Hello from eastern North Carolina.

About 50 years ago I was developing a permaculture homestead in northern California.  We had the 80 acres, put in a year round pond, double dug garden of ~20 beds, drip, solar electricy, hydro, antique apple orchard, various fruit and nut trees.  Then divorce.  Poof.  Now, some 50 years later a new life and living aboard a sailboat.  Alas, while we do love living aboard, my attachment to soil has reemerged.  My wife needs what small towns have.  Not sure what to do about this.  Some choices:  make a 1/3 acre into something, look for other locations, possibly connect with an suitable community...
Thank you, Doug

Welcome to permies Doug

It looks like you have some experience under you belt from 50 years ago. Seeing as how you are able to live aboard a sailboat. I am wondering if you would consider living in a tiny home?


anyways hopefully you will find what you are looking for here.

Cheers

Yes to the idea of a "not so big house".  My understanding of a tiny house is smaller than we'd like.
Doug

Welcome! If you edge a little bit inland from the ridiculous real estate prices on the coast, eastern NC has tons of affordable agricultural real estate near small towns.  Maybe something a stone's throw from Wilmington (which has a river that will take your boat all the way out to sea) would give you the option of visiting urban life.  I'd say the soils on the Coastal Plain are generally sandy, mineral soil that maybe has been subject to monoculture.  I'd characterize the region as politically conservative, Republican, Baptist.  Lots of cool things to do on the coast. I'd guess you'll have a lot of soil amendment to do.  If you want an easier time of it and/or prefer democratic liberal, scoot away from the coastal plain towards the moncure/pittsboro area.  I believe the Cape Fear river is navicable all that way, but I am not a sailor so I don't know for sure. My two cents as a native Tarheel.

Welcome aboard, Doug!  Great to have you here. Funny how life unfolds, eh?

No shortage of information here on regions, communities, housing options, low impact living, etc... - enjoy!