The Success And Unsuccess Of It All

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Guest Post by Victoria Drake

I’ve lived off the grid a few times, successfully and unsuccessfully. I’d like to share with you those experiences and my plan for living off of it full-time for the remainder of my days. Now I’m not a rich person. I won’t have a pension and I’ve always made around $1,200 a month, give or take. I have been homeless, by choice and completely unrelated to living off-the-grid, to learn from the experience, and I did just that. Essentially, I took it too far and changed my mindset so much, I didn’t know how to reintegrate into regular society again without first coming back home to my family and relearning it again. But I did learn the valuable lesson of the importance and preciousness of having a home and possessions.

This was my very first dream. And I may still do it, although as most first dreams, very pricey. Around $40,000+

The Successful Experience: My boyfriend and I had a converted school bus in the high mountains of the southwest desert. It was successful because we never suffered once and it could’ve gone on forever.

Why it was successful:

  1. The bus was nicely converted with insulation, tongue-and-groove and fully furnished, so it was comfortable and lovely. Someone had lived in it before, so it was time-tested, a very big bonus.
  2. He had old family friends with land and they had permanently moved to another state, so they didn’t mind us being parked on their property indefinitely. Hence, no land payments.
  3. We had solar, but not much, and 12-volt batteries. Since there weren’t enough panels, we could hook up the stereo and TV to our car batteries and still get our entertainment. Our cars always started right up the next morning. We had a generator, but those things are loud and expensive and we never used it.
  4. We had propane for our cookstove. We had a propane heater and a carbon monoxide detector, so we stayed super warm and cozy on those cold winter desert nights.
  5. We had a solar shower and plenty of family and friends nearby to take a real bath. There was a beautiful treated wood shower stall on the bus where we could hang the solar shower. We had an outhouse and a portable toilet for those cold winter nights when you don’t feel like trekking to the outhouse.
  6. We had his mother’s well at the base of the mountain to fill up our 5-gallon water jugs for the bus and the water tank truck for the garden. We’d run a hose into the water tank on the truck and suck-suck-suck on the other end and I’d be watering the garden in no time. High desert gardens definitely require a good watering.
  7. I worked at an upscale B&B only two nights a week, Friday and Saturday, and pulled in $100 a night. I enjoyed my job and liked being there. He worked in his family’s business and made good money, but not great.
  8. All of the above adds up to no bills. We had no debt. I always had money to buy whatever I wanted and never once did I need for anything.
I fell in love with a lot in Eureka Springs, Arkansas for sale for a mere $5,500. This is what I designed for it. Don't laugh. I don't have a good design program, so some things are just representational and not exact. And, yes, I am a big on bathtubs and that's a farmer's sink. There's no sink in the kitchen, no need for one. Just go around the corner and wash dishes in the one sink. I'm not a fan of dishwashers. In the kitchen, you're looking at a refrigerator, a deep freeze and a stove. Then there's an island with storage beneath. I still really like this design. I think I'd just add an all-in-one washer and dryer unit in either the bathroom or kitchen. And the measurements are totally off; something that compact can be done in a lot smaller space than that.

The Unsuccessful Experience: I alone had a school bus in the Ozarks of Missouri. It was unsuccessful because I suffered too much and it did not go on forever.

Why it was unsuccesful:

