It's not a state utilities commission's job to manipulate society. It's to make reasonable decisions for the economic benefit of all involved, consumers and companies alike. I would argue it's not the Federal government's job to manipulate society either, although I'm part of the minority there. The original concept of democracies is that government does for us what we can't do as individuals - nothing more.

Preventing tragedy of the commons and making short term personal sacrifices for long term societal gains are things we are really terrible at as individuals.

The expression "tragedy of the commons" is a bit of propaganda sometimes. As I'm sure you know, the commons existed basically for most of human history. Specifically in Britain where the expression originated in 1833 the commons were seized and privatized after centuries of not tragic communal management. What you're saying is definitely true in the context of the atmosphere up to this point though. I just don't think "tragedy of the commons" should be blithely accepted as a rule of nature or something.

Question for everyone.

My big focus right now is on trying to figure out where I'm going with a couple of projects. I work a really awesome M-F, 9-5 (ish) job that I am incredibly grateful to have. I also am trying to grow my artistic stuff with an eye towards making THAT my 9-5 one day ... (or whatever hours) ...

Is it cool to post that stuff here? I always feel like I'm spamming my own stuff, and I hate that feeling. But I'm trying to figure out how to transition ... I have got to figure out how to feel comfortable selling my work. I need to get out of my own way, but at the same time I don't want to turn a thread about off-grid living into a constant advertisement.

My goal in all of this, is to be able to support my life with work that I love. And so I'm trying to do two things: reduce what I need, and grow the work. Meet in the middle.

Received issue #2 today. Plus Involved. Looking forward to giving them a read this weekend. Thanks. I see you also included a copy of #1. I’ll pass that out to a friend since I already have it.

I've done everything backwards. Now that I think the system is complete, I've been able to figure out my load. I recently ran everything I might use daily thru one power strip and attached that to a Kill-a-Watt ...

Max summer load: .75 amp, ~90 watt (laptop, phone and tablet charging, 3.5 watt AC light, desk fan (this is almost half the load), weather station)

Typical spring load: .40 amp, ~25-30 watts (laptop and small devices).

I have two lighting systems now, a 7 watt DC bulb (for when the inverter is off) and a 3.5 watt AC bulb. ... for some reason I thought the DC bulb would actually draw less power but comparing the multimeter reading to the KaW proved me wrong. Good to know.

The other day, maybe 10 hours, the entire time I had the KaW meter running, it pulled .2 kwH.

& Ranch #2 finally came out. I used a part of it to consider some of the people and situations I saw in jail...



However, instead of giving Yuri a dwi I put him in jail by mistake. Just because I was an idiot doesn't mean he has to be ...

A friend who does landscaping and construction is going to help me build the loft this summer. Hoping to keep the entire project cheap, it's just ~10 feet wide by 8-10 feet deep, six feet up.

If I can get the loft in place, I imagine the bed in the middle and storage on either side (because of the height of the roof there wont be a ton of space up there). But it will give me an entirely new living space, which I think will really help improve cabin life.

I've seen more snakes this year than ever before, but also more bugs, so something isn't doing its job. This little guy made it onto the porch ...



Have taken up archery again, right now shooting at 30 yards. I can hit a 5-inch circle about half the time. Fortunately, not interested in hunting.

Also, I'm on track to have all this paid off by the end of the year. Probably it will take longer, just because I'm not good at frugality or avoiding unexpected expenses. But I'm closing in on the goal.

Why would you think that? Watts is watts. You lose a tiny bit in the inverter but for the most part watts are watts.

It's been a bad snake year despite the cold winter. I saw my first rattle snake ever. He was only about 6 inches long but I beat that son of a ***** with a stick until it was a smear in the driveway.

Do not like snakes. In fact I just bought some "super duper" snake repellant devices on Amazon that look like solar landscape lights and "work" by emitting vibrations into the ground.

Need to get yourself a pet honey badger.

that is a garter snake and completely harmless and you can pick him up and carry him around. he is also good to have around as he will help but not eliminate pests that you dont want there.

the angle of the solar panels looks to be not steep enough for your latitude. they should be about the same angle as your latitude. which is around 45 degrees. your roof looks like a 4 /12 pitch so too shallow. but that is from my perspective from the picture. you can increase your input some by adjusting them.

