” they sent the kids out on 4-wheelers to fetch everyone else. Pretty soon, there were 100 people there with food enough for 300 because everyone brought something.
From then on, he couldn’t stop the stream of people coming by to welcome him. They all literally stop in the middle of the road and roll down their windows to say hello when they pass each other headed to/from “town.” When one needs a hand, they all help. They help each other birth calves, hang tobacco to dry in their barns, repair fences, clear brush, etc. My dad was a pipefitter, so he’s the resident emergency plumber. They don’t pay each other, they just share the workload when help is needed knowing that they can call on each other as needed.
Amazing people.
In my case, I got to know my neighbors really fast. Almost everyone within a mile is now a close personal friend. And I am completely with you on the good people part. I’ve lived in Seattle all my adult life and never had friends like these. Not even close. Oh, and when we came to town last year with our moving van, one of them graded our driveway to get us up and another used his tractor to pull our truck up. And did I mention the free vegetables?
I feel like one of them in a very real way. I just hope I can return all the favors some day.