Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream

SifuPhil said:
Thanks for the explanation, Gary.

'Tis true - I've never used a privy. The closest was a 1/2 star motel in Tijuana in the '70's, but that's another story.

It took me a minute to see "LOO" spelled out - I swore from the bigger picture those were 1/4" microphone jacks.

It does look comfy, at least as comfy as can be in the woods. I'd still miss my indoor plumbing - I guess I'm just another spoiled pre-Millenial cultural Marxist anarchist. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

No worries, pard
I been to Tijuana too
I'd prefer the privy
 

I’m gonna take a bit of diary space to write about the technical side of living off grid
(aka; bore most readers to tears, or induce sleep)

Solar

Has yet to reach the common man
It’s there
It’s expensive if yer serious about it

My plan is to sneak up on it slowly
Start with Tesla or equivalent grade batteries
Charging them with generators/inverters first off

But

Not quite yet

This summer I have many projects on the schedule

Build;
a sun room
a bath house
redesign and build new cold frames for the garden
build a bigger, enclosed porch for the RV
consider wood sheds if there’s time

As for power at present

Generators

When I discuss our living conditions with folks from town, they say something like, ‘oh, you need a generator, don’tcha?’

‘A’ generator

We use five

And we thought the same while planning our move
Bought ol’ blue
BoVS3Qj.jpg

3000 watt
Built the first cabin with it

Does not run the big saws
So, I used smaller saws, cheap circulars, reciprocating saws, a benchtop miter saw, and hand saws
It did power a small air compressor, of which powered a good sized nail gun
it's now dedicated to running our nutribullet blender for fortified super smoothies of raw veggies

Then

I bought what seemed an economically inexpensive 2000 watt inverter genny for cabin power, of which softens surges harmful to things like computers
It was half the price of a high end unit
….and half the quality
We now use a Honda
b4Ak3y5.jpg


On its third year now
Only thing worn on it is the pull cord
The wood dampens the sound, even though it does nothing more than hum
I so love it

All these gennys take gas
Gas needs a home
Here’s our little hazmat shed
Aaa3Ny4.jpg



Powering the shop;

Behind door number 2
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are the gennys
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The big boy, 7000 continuous watt, is for the saws
Along with the low priced 2000 watt now as back up, and for shop lights, stereo, small tools
The cart is to wheel ‘em in when we go to town, or severe weather (wind driven horizontal rain, snow) happens


The well shack;


T7Mu7zv.jpg


M8udw6O.jpg


The pump is powered by a mid-range 3000 watt genny, with electric start
f1CrV58.jpg


I
Love
It

Bought it from a nice lady that thought she’d;
buy some property
build a hut
live off the land

she made it thru the winter
….pert near died

sold everthing
including her genny
to us


solar will come
but only after the technology settles down
and prices come more in line with the consumer market
and
I prioritize time

Yes, it’s pretty out here
Our cabins are cozy
And as I sit here, typing, while watching Hanna and her sisters, munching on a crisp apple, enjoying the warmth of the wood stove,
I harbor the ever-present knowledge that it’s not without price,

of which not many are willing to pay
 
Gary, it's good that you have that power if and when you need it. I'm sure it comes in handy.

CBD oil drop and balm update:

As of today both the wife and I have stopped using the CBD oil drops. Neither of us have noticed any real upside that warrants us to continue taking them and the bottle is about gone. We both upped our dosage from 1/4 dropper/twice a day to 1/2 dropper/twice a day last week and both had pretty much the same results. Both of us felt out of sorts shortly after taking the first raised dose in the am and even more so in the pm. It's a bit hard to describe but we just didn't feel right, we both had a bit of a mind fog and our bodies didn't feel quite right. My wife had these sensations a bit more intense and longer than I did. I got the brief uptick in energy I have been getting but it faded rather quickly and this disoriented feeling took over. It was well worth the try to see if it worked for us, unfortunately it didn't.

