I am of the generation of "back to the landers" that did what you are you doing back in the 70s and 80s of the last century. My wife and I moved to bare land,

I am of the generation of "back to the landers" that did what you are you doing back in the 70s and 80s of the last century. My wife and I moved to bare land, built a house (well, in fact, we moved an old one room school house onto the property and renovated it - eventually it was a fully modern home, although it took 15 years to get the indoor plumbing installed), and have raised large gardens, kept animals, heated with wood, and over the years built and maintained all the infrastructure of a small farm. We raised and home-schooled two children on the farm as well. Since none of this paid for itself or the many things we consume that cannot be produced on the farm, let alone for things like the children's and my wife's college education, I remained employed off the farm the whole time, in a career in technology that eventually put over 2 million miles on my frequent flyer card. I retired recently from my final position as CTO of a top-ranked hospital-clinic and research organization. (I have worked at least 50% from home for the last 25 years). I would offer you three take-aways from this experience: First, it is an incredible amount of work. I didn't, and don't, mind that, since the work I do on the farm is 95% recreation for me. Doing it with and for my family has been fulfilling and satisfying. But I did not come to this life from an urban life, nor from a one rich in pure leisure time or activity. I grew up on a primitive (for the time) farm/ranch, and did not want to leave that life. I am also an intensely introverted personality. It has been much harder for my wife, who did come to it from an urban existence. In most ways she has thrived, but she would not recommend the life to her own children, or to others. Second, you can homestead and be engaged in an outside, even highly demanding, technical career. But those are absolutely the only two things you'll do with your life and time if you expect to do both at all well. Third, it takes a team. I could not have done it by myself.