Melissa James

A plant is a lovely welcome gift.

The nicest neighborly welcome I've had came from someone who took the time to come over and introduce themselves. They didn't bring a gift, as the conversation was the gift.

They shared fond stories of the former owners, a little background of the neighbors, history of the neighborhood, and even some tips on caring for the trees.

It was done in a way that didn't feel overbearing and helped me feel welcomed "home."

+1 to Josh Hoffman's comment.

I purchased a (very small 8' x 6' x 6') aluminum trailer to heal from mold + chemical illness.

It was made without high VOC products. It is too small for longer-term, but it provided an option when desperately needed. It was custom built to be mold and mildew resistant with metal walls and a metal floor. It does not have a subfloor or any paneling.

The brand is WeeRoll. He has a waiting list for production. If you'd like to buy mine, PM me, and we can come up with a fair price that works for you. It has electricity (15 AMP) and can be powered by a 110V outlet.

Mine is similar to this, except with fewer windows for less chance of moisture intrusion. It has a new window A/C unit that fits in the opening of the backdoor: https://weeroll.com/weeroll-nomad-8/

I've been in a similar situation and know it's hard to find housing when not feeling well (both in terms of the time and energy required). I would encourage you to focus on the counties.

When you find a land parcel in a county of interest (whether for purchase or rent), call the county Planning & Development Department. It may have a slightly different name, such as Planning & Zoning, etc. The number will be on the county website.

Explain you are wanting to place a tiny home on a parcel in their county and ask what is needed to be compliant. Provide the square footage of the tiny home and any other details (such as whether it will remain on wheels or placed as a foundation).

Each county has slightly different rules and regulations, and this is rarely explained on their website. It's a lot easier and faster to simply call and ask. Most people are kind and will want to help or will direct you to the right person.

Tiny home rules typically vary depending on whether you keep it on wheels (similar to a RV) versus establishing a foundation. The rules can also vary if the square footage is larger, and thus may require a permit.

Spare yourself the online search and call any counties of interest. I can help you with this, if you let me know which counties you are considering.

Sending you strength for this next chapter.

“What can I say that I have not said before?
So I’ll say it again.
The leaf has a song in it.
Stone is the face of patience.
Inside the river there is an unfinishable story
and you are somewhere in it
and it will never end until all ends.

Take your busy heart to the art museum and the
chamber of commerce
but take it also to the forest.
The song you heard singing in the leaf when you
were a child
is singing still.
I am of years lived, so far, seventy-four,
and the leaf is singing still."

- Mary Oliver

Magnesium Oxide panels are a natural alternative to drywall/sheetrock. They are made from magnesium sulfate and do not contain fly ash, formaldehyde, crystalline silica, or toxins.

I've seen this installed in a house, and it looked nice. I hope to use this on a future build.

MagOx panels are mold-resistant, fire-resistant, and do not provide a food source for termites, carpenter ants, or other wood boring insects.

It comes in a variety of thickness. It adds an insulating factor for sound and temperatures.

It can be used indoors or outdoors.

Here's the website, if you'd like to learn more: https://www.magpanelmgo.com

I feel for you! I used to struggle with nightmares too, despite being happy and well-adjusted during the day. I spent years trying different things. The only thing that helped (and also helped instantly) was reducing my exposures to Wireless Radiation.

You could start by turning off the WiFi router at night and turning off your phone, computer, tablets, etc. Airplane Mode no longer fully disables Wireless Radiofrequency Radiation on most cell phones, unless you also turn off the Bluetooth and mobile data. If you need to be reached overnight, you could put your cell phone ~6 feet away and still turn off the WiFi router and other devices.

Those small actions helped a ton, so I kept going. I bought an EMF canopy and have never had another nightmare, except on the nights when I slept elsewhere without one. I now connect to the internet using an Ethernet cord and USB adapter. I keep my devices in Airplane Mode while connected through Ethernet.

This website has some great tips to get started. It's run by the non-profit Environmental Health Trust: http://healthytechhome.org

Feel free to reach out to me directly if you ever want to talk more about it. Reducing Wireless Radiation also made my anxiety go away, and my laundry list of inflammatory health conditions went into remission.

We are electromagnetic mammals, so it makes sense in hindsight. So much stuff is being broadcast wirelessly that is nightmare-ish in nature, so perhaps that influences our dreams.

You could also consider having an in-depth lab workup with an integrative doctor to make sure there aren't any nutrient deficiencies or other things that could be contributing. You're very wise for listening to your body and being proactive. <3

Here are two websites with remote jobs:

https://www.flexjobs.com/remote-jobs/t1

https://remote.co

Although they are not all "build-a-better-world" type jobs, they could still assist in your goals to increase remote working skills and experience while adding capital for your project there.

In my view, the best way to become more hirable as a remote candidate is to simply get started. I started as an Executive Assistant. I paid close attention to details, was always early and dependable, triple checked my work for errors, maintained a pleasant remote work team disposition, and advanced through a series of raises to a meaningful position.

There are more people applying for remote jobs these days, so I'd recommend applying to as many positions as your time and energy will allow.

Life has a way of aligning us with the right opportunities to assist our growth (...even if this is only a platitude we tell ourselves to make sense of things).    

Congrats on the property!

"I can't wait!" - yes, yes you can.

"Take a seat" - but please, don't take it home with you.

"A little birdie told me..."

"Who let the cat out of the bag?"

"You're really on the ball."

You might consider Magnesium Oxide board panels (MagOx). They can be used as exterior siding and also have interior applications, such as drywall and subflooring.

Magnesium Oxide boards are fire resistant, moisture/mold resistant, non-toxic, and do not contain fly ash or formaldehyde.

I learned about this product from a Building Biologist while researching green materials for a future build. I toured a home that was built with MagOx panels and was impressed by the quality in person.

For more info: https://www.magpanelmgo.com/magnesium-oxide-board-applications

You might consider Darn Tough socks. They are made in Vermont, USA: https://darntough.com

The company prides itself on durability and sustainability. All products come with an unconditional lifetime guarantee. These socks are popular with the hiking community for being nearly indestructible in harsh conditions.

Most of their socks are merino wool with a lesser percentage of synthetics.

All products are 3rd party tested to rigorous chemical standards and are free of PFAS (forever chemicals).

Here is more information about their sustainability practices, materials, and chemical testing: https://darntough.com/pages/sustainability