There’s something about tiny retreat living that looks incredibly peaceful from the outside.
Fresh air, slower mornings, open space, and the feeling of escaping the noise of everyday life. In our case, it also comes with a growing list of projects that are slowly turning our little slice of land into something that feels more and more like ours.
If you’ve been following along with our tiny retreat journey, you’ll know we’ve been steadily working through upgrades—from planning and building our fence to thinking ahead about landscaping and how we want everything to come together over time.
👉 If you’re catching up, you can read more here: Tiny Retreat Fence Plans & Landscaping Ideas
(We’re about 80% complete at this point… which still feels slightly unbelievable when I say it out loud.)
But this past Easter weekend added a whole new layer to the experience.
Because for the first time… I did it alone.
The Plan: A Relaxing Ranch Weekend (With a Bit of Competition)
This past Easter weekend looked a little different for us.
Jason was back home playing in a curling tournament, while I headed up to the ranch solo—still determined to enjoy the weekend and take part in the horseshoe tournament I had been looking forward to.
Jason spent Easter dinner with a mix of old and new friends back home, while I enjoyed a much less traditional—but still very good—meal at the ranch prepared by Nerine. Different places, different tables… but both of us enjoying the weekend in our own way.
Jason and I actually check in throughout the day when we’re apart—it’s just what we do. At one point I even joked that I hated having to make my own coffee… which, in hindsight, probably says more about me than anything else 😄
We both had full weekends, just in completely different settings.
And I’ll be honest—it felt a little strange being apart.
It’s been interesting watching this space evolve over time, especially as we start layering in both structure and lifestyle. What began as simple ideas is slowly turning into a lived-in retreat with its own rhythm and character. I shared more about that early vision and how it’s unfolding here → [Tiny Retreat Fence Plans & Landscaping Ideas]
The Ranch Reality: When Everyone Else Is a Couple
At the ranch, Easter weekend is kind of a big moment. It’s the unofficial start of the season. The weather showed up perfectly, everyone was out, and there was that familiar energy of reconnecting after winter.
Most of our friends are couples, and typically everyone arrives together, leaves together, and moves through the weekend as a pair.
This time?
I was very much on my own.
And what made it feel even more noticeable was the rhythm of the weekend itself. Some couples left a day early to spend Easter with family, while others stayed right through until Monday when they headed home together. So there wasn’t just one “group energy”—it shifted depending on who was there at any given moment.
It made the whole weekend feel a little unusual. The first horseshoe tournament of the season is something many people look forward to every year, while others understandably prioritize family time over the full weekend.
So everything overlapped in this interesting way—celebration, tradition, travel, and timing—all happening at once.
And in the middle of it?
Just me, trying to figure out my version of it all.
The Part I Didn’t Think Through (At All)
What I didn’t fully factor in was how much I rely on Jason when we’re up at the ranch.
Not in an obvious way—but in all the behind-the-scenes, everyday logistics that just quietly get handled.
We don’t have a golf cart yet, and probably won’t but and I didn’t have any transportation. Jason dropped me off Thursday afternoon and left early Friday morning for his first curling game, which meant I had four full days to figure things out on my own.
And suddenly, simple things weren’t so simple anymore.
Getting up and down the hill.
Carrying chairs, snacks, and a cooler to the horseshoe and bocce area.
Moving between friends and activities.
Hauling things back and forth.
All of it required planning… or asking for help.
It really made me think about how much of tiny retreat living is about the unseen parts of a project—the logistics, the carrying, the movement through the space, not just the design itself. That’s something we’ve been figuring out as we go while working on the fence and layout of the property → [Tiny Retreat Fence Plans & Landscaping Ideas]
Asking for Help (Apparently Not My Strength 😅)
Here’s something I learned very quickly:
I’m not naturally great at asking for help.
If I’m hands-free, I’ll walk everywhere—no problem. But when it came to needing rides, carrying gear, or relying on others to get things done, I definitely felt out of my comfort zone.
Jason normally takes care of so much of that for us—and honestly, he’s the same way with others too, always helping where he can without making it a big deal.
I do get away on girls’ trips a couple of times a year, so it’s not like I’m never independent—but I’m often teased that I get a bit of “special treatment” from Jason. The truth is, I don’t ask for it—he just naturally steps in and helps, not just for me but for others too.
And this weekend? I really noticed the difference.
There were moments where I needed help getting chairs, snacks, and a cooler down to the horseshoe and bocce area, or just getting around comfortably. Everyone was kind, of course—but it still made me realize how much I usually don’t have to think about those things.
By Monday, I was even asking my friend Niki for a ride home with everything packed up—golf clubs, clothes, leftover food… the full load. I’m pretty sure it was a lot for her too.
Let’s just say… I don’t think I’ll be rushing into another solo ranch weekend anytime soon.
Some of the little things that make this kind of rural setup easier—especially when you’re moving between RV life, outdoor spaces, and shared gathering areas—are the practical everyday items we rely on. I’ve grouped a few of them here → [Tiny Retreat Living Essentials]
The Bright Spot: Easter Craft Day Chaos (In the Best Way)
Of course, it wasn’t all logistics and lessons.
