Ongoing, I am not so sure. My straw bale build project in France seems less appealing for a variety of reasons. Though have still NOT ruled it out.
a raft of new rules and regulations for new build properties will push the cost up dramatically from my original estimations.
I already feel that the location is somewhat isolated and for the prospect of one, meeting a significant other and two, for attracting paying guests at a later stage, it is not the most obvious place to be located.
should I build, I would have to keep the property for ten years before being able to sell it as a house. Rules stipulate that any new build property has to be guaranteed for this period and, as a self builder, I would be unable to offer such guarantee. A sale before such time would only be as building but a not a house.
it is significantly more difficult to start and run a small business in France than in many other european countries. The rules and regulations are daunting even with a fairly decent understanding of the language. The french think so too.
if I choose to change location, my improved budget gives me much more scope to get ahead with other plans, rather than spending two years building, before I can even start.
the longer term plan is still to create the example of a productive garden and invite/allow people to come and learn how to grow fruit and vegetables hands on.
Building a straw bale house still remains an excellent idea. It was a means to an end to enable me to afford a home within the budget I had. Where as now it can become a more leisurely project in the back garden should I move on.
a move now would give me ample opportunity to do something else before I get too old. Not a valid reason at all, it’s never too late!!
I can now afford to invest more in a better located, more attractive piece of land/property than I could have done until recently.
after a couple of trips away, the lure of sunshine and beaches is pulling and is now also achievable and within the new budgetary constraints.
All of that said, I still love my piece of paradise, where the occasional tractor, car or aeroplane are about the only things that disturb the peace, where the birds sing and the weather does it’s thing (mainly sunnily) throughout the year, I enjoy my time there, almost without exception, although, for a more rounded life experience, there is a whole lot missing. Oh how much easier it would be if I disliked being there or the idea of building an ecologically sound house, I could be gone in a shot.
