WendyMcElroy.com

The prospect frightens both of us even though we know our decision is absolutely correct, and even though the fear is balanced with excitement. We will be leaving everything with which we are comfortable, including a farm we love, in order to plunge into an entirely new life. We will be leaving people for whom we care, not knowing for sure if we will ever see them again. I feel a shadow of how difficult it must have been for my forefathers to depart from Ireland in order to pursue the dream of freedom and the chance to live with dignity. But if my Irish ancestors had not been courageous enough to do so, my brother and I would not exist let alone have the opportunity to live most of our lives in relative liberty.

The emotional difficulty of leaving is one of the main reasons people choose to stay even though they see the tyranny of today and possibility of it becoming very personal tomorrow. Everyone must make the choice to stay or not for himself or herself because everyone's circumstances differ, including the amount of change they can tolerate. I want to give some background on our decision in order to encourage people to carefully mull over the question. This is unadulterated selfishness on my part because I want you and yours to live in Galt's Gulch Chile where we can become neighbors and friends.

My husband and I are not rich people, but the land being sold right now is reasonably priced, especially in light of the incredible work being poured into the community by the founders who also intend to live there. It will be a sustainable small town with bee boxes and fiber optics, a lemon grove and an independent source of power, plentiful water and solar energy for those who so choose. The house can be built for a reasonable price as well – certainly for no more than it costs to build one in most parts of North America. Galt's Gulch Chile welcomes people of varying wealth and ability, asking only for a belief in freedom.

There are a million arrangements to make from disposing of our possessions to legally qualifying for a move to Chile. Half the time I feel overwhelmed. But I also feel young again. My husband said something wonderful to me last night. In speaking of Chile, I was smiling without realizing it. He said, “I haven't seen you smile in that way for years now. That is your girlish grin.” He added, “if the move does nothing else but bring that look back to your face, it will be well worth it.”

To get past being overpowered by the mechanics of moving, which may take years, I keep Chile in the forefront of my mind. It is the freest nation in South America and it is undergoing an economic boom while the world I know is crumbling a bit more every day. Chile is unusually welcoming to those who can prove they will not be a burden on the system, and children learn English in school because it is considered to be the nation's second language. I think of the world-class city of Santiago from which we will be one hour's drive away. Some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen are one hour in the other direction.

There is no question about it; Chile is still a government. But it does not have the imperial ambitions that send its military to conquer and kill, all the while militarizing the society at home. There is no NSA, TSA or many of the most egregious alphabet agencies whose sole purpose is to violate rights.

And, then, there is the community of Galt's Gulch Chile itself – a community of like-minded people with whom my husband and I can share who we are rather than hide the best parts of ourselves from public view. I have hungered for this all my life. And now it is possible. Now it will happen.

I salute all the new friends we will make in the gulch. I applaud my husband and myself for being brave enough to make the correct decision and not be stopped by mere difficulties. From the bottom of the ideological organ that is my heart, I thank Jeff Berwick, Ken Johnson and all the other team members who have a strong enough vision of freedom to create as close to a pure oasis as I can imagine.

I do not know what will result in the long term from Galt's Gulch Chile. I do know that wherever free people band together in creativity and good will, remarkable things are bound to ensue. I will be there to witness them and contribute. I will be there because – other than my husband – freedom means more to me than anything else and watching it die in North America has been an incredibly painful experience. That pain will become a memory.

I intend to live a happy and productive life in Galt's Gulch Chile for many, many years to come because, after all, I am young again.