V Lakes

I'm looking to rent out a few spaces, on the cheap, but am also looking for someone who has skills and wants to live in a remote area - in exchange for living here for free.

I put together a video so y'all can see the place and more or less what I'm looking for: Offgrid OK

Been out here, offgrid, for over a year now & feel it is a good time to do this.

Please let me know your thoughts, questions, and interest if you have any!

Thank you.

Thomas Marlow wrote: I have accepted I may be alone, here on the homestead, for the rest of my life. The land IS my partner. I have committed myself to the land and will never leave it. If you can get to that place of "unattached" on the partner idea within yourself and put the land first, you will find that there is a great community in the land and that it's ultimate gift is Peace.

This! You have expressed how I have come to feel.

A wonderful old friend passed away last Tuesday. I was gutted. Several folks encouraged me to 'cheer up' and would go on to say, 'he would want you to be happy' and 'The holidays are upon us; focus on that".

Grrrr.

I was deeply saddened and it was also a shock because it was due to a freak accident.

Was discussing this with one of my closest friends. I told her how it always seems I'm expected to be positive and strong for everyone, but if I ever show a human emotion outside of positivity or determination, then folks assume I am somehow depressed or they come back with similar above-mentioned phrases.

I'm a realist. And I am human. I was given a wide range of emotional responses for a reason, I assume. Just like most of us were.

To deny our feelings is not a good thing, in my opinion. We NEED to feel them. We cannot ignore them or stuff them down inside, into some little box. That is not healthy. I think it is good to feel all the things and even sit with them for however long is needed for us to process them. And then we are truly able to move on. The alternative, is out of nowhere, the undealt with emotions will resurface and usually at the most inconvenient times.

Take a blue collar job. They pay well these days. You can become an apprentice electrician or install solar for utility solar installers. Either way, you'll be making money while learning skills that will be helpful down the road.

Set aside 20% of whatever you earn, even if that means you must remain a basement dweller or get a couple of roommates.

Then look for owner financed land. Something you can pay off in 10-15 years (or sooner.) Land Watch is a good site for that.

After you get the land, drop a RV or shed or something you can live out of, on it. When you're not working, go there and start fixing things up to make it liveable.

Figure things out in steps, and as you go. And really, you'll be there in no time!

Good old fashioned Pros vs Cons list. Create short, bulleted lists for both the pros and cons. Based on what you've mentioned, I'd assume the cons would outweigh the pros, at least at this time.

And bulleting out the lists keeps things concise.

When it comes to common sense, I think we sometimes need to be able to have 'that conversation', even if someone feels hurt or triggered. Common sense should prevail in most aspects.

For instance; if cost, theft/vandalism, and your wanting to do things without such 'technology' far outweigh the pros of moving forward with the project, then it should be discussed.. and why. More importantly, regardless of your thoughts on the matter, common sense should prevail. i.e. Facts over opinions. It does not make common sense, in my mind, to move forward with the project if the cost is a factor - only to have the project stolen and/or vandalized - or for you to run out of water during the weeks/months of the year it's a regular issue. Especially, if an alternative is easier, cheaper, and less likely to be stolen or vandalized.

In any case, I would recommend that baby steps be taken and things implemented to circumvent the 'cons' prior to proceeding with the project. What about rain water collection so you have a valid source of water during those days when you run out? What about site security so this investment (of money, time, and energy) is not wasted?

More and more lately, it pops into my head that I wish I could get rid of my truck. It's older and I've babied it, so it's still in great shape, but the cost of vehicle insurance has skyrocketed. Considering, I only drive it to town approximately once per week (for supplies and to visit the post office), it just seems like a waste of money.

However, I am so rural that a vehicle is a necessity, even just for emergency medical purposes. Those services would never make it here timely, or even at all if it's been raining (takes 4WD after a good rain.) While I do have a hugely beefed up emergency medical supply kit, I'm a realist in that there may come the day when I'll have to drive myself to the ER.

And well, it's nice to have a truck to haul things. Some things are just too bulky and heavy to consider maneuvering with a bicycle or even an electric bike. Delivery for nearly everything is not an option, either. i.e. I brought home two 275 gallon IBC totes. And then there is firewood, propane tanks, building supplies, etc.

