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How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

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Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#91

Post by Ixiaus »

SageRaven wrote: post #81
sliverstorm wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is your comment about "toys" exclusive to those that require consumables? What about, for example, good knives and other various man-made tools? I've thought about doing this sort of thing, but I'd really miss quality tools if I had to give them up. That, and buzzing around on a motorcycle! But I imagine even if I had a good supply of money for fuel and tires, the high risk of injury when you're alone in the wilderne…

The value of quality, useful tools cannot be overstated. Just be wise in your choices and understand the expenses involved other the life of the tool. Don't buy cookware with teflon, as it will eventually wear off (nevermind the toxicity), but buy quality heavy duty stuff. I have a set of decent stainless steel cookware and a fair bit of cast iron, where the "non-stick" coating can be renewed (if not maitained) for t…

On a commune I lived on in Kentucky we had a Backhoe and tractor with an assortment of tools and power tools; we had a solar array to meet our electricity needs.

It was well worth having the Backhoe and tractor - for three people, some jobs are much easier when you have a machine to help (such as digging a wide long trench).

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#92

Post by lutusp »

10ren wrote: post #86
lutsp wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I owned the land outright. During my previous time with a NASA subcontractor in Silicon Valley, I realized that rent was a key problem and if I didn't own the land, the entire idea would collapse. Then I bought materials in cash and built a little cabin, which meant it was also paid for. I was entirely debt-free, which I regarded as essential (and still do). I started a little garden and had lots of free time to thin…

Thanks! It makes such a difference speaking to someone who's actually done it. Not theoretical. I guess you must have been relatively near civilization - at least a town. Can I ask how much money it took... and how much you think it would take today? I think it depends a lot on the land, which seems relatively expensive here in Australia; if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities. I get the impression there…

I want to start by saying this was 35 years ago. I chose a part of the country where land was relatively cheap (Oregon), and bought 5 acres for about $3000.

I built a small cabin at first -- 12x24 feet -- and this is where I wrote Apple Writer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer), while relying on a very long extension cord for power.

Later on I bought more land and built a larger house, but still with the idea of living cheaply firmly guiding my actions. Then my income went over a million dollars a year and I decided to do something completely different -- so I bought a sailboat and sailed solo around the world (http://arachnoid.com/sailbook).

> if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities ...

I chose Oregon because it rains a bit, and I had previously built a cabin in Colorado where it is very dry -- I decided that was a mistake. In Oregon, for water I walked up the hill behind my cabin and dropped a hose in a creek. If you choose the right altitude difference, you can duplicate normal household water pressure. For sewage, I built an outhouse.

It really was quite primitive. But it freed me from having to pay rent or needing much money, which meant I could think about anything I wanted. Then I acquired an Apple II, which ironically enough I probably wouldn't have done while working for NASA a few years before. I had this fantasy that I would write some cool programs and people would buy them, and I could just live in the country and people would mail me money.

The weird thing is that this is exactly what happened.

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#93

Post by 10ren »

lutusp wrote: post #92
10ren wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! It makes such a difference speaking to someone who's actually done it. Not theoretical. I guess you must have been relatively near civilization - at least a town. Can I ask how much money it took... and how much you think it would take today? I think it depends a lot on the land, which seems relatively expensive here in Australia; if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities. I get the impression there…

I want to start by saying this was 35 years ago. I chose a part of the country where land was relatively cheap (Oregon), and bought 5 acres for about $3000. I built a small cabin at first -- 12x24 feet -- and this is where I wrote Apple Writer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer ), while relying on a very long extension cord for power. Later on I bought more land and built a larger house, but still with the i…

Oh man, it's such an awesome story. Thanks so much for replying. Good to hear the shack wasn't the first iteration (nor the last). Did it take some experience to be able to build a stable, long-lasting shack (perhaps just woodwork in general?)

How far were you from a town, for food, construction materials, etc and a PO (I guess biking distance)? I guess you had a friendly nearby neighbour for the extension lead? [I've been thinking solar, which I actually used for a hp200lx, using 4 rechargeable AAs, but today's netbooks need a gruntier, more elaborate setup: large solar panel, lead-acid battery, transformer etc. Seems error-prone. Maybe a kindle-like ARM+OLED/e-ink/LCD will change this.]

