I am grateful for rural life, for community, where buying local is not a sticker but a way of life, an affirmation of values, a series of human connections. I’ve shared the challenges of my life – a professional writer recently divorced who owns two farms in the midst of a publishing revolution, a recession, and real estate collapse. This is not a complaint, I see it as a creative and personal challenge to adapt, change, be strong and remain successful and relevant. I will do those things or perish trying. Me and Lord Nelson.

This all has upended my financial life. I have to say I am so lucky that I find myself in this rural area with a bank and a banker who cares about me and Maria, is helping me through this transition. My banker comes to the house and sits down and talks to Maria and I. He explains the options we have, the ways the bank can help us. He makes clear that the bank – they have the mortgages on both farms – is in it with me for the long haul. They are confident Bedlam Farm will sell – it’s a great property at a great price my banker told us – and they want me to talk to them and let them know how things are going, how they can help.

They are familiar with my work. They like my plan for making the transition from a paper book writer to a paper book writer with a red-hot blog and a strong social media presence. “You will be fine, we are not worried about you. What can we do to help?” I can hardly believe this when I hear it, it seems no one ever asks me that and means it.  I appreciate that, it means a lot to me, and they are right. They don’t have to worry about me. I will get there. In this impersonal and fragmented world, a world of phone trees, online applications, text messaging, my bank is very human, very personal. We know Bob well. He knows our house, our dog, our work. He understands my life. We enjoy his visits very much, and who says that about their bankers?

Bob visited us this morning. We talked about real estate, credit lines, the uptick in home sales. We all feel pretty good about selling Bedlam Farm this Spring.

Much of the country’s economic and political system has abandoned rural life, as Wendell Berry has written so poignantly. Most of the country is not considered efficient in the global economy.  Human connection is disappearing. Banks exist to make money, and I don’t romanticize them. I’m concerned with money also. But lots of people are going through great transitions right now and I am  especially grateful I live where I live, where it is still possible for a bank to make money and care about the individual lives of the people they serve. I could complain and say I weren’t going through all of these challenges. I use to. I have learned not to do that.

I am grateful for Bob and his bank, for giving me the support and encouragement – and the money – that gives me the time and the opportunity do my work and come out the other side.