My aunt once told me that finding a property you want to buy is like falling in love: you'll just know when it's "the one." Lately I've been unabashedly falling in and out of love due to the game that is property purchasing negotiation.

There was this one farm, south of Worcester, that turned out to be untrustworthy. Maybe because it was my first, it appeared to me, on the surface, pretty great. It boasted seventy some-odd acres, many of which in pasture. It drew me in with its several outbuildings, large and enticing me to imagine a herd of one hundred goats and a spacious, light-filled cheesemake. We had a home inspector come in to evaluate the decency of this particular potential purchase. A wonder it would be to have boyfriend inspectors...

Well, as it turns out, this farm was not to be touched. I fled out the metaphorical back door as the farm walked to the bar to buy me a drink because that home inspector warned me that the fancy outbuildings we, in fact, tear downs, and all the additions on the house were of such low quality, they had probably never seen a permit nor an inspection.

My next affair was short yet passionate. I was certain that this second farm, to the west of Boston, was "the one." I knew it on my first visit, within the first ten minutes. There were fewer acres, the outbuildings were smaller, but the view was breathtaking and all the structures looked solid. After I got home I went to the internet to search for this new love merely to find that, indeed, it was too good to be true.

It was a property under Conservation Restriction requiring Conservation Commission approval for simple farming activities, and the headache and heartache I already felt - anticipating the hoops I would have to jump through - led me to end the affair before it started.

Which brings me to today and the third farm I am considering. Will it be "the one" or will the home inspector reveal the hidden nature of the buildings? And if it is the one for me, how will the neighborhood react to a goat farm and cheesemaking business? Will this extended family like me and welcome me or will they disapprove of goat barn smells and cheese trucks? Oh, the torment!

I do hope that the home inspection brings positive results and since the town is a Right-To-Farm community, I also believe the location will be good for a dairy farm and cheese business. Nevertheless, I stay guarded until the day I have the keys in hand... Stay tuned for the results!

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