Really not creepy at all. It's so quiet, there's no way anything could sneak up on you. I used to be easily startled, but a lot of that went away here.

There was something to get over though. It felt different at first.

A deer did walk up beside the cabin once and did that whole aggro breathing thing, woke me up and scared the crap out of me. You can hear coyotes most nights, and I get woken by little varmint if I leave food out. But none of it bothers me anymore. Except maybe the coyotes, because I worry about the cat.

Yes. A farm down the road has a herd. I've been giving a lot of thought to goats, however. Start with two, for pets, and just see how it goes. The big decision is meat or milk. ... But livestock is a huge commitment. Once I get some goats, I may as well admit I'm not going anywhere and get some chickens as well.

Edit: I should probably get chickens first, practically. But goats are cute.

Totally get that. I also see it as a financial security move, but it's kind of far-out in that respect so I don't focus too much on it.

Exactly. ... And I don't even need it to be running, though it would be really helpful to get it in place.

Is the motivation for this more intangible in the vein of "I want to experience some **** before I die" or is it more practical in the vein of "I want to live in X environment because of reasons A, B, and C?"

There's definitely a mix of motivation.

I do want to reconnect with nature. To have more space. To own something. ... While I'm not a minimalist by any stretch, I'm not much of a consumer and I like living a life that reflects that. ... I like **** like this. I enjoy building things and doing different things.

The cabin turned into a heat sink. It's been hot for days and not cooling off too much at night. Sitting between a dehumidifer and a fan.

And I believe you're right about the question mark.

Sure, just removes nearly all the romanticism that goes along with that community/way of life (off the grid) that most would assume.

Thanks for the thread, this is very interesting. I just try to put myself in other's shoes so this is a little nutso but at the same time, practical.

It's like this is a challenge you were assigned. Given x plot of land and y number of dollars. Go and survive!

livestock, more like lifestuck amirite?

I'm sorry about that, always trying to add to my frontier-humor game.

Pretty sure de captain was talking about you banging the sheep

Dodger,

Thoreau wasn't all as romantic and noble as people make him out to be. He was basically just an antisocial bum-type guy who couldn't make friends or get any work or sell any books, so his boy Ralph Waldo said, "Sure, buddy, you can crash at my place for a while, but we're short on couches so you're gonna have to stay out by the pond." So he kind of freeloaded and came up with some cool ideas about nature while he was out in the woods and wrote them down. He still visited town frequently and hung around and rabbleroused and mooched off anyone who'd pay him mind -- he wasn't quite as Mr. Saint Hippy as people make him out to be. Sorry to drop compost on your illusions.

Sapo,

Always an interesting thread when you're around!

1) You writing any more books? I remember that one you wrote was pretty good.

2) Y'ever just say **** it and walk around naked?

3) Are there lots of bugs / mosquitoes? Do you deal with them at all or do you not mind them?

4) How much did it cost you all told for land / shelter / basic improvements / etc. I've actually been thinking for a while of doing something similar but I'm poor. Did you have any unexpected expenses?

5) You say you're doing freelance -- copywriting / editing I'm guessing, right? How does one go about doing that while maintaining a reasonable first world income?

LOL makes so much more sense now. Thanks.

Nicely done. May borrow that sometime.

No ur good, I appreciate it and am not surprised by it. Reality almost never coincides with the narrative.

There are actual romantics, and then others that are romanticized.

A near certainty.

This is awesome. Great post.

I read Amanda Palmer's book The Art of Asking and she had a section about Thoreau and how people would give him **** because they thought he "cheated" in what he was doing. I don't know enough about the history to really speak to it. I'd never heard that story. Apparently his mom made him donuts and did his laundry.

Still love his boring book.

Thanks! I've been experimenting with little zines, some illustrated poetry and then short stories. They're up on Etsy for a buck. It's basically just a way for me to connect my stuff with some people. I've sold about 30 or so pieces, nothing huge, but rewarding.

This reminds me I need to figure out overseas shipping. I got killed on Conspiratorial.

Here's the shop.



Frequently.

The trouble in paradise. Flies. A problem on the porch. I'm guessing it smells like a kitchen because it is. I try to be relatively clean but ...

All-in, I'd say $30,000. Land, cabin, excavator, tools, building supplies, energy storage system, generators. That's about it. No emergency expenses, though I totaled my car. Unrelated to the cabin of course.

I make the distinction on "emergency" expenses because I really never knew what I was getting into. I half-assed my way through a series of almost unrelated decisions, it sometimes seems.

I didn't know how much the road would cost to build when I bought the land. I barely walked on it when I bought it (snow covered). ... Didn't at the time know what I'd live in.

This was all pretty unplanned.

No, I'm now employed full-time.

Definitely true. But don't forget, what really came from that experience was an amazing piece of literature. Whatever he did there, however he did it, that was what resulted.

I guess that was the Amanda Palmer thing. Who gives a **** if his mom brought him donuts, we all got to read Walden.

https://www.gatesnotes.com/Developme...Raise-Chickens

The thing is, winter can be tough here. Keeping chickens warm seems like a lot of work and I wouldn't be able to leave. Well. I could eat them.

You don't want to play chicken with chickens and eventually chicken out and just eat chicken.

You should get on the farmland standup circuit.

somewhat relevant article i saw this morning. Sapo, just keep at it for 25 years and there's no telling where you'll end up.

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/0...-island-house/

He would be outstanding in his field.

exceptional

fyp

Just need to get you some of those tall boots like the Kiwi sheepherders wear.

.