Yeah that's what I meant by buggy this year ... I don't have a problem with snakes. I don't reach down and pick them up, but they do not bother me and there are very few venomous snakes in this region. My biggest concern was Gonzo would try and kill it, so I urged it off the porch.

I think it's going to be an awesome apple crop this year. All but the two oldest and unhealthiest trees are showing fruit. I cleared space around the youngest a couple of years ago so I'm hoping they are healthy this year.

Considering juicing the apples. They aren't great apples and certainly aren't worth money, but I'd like to utilize them since they're here. Open to other ideas.

Re: watts, I dunno. Some hangup in my brain, AC v DC.

Did you see the Texas story about the guy who beheaded a rattler and THEN almost died when it bit him?

Voltage Q:

The inverter display cycles between voltage and watts. If I wake up at 4 a.m. and it's pitch black, that means the batteries have been sitting for a while, neither charging nor discharging,

Full is around 12.7 v. ... I turn on the inverter, turn on the lights, and voltage drops to 12.5, 12.4, maybe lower, as I use power. The sun comes up and the panels start generating power. Voltage rises to 13 volts and up ...

As the voltage rises and drops in relation to load and charge, does that mean the batteries are using/receiving more/less power than load? If I'm using power at noon but the batteries read 13.2 volts, does that mean the panels are generating more than I'm using?

yes if reading higher than standing voltage you are generating power.
if lower drawing down the batteries.
13.2 is a maintenance charge and means you batteries are full at that point. if low they will accept a higher rate of charge if it is available.

snakes cant bite you after dead or beheaded. but like many animals people included can have reflex action from their nerves. so snakes can have their jaws open and close.

Ray, we've discovered the definition of "meaningless distinction."

I have made two major renovations in the last week: I purchased a shipping container, to use as storage and a shop; and I've built a loft for storage inside as well as a sleeping area in the winter.

These changes are huge. The cabin has gone from feeling cramped to cavernous (even though it's not). And the "shop" is a great second-space where I've built a workbench, moved the TV etc.

I think both of these changes are going to have a very good impact on quality of life in the cabin.







Looking to also make a few basic improvements before I put the walls back up. Probably upgrade the crappy plywood and get some more insulation in.

they make great storage. they also sweat alot from the metal condensation. the insulation may stop that. most have to vent them very well and keep good air circulation. pay close attention if you start to get any mold.

so you replaced the metal swing doors with two wooden ones with a window in between?
and you might look into adding a roof coating.

cool. nice new project. lots of them out west here. one friend has about 30 for his business.

No, the picture with the loft is the inside of the cabin. The shipping container is, at least right now, pretty much just a container.

Ok OOT ... any interior design folks around?

My container-storage-shop has give me the opportunity to redesign the interior any way I see fit. Where as just two weeks ago, basically everything I owned was crammed into the cabin. Now I have the chance to design it with some space, which is a welcome relief. **** I could just have a bed and desk if I wanted. After years of living in small apartments, this is pretty awesome.

So, any suggestions?

Because of the loft, lost window from the stove, and the obstructed front, the cabin will probably never be flooded with natural light. But I'd like to make better use of the space, if possible.

The schematic is not to scale of course, but combined with the photos gives a pretty good idea of what I'm working with. ... the bed is way too high, gonna chainsaw off about a third of the legs.







I'm gonna build some stairs for Gonzo into the loft ... he's discovered that by standing on the bed he can jump up, grab the wall and struggle himself up there. It is comically not-cat-like.

a two by six with carpet on it for gonzo.

No kidding **** the set of stairs

I too think that Gonzo is pretty cool with some exercise to get up there. But generally cool setup. Proof of the idea that you totally can make feel-good home on a pretty small space. May be JM can look-up an idea or two from here.


I thought about what I would make differently, but I think your setup is pretty close to perfect. May be some pretty curtains, but that is also probably more girl's thing.

smaller table, battery outside, ditch all the concrete blocks , they wont hold enough heat to make them worth giving up two and half feet of space. you'd get more energy saving and comfort with two storm doors. less pictures and stuff on the wall would make it seem bigger inside.
smaller lamp shade lamps. gives more room and look like they fit in a small places better. better yet overhead lighting.
a more colorful pattern on your bedspread.
how's that for a start :-)

Ha! You are good at that! Like the thoughts!