Meet Jeanne Dufort, continued

Some of my best memories of growing up are from lazy summer days at our family’s cabin on Cossayuna Lake in upstate New York. Swimming, boating, fishing, long walks around the point – the best of times shared with my brothers, sisters, and cousins. I left to attend the University of Chicago, and stayed in the Windy City for 20 years. I loved the urban life – the EL train could whisk you to work (Marshall Field’s downtown department store), to church (Second Unitarian) and to play (Wrigley Field). The parks and lakes of Wisconsin and Michigan provided a nearby retreat to the country, and I taught my daughter the joys of nature walks, fishing, and swimming at an early age.

In 1993, work brought me to Atlanta, and I settled into Alpharetta – a community with its own equestrian center. By then my daughter was nine – and riding lessons were part of the bargain I struck for relocation. My work required spending 10-12 weeks a year in India and China, and in between trips I was spending more and more time at the barn and at horse shows. We bought a horse, then a bumper pull trailer, then a gooseneck trailer and Ford F-250 4x4 diesel.

It was a good life, but something was missing. For the first time in my life there was no lake retreat, so in 2000 I decided to begin my journey home. My partner and I explored the North Georgia Mountains, and the close by lakes and rivers. We wanted a place on the water, privacy, an interesting and diverse community, and perhaps some land for horses. A good long-term investment was also critical for me, always the value buyer. Our search led us to Lake Oconee, and an 80 acre tract that wraps around Goose Creek cove – about 8 miles east of Madison. We traded in our big suburban home for a little cabin on the cove, and we couldn’t be happier. I commuted to Atlanta (and India and China) for two more years, and now finally have earned the luxury of spending my days and nights close to home.

Most days start at sunrise on my dock, with a good book (American political biographies currently) and a cup of strong black coffee. We have five horses in residence now, and four dogs and four cats. Our farm is a work in progress, and I can be quite the cowboy on my John Deere (4310 4WD e-hydro, front loader with a 4-in-1 bucket, bush hog, and some other useful attachments). Madison is a short drive away, and I love having Mayor Bruce Gilbert help me find just the right part in his hardware store, and having an account at Godfrey’s Feed Store, and selecting fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market on the square. I imagine I’ll be here for the rest of my life.