One of the highlights of the weekend was our Saturday craft day.
Originally, I went up focused on the horseshoe tournament, but last minute decided to add an Easter craft project—an Easter egg tree. Which meant figuring out the idea, buying all the supplies, and then trying to actually make it work once we got started.
There were four of us working together in the backyard—chatting, laughing, and each bringing our own level of creativity (and confidence) to the table.
Some of us were more “crafty” than others… which honestly made it even better.
I had a vision for how I thought it would turn out.
It didn’t go quite that way.
So I pivoted.
And honestly, that ended up being the best part—letting go of the original idea and just working with what we had made it more fun and way less serious.
Each tree turned out completely different—full of personality, slightly imperfect, and way more interesting than anything perfectly planned.
It took a couple of hours, which was the perfect amount of time. Any longer and we would’ve definitely started to feel it 😄
And of course, we wrapped it all up with a charcuterie board and champagne.
Not a traditional Easter… but definitely a memorable one.
Partially completed tiny retreat ranch with rustic fencing and outdoor DIY landscaping progress in a quiet rural setting.
What This Weekend Taught Me About Tiny Retreat Living
This weekend added a layer to our tiny retreat life that I didn’t fully expect.
Because it turns out, it’s not just about the land, the projects, or the plans—it’s about how you actually live in the space.
And sometimes that means realizing:
- I rely on Jason more than I thought
- I’m not as comfortable asking for help as I assumed
- Community matters more than independence in certain moments
- And doing things alone isn’t always as simple as it sounds
It wasn’t a bad experience—it was just a very real one.
If you’ve been enjoying these real-life updates, you might also like exploring how this entire space is coming together over time through our ongoing tiny retreat projects and lifestyle updates → [Tiny Retreat Living Series / Overview Post]
A Quick Ranch Update (Because Progress Is Real)
While all of this was happening, we’ve also been making steady progress on our fence.
We’re now about 80% complete, and it’s finally starting to define the space in a way that feels intentional and real.
Next up is tackling the neighbour-facing side (aka the messy side 😅) and figuring out a custom gate solution. That means cutting down a full panel and hoping our measurements behave themselves.
👉 You can read more about that here: Tiny Retreat Fence Plans & Landscaping Ideas
If you’ve been following the build, this is where things are starting to feel exciting—like it’s actually coming together.
Would I Do It Again?
Let’s just say…
I’m glad I went.
I’m glad I figured it out.
But I also don’t feel the need to prove I can do it all alone anytime soon 😄
Final Thoughts
What stayed with me most wasn’t just the logistics or even the independence—it was the shift in perspective.
There’s something about doing life solo, even briefly, that makes you see your everyday routines differently. The things you don’t think about. The things someone else quietly handles. The rhythm you’re used to.
And while I proved to myself that I can do it alone… I also realized I don’t necessarily want to.
Not because I can’t—but because some things are just better shared.
And if I’m being completely honest… the ranch is better with friends too.
We really started spending more time up here about five years ago, right after the pandemic when we were finally able to cross the border again. At one point, we actually considered selling. It felt like a lot, and we weren’t sure how often we’d realistically use it.
But not selling ended up being one of the best decisions we made.
Because not long after, we found our people.
Over the past couple of years, a whole circle of friends has grown out here—some of them even buying into the ranch themselves. Two of my close friends joined in more recently, and that’s changed everything. What started as a place has turned into a shared lifestyle.
We don’t just see each other at the ranch—we travel together too. From a Bahamas cruise to a New York trip last year, these friendships have extended far beyond this space.
And I think that’s what this weekend really showed me.
Yes, I can do it alone. But the reason this place feels so special isn’t independence—it’s connection.
The mix of independence, support, and community—that’s what makes this tiny retreat life feel so good.
It’s funny, because just recently we were coming off a completely different kind of experience — our New York and Bahamas trip with a big group of friends.
That trip was full. Busy days, lots of movement, people everywhere, always something happening.
And then this weekend at the ranch felt like the opposite in so many ways. Slower, quieter, more independent.
I think having both experiences so close together made me appreciate this lifestyle even more — the balance of it all.
If you’re curious, I shared more about that trip (and everything I’d do differently next time) here → [New York Bahamas Cruise]
You Might Also Like
If you’re enjoying the real-life side of tiny retreat living, you might also like:
- Our fence progress and design plans (what’s working and what’s not)
- Landscaping ideas we’re planning next
- How we’re slowly turning this space into something that feels like home
Tell Me I’m Not the Only One
Have you ever done something solo that sounded easy at the start… only to realize halfway through that you actually preferred doing it with someone else?
I’d love to hear—I have a feeling I’m not the only one.
As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
If you’re curious about some of the simple items we use around the ranch and tiny retreat setup, I’ve put together a small collection here → [Shop our Tiny Retreat Amazon Finds]
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