As for the balm, this stuff is the real deal! Every time we've used it on areas of pain it has given us both a high level of relief. We've used it on our backs, shoulders, elbows and feet and it's worked every time. The other day I aggravated the plantar fasciitis in my right foot while walking the dogs, (anyone who has had plantar fasciitis problems knows how painful and constant the pain can be). I put some balm on my foot as soon as I got home and within about 5 minutes the pain was almost completely gone. I put another round of balm on about 15 minutes later and in no time I was up walking around close to pain free. We have ordered two more containers of the balm and plan to keep it on hand at all times in the future. The fact that it is an all natural product puts it at the top of our list for pain relief. Another plus to the balm is the dogs absolutely love it, as soon as they see or smell the balm they are right in front of us trying to lick it off our fingers, lol.

Thanks to Gary for the info on the CBD products, we've gotten a good bit of pain relief from the balm! We're glad that you told us about them!
 

SifuPhil said:
Thanks for the update, Jim. Interesting that the oil didn't work but the balm did.

Did you get them both from the same supplier?
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I'm not sure of the science behind it, but we both think that where the balm is applied directly to the area where there's pain it has a better chance of getting to the affected area faster, without going through the digestive system and being absorbed like the drops the other effects we experienced don't happen.

Yes both were from the same supplier.
 
JimW said:
Gary, it's good that you have that power if and when you need it. I'm sure it comes in handy.

CBD oil drop and balm update:

As of today both the wife and I have stopped using the CBD oil drops. Neither of us have noticed any real upside that warrants us to continue taking them and the bottle is about gone. We both upped our dosage from 1/4 dropper/twice a day to 1/2 dropper/twice a day last week and both had pretty much the same results. Both of us felt out of sorts shortly after taking the first raised dose in the am and even more so in the pm. It's a bit hard to describe but we just didn't feel right, we both had a bit of a mind fog and our bodies didn't feel quite right. My wife had these sensations a bit more intense and longer than I did. I got the brief uptick in energy I have been getting but it faded rather quickly and this disoriented feeling took over. It was well worth the try to see if it worked for us, unfortunately it didn't.

As for the balm, this stuff is the real deal! Every time we've used it on areas of pain it has given us both a high level of relief. We've used it on our backs, shoulders, elbows and feet and it's worked every time. The other day I aggravated the plantar fasciitis in my right foot while walking the dogs, (anyone who has had plantar fasciitis problems knows how painful and constant the pain can be). I put some balm on my foot as soon as I got home and within about 5 minutes the pain was almost completely gone. I put another round of balm on about 15 minutes later and in no time I was up walking around close to pain free. We have ordered two more containers of the balm and plan to keep it on hand at all times in the future. The fact that it is an all natural product puts it at the top of our list for pain relief. Another plus to the balm is the dogs absolutely love it, as soon as they see or smell the balm they are right in front of us trying to lick it off our fingers, lol.

Thanks to Gary for the info on the CBD products, we've gotten a good bit of pain relief from the balm! We're glad that you told us about them!
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THAT! sir, is one helluva report!

Thank you so much

And, yeah, I'm not so sure about the oil myself
But, my lady swears by it, 'feeling' and all
It relieves her 'angst' (for lack of a better word) and she no longer ruminates about life from childhood to now (I'm buying out the store)

Overall, I'm right with ya
'The balm is the bomb', as you put it

again, thank you

keep a fire.....tin, keep a tin
 
Gary O' said:
THAT! sir, is one helluva report!

Thank you so much

And, yeah, I'm not so sure about the oil myself
But, my lady swears by it, 'feeling' and all
It relieves her 'angst' (for lack of a better word) and she no longer ruminates about life from childhood to now (I'm buying out the store)

Overall, I'm right with ya
'The balm is the bomb', as you put it

again, thank you

keep a fire.....tin, keep a tin
Click to expand...

I'm glad your wife is having good results from the oil. I've done a bit of reading on the CBD drops and one of it's main uses is for anxiety and stress. Anything that helps us feel better is worth the price of admission!
 
JimW said:
I'm not sure of the science behind it, but we both think that where the balm is applied directly to the area where there's pain it has a better chance of getting to the affected area faster, without going through the digestive system and being absorbed like the drops the other effects we experienced don't happen.

Yes both were from the same supplier.
Click to expand...

Thanks - that makes sense.
 
Someone, in another forum, posed the question; ‘What is your definition of a cabin?’

My reply;

For me?

It's more than even Kinkaid could replicate.
It's warmer than the warmest of wood stoves.
It has more charisma than the grandest of orators,
more appeal than the most opulent edifice built.