  1. 1. The bus was not converted yet. I bought it in Springfield with seats and drove it to my mountain. It had a nice strong engine and really should’ve been a bus converted for traveling and living rather than being parked full-time and it was a good buy, only $1,500. Friends and myself pulled the seats out right away and made some good money because there’s lots of scrap yards in the Ozarks. An empty shell is much easier to live in than a bus with seats. But it didn’t have any insulation nor a propane heater and when winter hit, it was too cold.Lesson – Don’t live in a project as it is being converted or being built. Live somewhere else and work on your conversion or build. Once it is complete, then move. Be prepared for the winter by having heat. Preferably, be prepared many months in advance then there’s no worries.
  2. I had a land payment. It was low at only $145 a month and I always told myself, “You can always find a way to come up with $145 a month,” but after several years, just a few years back, I found I couldn’t come up with a way to make $145 and after several months, I lost the property as it reverted back to the seller. Several thousand dollars lost and I was a very heart-broken girl as I loved that land and that bus so much. I gave the bus and my boat to a friend who has a general store and some property he lets others stay on.Lesson – Don’t live on the property you’re paying for. Either save up the money and pay for it outright or make payments on it while living somewhere else, and then move onto it when it’s fully paid for.
  3. I had no solar or generator and no 12-volt, hence no entertainment. In our society, we are so used to commotion of some sort around us. Don’t go crazy without having all of that around. Sometimes I think the term cabin fever or stir crazy may relate to this as well as the idea of being closed in. Now this is actually a pro too. I liked just having nature.Lesson – It’s not necessary to drag society in the form of mass entertainment out to the wilderness, unless you need it to avoid going crazy. Nature is very nice, but there is an adjustment period, so be prepared.
  4. I had a propane cookstove too, so no problem here. But I did run out of money and couldn’t afford food.Lesson – Don’t run out of money, freezing and starving are no joke. In these situations, have a car that will start in the severe cold or the ability to walk out.
  5. I had a camp shower, so no problem here either, although it was too new-fangled. Just the basic black solar shower bag that heats up in the sun is the way to go. I didn’t have an outhouse dug yet and my RV toilet mysteriously disappeared on its trip to the Ozarks, so the time-tested, dig a hole and bury it, method worked.Lesson – Build your outhouse as one of your first projects. Make sure you have your portable toilet and your hole dug. Otherwise, install a septic and get everything hooked up before occupying the property. I am familiar with composting toilets, although I’ve never personally owned one, so they also are an option.
  6. I had a friend with a well, so no problem here. And eventually, I would’ve had a well dug on the property.Lesson – Ideally, have a property with a well or have it dug before moving onto the property. I don’t mind hauling water, so it’s no problem. But to be truly self-reliant, it would be better to have your own well, and remember, they are expensive, so have $4,000 to $6,000 to pay for one.
  7. I had two different jobs and for a time, they overlapped. Unfortunately, I didn’t love either one of them and found too much fault with the jobs, so I didn’t stay with them. And, honestly, it made no sense as both places were amazing places to work.Lesson – Always have a reliable source of income or a nicely-funded savings account. Love your job or have money to back yourself up in case you don’t.
  8. All of the above adds up to a land payment, no source of warmth, not enough comfort, a work in progress and no money coming in. A formula for failure.Lesson – Have no bills. Have everything paid for and set up. Have a good steady source of income or a well-funded savings account.

Combining the Successful and Unsuccessful Experiences: Taking the successes learned and the mistakes made from both experiences, I’ve created my plan, which is where I’m at right now. I’m in Kansas at my family’s place, which works out beneficially for both parties. I have no bills, so all of my income goes to savings. Luckily, I’m a natural saver, so once it hits the savings account, it goes nowhere. My mother is older now and no longer drives. She needs someone to get the groceries and other sundry items she needs. I like to cook and clean up and after years of doing it herself, she enjoys being waited on. It’s a win-win situation. And once I’m gone, although she misses me dearly, there’s another sibling that takes over.

A Shelter-Kit I really love. Sells for just above $9,000 as a kit.

I have a four-fold plan.

