Ponderings on Peaches

My neighbour has a lovely 'fruit cocktail' tree. What exactly is a fruit cocktail tree you may be asking... It is a tree you order from an ad that sounds like a scam to get some quick money... It is a tree grafted with branches of apples, pears, peaches, apricots and I /think/ plums... It should have died that first year... It didn't. It is a beautiful, thriving tree. Standing stately on the border of our property and his. The branches hang heavy with fruit. I am green with envy. I am also jealous of his lawn. It is immaculate! Granted, he cuts his grass twice a day (or maybe it just sounds like it). He also is a retired agriculture teacher. So I have no reason to try to 'keep up with the Jones'. It is a pointless attempt if I do. But I want to harvest my own 'crops'. I want to be able to walk out my door and pick a fresh peach off the tree... or a pear... or Brown Turkey Figs!!! I am vowing to have something planted to get at least one piece of fruit off of next year. Well, maybe to harvest the year after... I know a lot of fruit-bearing plants require becoming established first. We live on a little over 7 acres of land. Our land. Right here in the city of Athens. 7 acres that I should be able to do /something/ with. 7 acres with a pond. 7 acres with a creek at the back. 7 perfect acres to plant something in. Wouldn't it be lovely to have a peach and pecan orchard right in your back yard? I have wild blackberries that grow thick and full around the pond. How lovely would it be to have some blueberries or cherries too? If I had the money, I'd hire someone to come in and clear some of our 'forest' away in order to put in some plants to thrive. Looks like a project of that magnitude will have to wait until I finish up with college, and by then we may decide it's better to have a house out in Oconee county instead. Taxes in Athens are insane!! Until then, I'm going to seek out a couple peach trees to plant in the back yard... Now to just pick the perfect peach variety.