Anyway, for your situation, I thought of this video I saw a few months back. I cannot find it right now, but the gist is that the guy was operating an electric bike and was 'towing' behind him this modified dolly setup. You know, those dollies they use to haul furniture and heavy books around? Well, instead of it being straight up and down, he modified it so it was slanted more (so could hold more items without them falling) and he used what looked to me to be wheel chair wheels. And he attached it to his electric bike by this bar he welded to the dolly. It seemed like a cheap, simple way to create a trailer to use for moving more things around using only an electric bike.

If you type in, 'electric bike trailer' into YouTube, you'll see a variety of trailers people have either built or bought for this purpose. But nothing compares to the one I mentioned above, in terms of simplicity and cost-effectiveness, IMO. Could probably even fashion some sort of umbrella setup to help protect you from the inclement weather.

Outside of this, and all that the others have mentioned, the only other thing I can think of is maybe once you acquire your land, try to work out some sort of deal with a neighbor. Is there a skill you have that you could help him/her with, in exchange for rides for supplies, or even having the neighbor flat out get and deliver things for you? I know that if you were my neighbor and you'd be willing to help with projects around here, I'd definitely do that for you, especially since I'm already going to town anyway. And if you were a neighbor, it's not like I'd be going out of my way much.

Oh, I have enjoyed reading the comments in this thread! It made me smile.

For me, it is:
-Sensing the soul in the eyes; not just intellect, but depth.
-Strong hands. And strangely, like some others have mentioned, the veins that traverse them and up the arms.
-Belly fur (chest hair)
-The raw, ruggedness of a man who is confident in his ability/strength - but not in an arrogant way.
-Laughter

What a great post!

I just turned 53, and while I always knew I'd go off-grid, the past several years inclined me to step up my game and get away from the city I'd been working in for much of my adult life.

While it would have been beneficial to wait until I had some more things situated, I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore. My job, the city, the traffic, crime, and all the things going on in our world.. I just wanted out. So in March 2023, I moved to my property full time. My 28 year old son chose to make the move with me however, his job has him traveling 85% of the time. My job's role has changed a few times + they made me part-time, as they are not fond of employees working remotely. Still, I am grateful for the employment I do have and it is enough.

I was raised in the country and we had a huge garden, hunted for meat (or raised it), utilized a wood stove and all the things of a normal homestead. So I came here already having some skills. Also brushed up on some things I couldn't quite remember or that I needed to learn. And did my best to acquire and prepare prior to moving in. But ultimately, I moved in with no insulation or many amenities to make life more convenient. That said, I often feel as though I'm living like I'm camping.. but I do enjoy it! Things are taking much longer than I anticipated to accomplish and I do realize some of that has to do with my age, though I am in pretty good shape for 53. The world continues to spin and bit-by-bit, I'm making progress. As important, I am learning to breathe again. To just 'be'.

Been single for over 7 years, mostly because I had worked so many hours at above-mentioned job that I didn't have time/energy left for much else. Though did try to get something going in Oct 2022, but it turned out he was already in a relationship (he lied to me about that.) Have attempted dating sites, but found them full of scammers and catfish. The rare exception seemed to be men who only wanted to hookup. I'm not about one-night-stands or FWB. Ended up deleting my profiles out of frustration. Dating has changed exponentially since I was younger. I don't 'get' the rules. And the sense of detachment goes against who I am as a person.

Being introverted, I do not mind being alone, and can entertain myself with a plethora of tasks and interests. And I've learned that I actually do not even like leaving my land. Not even when I have to drive to the nearest town for supplies. However, I will admit that I wonder if I will grow old alone. I do miss the idea of being in a partnership and all that goes with it. But I'm also realizing that I'm not willing up leave this place I'm now at.. and many men already have their own digs. I suspect it would be rare to encounter anyone with whom I could feel a mutual connection, who would also be willing to move here and make a life with me on my land. Unless maybe they have a place in a different part of the country and we'd decide to bounce between both places through the year? I don't know how that would work..

I do wonder where my soulmate is. Is he in a tree stand somewhere? Or way back in the boonies building his own off-grid life?