  1. Save up and buy a nice car. Pay for it in full. I did this in September of 2010. I had my old pick-up truck from my place down in the Ozarks, but it wasn’t something that could last for 10 to 20 more years.
  2. Save up and buy a place on the grid in the Ozarks. Pay for it in full. I’m 1/4 to 1/3 of the way there and it’s only been a few months since I started saving again after buying the car. I’ve learned saving is the way to go and I should have a place by the end of the year or next year. I can get a place for as little as $12,000 to up to $20,000 and it includes up to a few acres. I’ve even seen one with nearly 10 acres, but that’s unusual. It will be a cabin, a small house or a mobile home. It will be completely on the grid. This serves two functions. One is my mother tends to freak out when I’m living off the grid, so out of respect for her, I will stay on the grid. Two, it gives me time to work out every detail of living off the grid, so I’ll do it right for the long haul. I know I have a lot to learn, especially about newer and better ways of doing things.
  3. While living on the grid, save up and buy land, have a well dug, outhouse dug and built, septic put in and purchase other essentials, such as solar panels, batteries and a propane heater. If I’m going to have a tiny cabin, have it built and help where I can. It must be completely finished before occupying it. If I’m going to convert another school bus, completely convert it before moving into it.
  4. Live in my fully set-up place out in the wilderness. Sell my on-the-grid Ozarks property and have a little nest egg. Since I will have no bills and the only expenses will be food, gas and propane (notice they’re all fuel; I can’t figure out a way around them), my Social Security check, which will be coming up in a few years after I arrive there, will cover me just fine. If Social Security doesn’t exist then (I think it will for my generation, but I’m wondering about the generations after me), then I will have my savings. I’d rather retire like most folks in my 60s and 70s and just putter around, but if I must work, I will.

I got inspired by Tall Pines Inn in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a place I highly recommend. I've never felt more comfortable or more at home in my life than when I was in this log cabin. I could've stayed forever. It's just the perfect size. I don't have the dimensions, but it's tiny house living. Next to that bed is the enclosed bathroom. I'd just add a small kitchen in the corner and that's it. This design I'm pretty serious about and I think it could be done for around $20,000.

That’s it. In a nutshell, have everything set-up and everything paid for in full. If anyone has any suggestions for things I haven’t thought of yet or things I don’t know about or notices any obvious holes, I’d love to hear from you. I didn’t mention lights in either of the real-life scenarios. That’s because I’m not that picky about them. We had a 12-volt light and lanterns in the first place and I had flashlights and lanterns in the second place. I can’t speak to building restrictions because I’ve lived in places without them and I always will. Other than that, I can’t see where I missed anything, but that’s why it’ll be nice to hear from other folks. I love to talk school buses, as I consider them the ideal tiny house, so if there are any school bus fanatics out there, please send me an email. I could listen and talk all day with you.

I keep a blog, Ozarks Crescent Mural, on Blogger. Right now, it’s mostly about real estate, since that’s the topic of the moment for me. Later on, it will be about my life, with lots of scenic pictures, and then my build or conversion. I will be taking a trip down to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and all of southern Missouri in July of 2011, so look out for lots of pictures and information then. Feel free to stop by anytime. It’s irregular, but it’s kept up.

Here's how I would set up a bus conversion. And, again, no laughing. It's Better Homes and Gardens Arrange-A-Room program and since I have a vintage iBook Clamshell, it's about all that will work on it. You'll have to imagine there's a driver's seat and steps at the front (left side). My kitchen is basic and that's how I like it. Table with propane turkey fryer for my cooktop. Food storage beneath. Table with benches across from it. Living room next. Bathroom and closet. What's at an angle is a clawfoot tub. I've gotta have my tub. And that round thing is a toilet. I know it's next to the bedroom, but there's a curtain there separating the bed from everything else. Some people like built-ins in buses and I like it gutted and open with regular furniture. I've seen it both ways and I've lived in it both ways.

45 thoughts on “The Success And Unsuccess Of It All”

  3. I do have some suggestions:

    1) read Eric Lund Fisker’s ‘Early Retirement Extreme’ for good advice on how to be done with working. I think this is useful for folks looking to live small (or tiny)

    2) Read ‘Rocket Mass Heaters’ by Ianto Evans and Leslie Jackson, for information on building a super efficient stove that you can cook on and heat your little place.