Yet it's simpler than the simplest of abodes.
...all the while doing its modest magic

Turning a mason jar to a drinking glass,
a tuna can to an ash tray,
a wooden apple box to a cabinet,
a burlap bag to a slip cover,
favorite old clothes to attire of choice,
a stranger to an acquaintance,
an acquaintance to a friend,
a wife to a mistress,

a life....to living.


And for me,

it's now home.


Beginning our third year here next month
Little has changed our outlook, our expectations
Enhanced?
Yes
Winters are long
They have their rewards not enjoyed in spring, summer
But spring
It’s what’s looked for, waited for
And it’s now here
Bugs have yet to hatch
The sun has yet to burn like summer
I can work all day, not just the morn
The air
Mountain air at 4550’ is so pure, so crisp in spring

The day started like most
fux5CMG.png


But
It’s spring now

I did work outside all day
Started in the shop, opened both double doors
Ended up outside, answering the call of this new season
Uncovering things, prepping garden spots for my lady

Ma nature laughs during spring
It could snow here in July
But today
Today was what one looks for, waits for
The first days of spring let you know just how outa shape a lazy winter can make you
Tonight I ache in places I forgot I had

Last thing I did today was make a screen door for the main cabin
Previous seasons I just fashioned a weighted screen that hung from the top of the jamb, vowing to ‘make a real one next year’

Heh, it’s now next year
I’d hoped, in my head, to fashion a sliding affair, as there’s not much porch room, and I hate contending with light swinging doors that don’t quite close flush, inhibited by the wind
The slider works better than I’d hoped
QCx8SOJ.jpg


qecHcLt.jpg


simple things, like handles, are fun
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sitting and writing have their own rewards

but after a day well spent
not much can be better
sBr3oyp.jpg


Not unhappy
 
sitting and writing have their own rewards

but after a day well spent
not much can be better
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The rewards of a day well spent doin' the things you love best ..is a day of happiness.....
 
Nice pics and good job on the screen slider Gary! Won't be long now until the flowers are sproutin up and the veggie garden gets planted.

Tomorrow we're due for temps in the mid 50's here and plenty of sun, it will be nice to get out in the yard and do some cleanup after a long winter.
 
JimW said:
Won't be long now until the flowers are sproutin up and the veggie garden gets planted.
Click to expand...
We've learned, here, to not get too serious in planting 'til at least May, and even then can be iffy
Gonna attack the garden with more cold frames
and tighter screens to keep out grasshoppers
last year they filled the meadow
 
Gary O' said:
yup
wunna the little ones

last summer I became some sorta grasshopper whisperer
wherever I walked in the meadow, they'd rise
not a good time of the season to be a mouth breather
Click to expand...


  • [h=1]Grasshoppers[/h] Grasshoppers are a popular delicacy in certain parts of Mexico, where the species consumed are nicknamed "chapulines."
    Protein: 30 g
    Fat: 3.8 g

    Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Mexican-grasshoppers-frie-011.jpg
 
Gary O' said:
We've learned, here, to not get too serious in planting 'til at least May, and even then can be iffy
Gonna attack the garden with more cold frames
and tighter screens to keep out grasshoppers
last year they filled the meadow
Click to expand...

About the same here timewise. I will plant the cold weather veggies (squashes, cukes, beans and such) in the 2nd week of May, but I don't plant any sensitive plants like tomatoes and peppers until Memorial Day weekend when chance of frost is minimal.

Last year my battle was with the evil Woodchuck!

Woodchuck.jpg
 
JimW said:
  • Grasshoppers

    Grasshoppers are a popular delicacy in certain parts of Mexico, where the species consumed are nicknamed "chapulines."
    Protein: 30 g
    Fat: 3.8 g

    Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Mexican-grasshoppers-frie-011.jpg
Click to expand...

I've been that hungry
not of late
 
JimW said:
About the same here timewise. I will plant the cold weather veggies (squashes, cukes, beans and such) in the 2nd week of May, but I don't plant any sensitive plants like tomatoes and peppers until Memorial Day weekend when chance of frost is minimal.

Last year my battle was with the evil Woodchuck!

View attachment 50423
Click to expand...

yup
I set all the live traps yesterday
 

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