I'd like internet - either wired or mobile (we have rural mobile coverage, and the govt just reelected campaigned for more) - instead of a PO, but I'd still need a local town for food etc. It scares me a bit to be too far away - but that's where the peace/silence is that I want/need.

Just to collect figures and conversions for reference: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%243000+1975

    $3,000 for 5 acres = $12,000 today 
    $40 per month      = $   160 today
      @ 10%            = $20,000 invested
    1200' ext lead = 365m
    Oregon 44N; Tasmania 42S
If these figures are applicable today, here in Australia, I could do this... now.

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#94

Post by c1sc0 »

jperkins wrote: post #71

People laugh when I tell them that my dream job is to tend a lighthouse (which are all largely automated now), but it's for reasons very similar to what you've outlined here: lots of free time for me to read and study what I'm interested in. So another possible solution is to identify a job that's based predominantly on the criteria of having a human present. A fire lookout comes to mind. The one hour of work/day wou…

Jack Kerouac did this in the fifties

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#95

Post by flannell »

DougWebb wrote: post #79
mman wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, this all stems from realizing the only reason i want to "get rich" is basically so i can live the life described. I want to do only the things that i want to do all the time. And the things that i want to do are extremely simple. But i am willing to give up some time to do other things. Yes, I would consider trading and selling involuntary activities. The only voluntary activities are reading, writing, thinking,…

If you've figured out a way to make eating and shitting voluntary, you should just write about that. The sales will be enough to ensure you never have to work again.

I had to +1 your comment, made me 'ROFL'

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#96

Post by DennisP »

lutusp wrote: post #92
10ren wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! It makes such a difference speaking to someone who's actually done it. Not theoretical. I guess you must have been relatively near civilization - at least a town. Can I ask how much money it took... and how much you think it would take today? I think it depends a lot on the land, which seems relatively expensive here in Australia; if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities. I get the impression there…

I want to start by saying this was 35 years ago. I chose a part of the country where land was relatively cheap (Oregon), and bought 5 acres for about $3000. I built a small cabin at first -- 12x24 feet -- and this is where I wrote Apple Writer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer ), while relying on a very long extension cord for power. Later on I bought more land and built a larger house, but still with the i…

> while relying on a very long extension cord for power

er...how's that? What did you connect to?

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#97

Post by 10ren »

10ren wrote: post #93
lutusp wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want to start by saying this was 35 years ago. I chose a part of the country where land was relatively cheap (Oregon), and bought 5 acres for about $3000. I built a small cabin at first -- 12x24 feet -- and this is where I wrote Apple Writer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer ), while relying on a very long extension cord for power. Later on I bought more land and built a larger house, but still with the i…

Oh man, it's such an awesome story. Thanks so much for replying. Good to hear the shack wasn't the first iteration (nor the last). Did it take some experience to be able to build a stable, long-lasting shack (perhaps just woodwork in general?) How far were you from a town, for food, construction materials, etc and a PO (I guess biking distance)? I guess you had a friendly nearby neighbour for the extension lead? [I'v…

I checked online real estate; the cheapest land I saw was $45,000 for 2 acres - with services available, but not connected, and with road access. I expect an unserviced, with no road, on the "edge of wilderness" bush block would be cheaper, esp if a private sale and if not online. I've tried looking in the past, with no luck; don't know how to find out about it.

Another conversion:

    5 acres = 20,234 m^s

Re: How do I become a self-sufficient old man in a shack?

#98

Post by lutusp »

DennisP wrote: post #96
lutusp wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want to start by saying this was 35 years ago. I chose a part of the country where land was relatively cheap (Oregon), and bought 5 acres for about $3000. I built a small cabin at first -- 12x24 feet -- and this is where I wrote Apple Writer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer ), while relying on a very long extension cord for power. Later on I bought more land and built a larger house, but still with the i…

> while relying on a very long extension cord for power er...how's that? What did you connect to?

I called the power company and asked for a "construction box." This is a very common request, rarely turned down, for a "temporary" power hookup for construction purposes.

The "temporary" box was located near the road, about 1/4 mile from my cabin, so I simply ran a very long extension cord through the woods. This arrangement lasted for years.

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