    3) when you get your property, decide where you’re going to have a woodlot, and plant a big bunch of black locusts. (this shouldn’t be anywhere near your garden- they sucker). Black locusts are extremely hard, grow fast, and respond great to coppicing. Let your BLs grow for about six or seven years and you can start harvesting them by either cutting them to the ground, or cutting them a little lower than waist high. They’ll sprout saplings out of what’s left of the trunk, (which in coppicing parlance is called a ‘stool’ and you can harvest them in six or seven years. If you rotate through your locusts, you can have a good source of firewood that doesn’t need to be split and puts out a lot of heat. So no more propane costs. (BLs also have lovely flowers in the spring and make great bee forage).

    That’s all for now- it sounds like you have a good plan. Good luck!

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    • Thanks for the book recommendation. Although I think its Jacob Lund Fisker, not Erik.
      Either way, I got the book for the Kindle and found the blog.
      Cheers:)
      -jeff

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  4. The Ozarks are a gorgeous place to settle, but a few cold snaps will really take you down a notch. The way we handled our land deal when we lived outside of Rogersville (near Springfield), was to immediately pay and get deeded the 5 acres we put the house on. We then paid each month for the rest of the 43 acres. Even today, you can find 2 acre plots with a mobile home for less than $15K (very used, of course).

    Your posts do show the reality and largely make sense. Wisdom is something that visits us no matter what. It can be a trusted friend or a dreaded enemy, but it WILL visit us. I wish I could say that I welcomed it as a friend.

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  6. Great ideas and exactly what I did for my retirement. I get my first SS check next month and will be able to live quite happily on it since I am a minimalist.

    One thing you need to consider is illness/accidents. How would you handle these things? Insurance for me is unaffordable since I have a number of auto-immune diseases and also will not be able to get Medicare at 65 since I was a SAHM all my life. This is my one big worry and concern as it has to be for we oldies but goodies. We war babies and baby boomers are the bane of Big Brother!

    Best of luck with your future dream. I would like to follow you along your path and see how you are getting along. Will check out your blog. 😉

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    • not to mention, the damn universal health care being deemed unconstitutional by the judge. i don’t get how you can pass a law, but then it’s just gone… that’s another discussion tho…

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    • Oh, it’s so nice to hear someone is living off of their SS check. I figured that’s where some might think I’m impractical, but my Mom does it: SS and my father’s pension. That’s why I’m saving for a nest egg too, in case I can’t count on SS. As far as health, I’ve been blessed and rarely been to a doctor or hospital in my life. Every time I’ve had health coverage via an employer, I’ve never used it, not once. The few times I’ve been to a doctor, I just went into a walk-in clinic and paid $70 for the one-time visit.

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  7. @Paula

    Regarding black locust:
    Read up and chose plants wisely. You can quickly do damage that will take generations to undo. The right plant for one place can be utterly wrong for another.

    Black locust
    # suppresses native tree seedlings due to shade
    # enables invasion by other non-native species by enriching the soil with nitrogen
    http://www.treecanada.ca/tree-killers/black-locust.htm

    Black locust poses a serious threat to native vegetation in dry and sand prairies, oak savannas and upland forest edges, outside of its historic North American range.

    http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/rops1.htm

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  8. Hey your final plan sounds like a good one. Going with the well and septic is nice because you will be set-up and comfortable forever.

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  9. I don’t know too much about the area you are talking about but is it possible to rent out the property you will be buying and keeping that as a source of income? Maybe you consider that too “on the grid” but as long as the property is in a desirable area you can often cheaply hire a agency to take care of handy-manning the place and other upkeep while still reaping a profit.

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    • I’ve thought about rentals as a source of income in a few scenarios. One is buying an inexpensive property or two in St. Louis. There are many. Another is buying my “on-the-grid” place on enough acreage that I could put my “off-the-grid” place on the same piece of property and rent out the first place. Another is I’ve seen duplexes out in the country or in very small towns – I live on one side and rent out the other. I’m just not so sure I want to be a landlord or if I really need the extra income.

