Wanted: A Real Cowboy

Cowboy Grant Mitchell

Well, we have lost our cowboy. Grant Mitchell had a chance to run his own horse training business. It was too good a deal to pass up. We wish him well. Fortunately for us, he is relocating only a few hours’ drive away and would be available to help out here in a crunch.

But that puts us in the job interviewing mode again. It is definitely not my favorite occupation. So far we have had a LOT of interest in the position here. There are at least three applicants who sound very promising.

It takes a special person to live out here on this remote a ranch. Anyone with school-age kids has to homeschool. We have a one-room schoolhouse and have had for over 100 years, but it is closed. There are no children to attend. It used to have 30+ kids and went through 8th grade. It is a shame that there is not one child in the whole watershed. Makes you wonder about the future of ranching here.

Plus we are 30 miles from electric. Solar is wonderful, but it isn’t limitless. If you plug in a hair dryer, vacuum, radio, and lights, you are going to be towel drying your hair. Solar won’t run many appliances. In this age of microwaves, electric frying pans, blow dryers, and curling irons, solar is still a dinosaur. It always surprises me that many women can’t adapt to off-grid living.

People always think they want to live remote. Remote to them means driving a mile to go to McDonalds or Walmart to them. It means having a corner, larger size lot, or a tree between you and your neighbor. They don’t have a clue about living here. We have had people turn around halfway to the ranch and e-mail saying they couldn’t believe anyone would want to live this far out. They didn’t even get halfway here! My father-in–law stayed with us due to failing health. He always said the ranch is beautiful- BUT why would ANYONE want to live in this ——– country. That sentiment is clearly on many faces that come for interviews here. One – usually the wife, or both – will have that Oh MY GOD look on their face. Sometimes they apologize and never even get out of their car (Note there aren’t many Cars here). They spin their tires leaving.

Wilma