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      • Keep your eyes out for a skilled builder who might want to partner with you. Offer them a site or partial ownership of the development and they might use their skills and tools to help build your vision and some equity along the way. I am a builder and times are slow so i build sheds, cabins, trailers, playhouses whatever it takes. I have a “real” house and a mountain camp with a tiny cabin and soon-to-be converted shipping container. I’m going to build some wall-tents and a yurt too and wait for the cops to come give me a hard time. ha ha best wishes

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        • I too love the shipping containers . when I asked about the shipping containers in my planning and zoning ( building dept in Delaware ) and they said that I need to have engineer to design it . After searching some in NJ or GA ( they are too far from my state ) the engineer would charge about $ 10 K to get a design , to get approved in my building and zoning area …after that , I gave up the shipping containers .
          TM.

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  10. Eminently sensible plans, good stuff! I tried being a landlady once, there can be a lot of headaches. If you’re able to do it without that option you’re usually better off, unless you can find the ‘ideal’ tenants. I’ve seen some good relationships ruined over property, and sometimes people who seem so wonderful turn out to be anything but when things aren’t going their way. Tenants (or their guests)can damage your place and you may end up responsible for some big bills. Tenants can also be very demanding when it comes to repairs and renovations and may be difficult to get rid of without resorting to legal expenses even if they’re causing trouble or not paying rent.

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  11. Hey Victoria,
    Love reading your thoughts!
    I want to settle in or around Harrison (Love the Country Mountain Inn in Eureka) in the next year and would love to pick your brain about how to find out about codes, etc., especially for that area. Any step by step info you could provide would be great. I have an aging parent up that way and want to move, and love her but just don’t want to live WITH her!
    Growing up in the Ozarks in the 80’s we had some friends who lived in a bus. Most people thought they were nuts, but our family thought it was unconventional, but cool. Gonna check out your website, too.

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  12. I admire Victoria . You seem to be a strong will lady .
    I love your idea ( save up and live off what you have ) I have been doing just that . I saved up and bought the land , got the septic and in 3 weeks , I will have the well …but then …I have no idea what to do next …because like your mom concerned … I don’t want to live alone in case I may get sick , but then I don’t want to live with my kids either , since they live in the big cities and I hate traffic ( I am an Asian elderly 51 years old ) I come here once a while hoping to get an idea how I can build something for myself in my land …without a monthly payment mortgage …so far , I still looking …not find any yet …but to Victoria : keep up your strength , your dream and your hope , some days with determination , you will get what you always want ( I feel for you when you lost your land and your bus ) . Best wishes . TM.

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    • TM, What a sweet response. You really touched me and your story is so very interesting. You’ve really been working hard. I certainly hope you do find what you want to build or maybe find one that is pre-built and moved to your place. It sounds to me like you are on the right path. I would love to hear more from you. Feel free to stop by my blog so we can stay in touch.

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      • I used to live in Sanjose , Ca when I went to college there . Now I live in DE . Thanks for your offer ( consult ) but now my land is in DE …too cold to have the Japanese tea house . I love the small log home, but it is still $ 40 K at least to have a small one …too expensive for my budget . Thanks any way . TM.

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  13. Hello Victoria! I am encouraged by your plan, mine is very similar, and Im due to commence retirement in 8-9 years. Healthcare and availability can be crucial, while working alone there last summer, I fell on a ladder and shattered my leg, looked like the end but after yelling for help for 2 hours some wonder folks heard it and found me I got good care and am walking again but just the Helocopter ride to the Trauma center cost $18 THOUSAND dollars! I have insurance now, but after retirement???

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  14. You Can get insurance for catastrophic illnesses and events, and just keep a little savings for doctor or dental visits. Its much cheaper.
    About the fuel, Find a site with good solar exposure, get some good books on passive solar building design, there are many. Get some lanterns with solar rechargeable batteries, some have a panel right on the top, so you can just sit them out in the sun. Baking and slow cooking can be done in a solar oven, or a wood fired bread oven, both can be built from instructions by any one. Look into rocket stoves, there are many ingenious designs that use twigs and wood small enough to be gathered and broken by hand. There are designs for owner built gadgets of all kinds on the internet, but for off the shelf gadgets try REAL GOODS, a store full of off grid stuff, they have a web store and a paper catalog. Like wise, try LEHMAN’S , they supply the Amish and Mennonite community, get the paper catalog, the web site doesn’t show much.
    I am happy to see a posting of this kind by a woman, I hope to do this soon my self in west Virginia. If you find people close to you, perhaps you can work together to build things, like barn raising.

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  15. It sounds like you are thinking ahead in a responsible manner. Good for you! I have off the grid experience as well and am planning to go back someday, but not without extensive planning.

    I’ve seen too many people go off the grid without the slightest thought about what their everyday lives with entail. You’ve got a decent grasp on the situation.

    I would suggest that you might consider that Social Security won’t be there when you become eligible. I know that I am planning not to rely on it because I have serious doubts that the government will continue Social Security coverage. So I am researching ways to support myself without it.

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    • The ‘vanishing’ Social Security is just another tea party scare tactic. Economists have studied the issue and it is something that can easily be dealt with using only minor changes that won’t really hurt anyone. Even if nothing is changed at all it will be decades before any shortfalls. But it will be fixed before that happens. Fear is just another method to maintain power. Don’t worry, be happy!

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  16. Hello Victoria .
    What is your blog ? I can’t find it ( may be I am too old ? …lol…)
    My email is trisha_nguyen22306@yahoo.com if you want to get in touch with me . I live in DE .
    I came from half of the globe ( From Asia ) to come to USA 30 years ago . English was my third language . I learned to save the money since I was young because my country is the communist , therefore people has been living in poverty and hunger all the time , we didn’t believe in banking, we paid everything in cash . I got married in US , unfortunately , I was a domestic violence victim …so I vowed to myself …I need to survive for my kids and myself . I have saved and saved the money for my kids and I can have a safe place to live without abusive . For 10 years …I have saved and I got what I have today …
    Now , I am so confused …everything is so expensive to build …a little cottage is about $ 25 K to $ 30 K …and I really don’t want a loan to do it …Since I was hospitalized because of my ex ‘s violent , I became disability and I got my sick money …that is not enough to build anything , that is only enough to live day to day …without luxury .
    This is why I admire American women who are strong enough to live and do what they believe that they can do…( at least you tried …loosing your land and your bus , is only made you smarter and give you more experience to do better in later days ) Asian women were taught to be obedient to their husbands and to depend on their spouses this is why Asian women can’t do anything because they were too afraid …if we do as American women ( strong will ) then our families members ( parents and siblings or relatives ) they are not approved of us …I just want to live happily without violence and not owing anything debts …that is so hard to do . Specially the economy now is so tough , it is so hard to have a tiny place to live without any debt . This is why I keep coming back to this blog to get inspired …TM.

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  17. Great insight! May I add my 2 cents. You can get start living on the property without a cabin by purchasing a used cargo trailer and converting it to a camper or just get a used camper fo a couple of grand that you can live in while building your cabin then sell them to someone else so you get some money back from them. Because they are mobile, most counties won’t give you grief regarding permits. Here is a link to a forum where there are a bunch of people converting their cargo trailers; great source for ideas. http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=42
    Paying cash is definately the way to go. I believe in saving money as well, then you never have to take out loans. You may also consider a small generator such as the Honda 2000i. It is very quiet but provides up to 2000 watts of power and can be connected to another to double power, but would be great for running small appliances.
    Love what you doing. Best of luck! I’m in Kansas City, MO by the way and have also been considering getting a lot near the Ozarks, but I don’t plan on building a cabin. Instead I will use my 6X12 Cargo Trailer that I’m currently converting to a camper. Used ones by the way will run $1500 – $2000 depending on size and condition. New ones are not that much more and can easily be towed by a small truck, van or SUV.

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    • Hello Cephus .
      If I am a man …or younger …I would not hesitate to do as you suggested . However ( and I don’t believe in excuses , this is the fact ) that the land I have …it is in the rural area , with 15 minutes drive from the bad neighborhood ( crime and such ) if I live the way you said …I don’t think it is safe , nor practical to me ( because after my ordeal from the violent ex …I have had some medical problem and it is not a good idea to live alone in my land . ) I have my land , I have my car and I have some cash …but to me …living in a sound strong small house ( with a tight door ) is much safer than living in the trailer in the middle of 5 acres land …with 5 minutes away from my neighbors …this is too scary .
      I guess I am chicken , I just want to be safe …( I don’t want to be a target of a crime ) so I need to save more money , to build a strong small house …no trailer ( we have storms and hurricane here several times a year …) the trailer likely to end up in the neighbor ‘s land and I may get charged of …Unauthorized trespassing …lol…Just kidding , but thanks for your idea . TM.

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  18. This was a great read and I think the writer hit some very valid points on the planning do’s and don’ts. I don’t mean to sound critical but while the author gave good planning tips, she failed to share how she survived while she was saving up all that money. Where did she live, work, etc., while she was preparing to do these things? We all have dreams of where we want to be and that special small place in the country, but I was most interested to understand how she actually executed her plan, but that piece was missing.

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    • Hi Randy,

      If you get a few moments, you may want to re-read it. The first experience (successful) was already paid for as my boyfriend owned the bus and our friends owned the land. Any food or shopping we needed to do was paid for by our jobs. The second experience (unsuccessful) was largely unsuccessful because everything wasn’t set up and there was a lack of money due to me being too picky about jobs, which were perfectly good ones. The future (my 4-step plan that I’m living right now) is all laid out and the key word is “future” meaning it hasn’t happened yet. Only Step 1 is done and I’m well into Step 2 right now. In the paragraph about living with my family and working hard and saving, I cover how I’ll be paying for it all.

      I hope that answers your questions.

      Take care and thanks everyone for reading.

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  20. You may want to check this site out wwww.twelve3.ca. It’s a Canadian co. on Vancouver Island. They are expensive, but I found it great for ideas. They are very well done ….look good and a lot of thought put into the layout. No wasted space. Anyway I found it to be great for ideas. Hope it helps inspire ideas. I have become obsessed with tiny house sites, and like you, hope to live free of debt and make a minimal footprint while I’m here.Good Luck

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  21. Great insight! i too had my plan in phases, but considering removing a step. i live in a tobacco barn turned house on my uncle’s land. Its “on grid” and my origional plan was to live here while building a tiny house in the back yard, to be moved to an “off grid” location, once everything was ready and tested. i still like that idea, but my family loves having me here and i like it here. So i’m considering staying and removing this house from the grid one utility at a time as i get my own systems in place. I’ll be using a lovable loo, rainwater catchment and a very small solar set up(plus some ‘electricity free’ options). I could then put my tiny house money towards an auquaponics greenhouse. This would remove the food “fuel” from the budget and the land itself provides me with unlimited cook/heat fuels. Wouldn’t be as “tiny” as my origional plan, but the barn house is still under 500 square feet and someone already used resources to build/renovate it. Will be sure to use your “Successful” guidelines in my plans, and hope your new adventure turns out well!

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  22. We all learn from our failures and successes, when we take the time to reflect and document the journey, but the more we can learn from others mis-steps the more successful we should be.

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  23. I’m starting to free guilty after reading these blogs but I have been really lucky compared to some of you. But now I am living on civil service pension which is as sound (or unsound) as SS. I’m planning on going small and have thought of going off the grid but I may be kidding myself. I have always been a saver and have paid for things in cash. Never paid interest on my credit card and will drop my debit card (which I only used to buy money orders at the USPS) next year when they start charging. I’ve downsized once before when my wife got the house and I got the condo but those HOA fees are starting to add up. Also, the county now says it worth half of what I paid for 8 years ago, so it may be a while before I can strike out an buy some land. I may have to bite the bullet because I’m not sure the market will ever go up enough for me to break even. Unfortunately, the Ozarks is too far from friends and family. I’m limited to KY, TN or GA. I take it the “successful times” ended with the boyfriend. It’s too bad relationships have to end poorly, emotionally or financially. My wife and I are still friends and I am able to survive (so far) on my pension and savings as long as I don’t live too long and when I die, she’ll get half of the pension for as long as she lives. PS: I like that Shelter Kit also, but it’s only worth a fraction of the price they charge. If you get one, copy everything you get and go to the local lumber yard and get a bargain for the second unit. I have been unable to find the plans that accompany the kit so that I could do that my self.

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  25. I’ve actually already have that book recommended by a friend who is very good with tools. He says I don’t know which end to hold hammer by and he’s right.

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  26. If you get SS you are entitled to Medicare, ALTHOUGH they do take a chuck — about $100– aout of your SS check to pay for it. If you are getting SSI you have to wait 2 years after starting before you get Medicare. Also check into your state’s program. In Ca it’s called MediCal. There’s also Colleges and sliding scales. I have the V.A. and a sliding scale for when I can’t get in to the V.A. I too have autoimmune diseases, ie Lupus and Fibromyalgia, and treatment can get expensive. It is also why my land I am buying is not as remote as I would have liked. Had to get practical with my problems and age coming on. I have 2 acres on the Kenai Penninsula in Alaska. Can’t wait for it to be paid off. Still have 9 years on the contract but hope to be able to start making double payments AND I got it interest free from a man who had to leave the area and just needs monthly income. It will be ALL off grid so I am working on compost toilet, propane fridge, wood stove etc. We all have our dreams and some of us are lucky enough to be able to live them.

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  27. Great blog and cool idea. Like you I have been homeless, lived in my beautiful big house in upper middle class America and lost it all. Starting over in a old garage.

    I have a small 485sq ft house. Bed, bath, kitchen, and small common room. Perfect. Small pole barn too. I am rehabbing, but will be on grid for now. Well and septic. Here in Michigan, depending on the county they are very open minded. However. Here is one thing no one talks about. Taxes.

    Most states have property taxes. They can and will go up. You will need to be on top of them. Tax bills not paid will cause you to lose your land. So be aware of this. My taxes on my 2 ac and small house will be 700 this year. Just be aware of it.

    I wish you all well. If your a city person remember there are a lot of people out looking for your stuff. Good gates and fences make good neighbors. The police may be non existent. Blend is and enjoy. Also, have a night light you can turn off. City people always have these damn big on all night lights. If you love the country, turn them off.

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  28. The whole gist of this article seems to find a way to live that requires doing as little as possible with your life, and supplementing what you can’t provide for yourself by mooching off of those who make a more conventional effort to provide for themselves.

    We were not made to be unproductive. We are creative beings, we are meant to produce. Each morning, I have my children to care for, and to educate (we are a homeschool family). I have food to prepare, and a home to clean. Five days a week, my husband goes to a job, in order to provide food, clothing, and shelter. We are not burdened by this routine; it is a gift to be able to be productive. We are blessed to be able to also serve those who need help.

    The idea of living “off the grid” has its romantic appeal, but this article seems less about self-sufficiency and more about finding a way to subsist as minimally as possible in order to avoid having any routine responsibilities in life. Working hard to chase after material ambitions is not everyone’s cup of tea, and too many people put their faith in things and stuff, but the opposite extreme of rampant materialism is living like a beggar.

    There are places in the world where begging is a reality of crushing poverty and a dearth of options, but America is still a land of opportunity, and integrity and reliability are about all a person needs in order to elevate themselves above such hardships. Playing vagabond is a twisted mockery of the suffering that others endure, from lands where people would risk their lives for the privilege of opportunity that exists in America.

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