Starting Over at 49

[Zamis3]

It has been at least three years since I have posted or participated in this forum. I used to have some land in Tennessee off grid cabin, with dairy cows and goats and hens, a garden etc. I learned a lot- can do a lot on my own, without help, but in the end, it was only a spring board toward a deeper spiritual search. I sold off and have given most of the money away. Have been meditating most of the last three years, homeless. Has been good. Now I am thinking to start over in a self-reliant sort of way - getting roots - but much smaller and with only a little money. Enough for a little piece of land and a micro cabin and initial things like a rudimentary fence, a little hen coop and food for a year.
So... might this work? :
no car but maybe will find a good horse inexpensively.
12 acre parcel ( or a five acre parcel) in missouri where there are no codes, bordering wilderness area, very poor road, mostly hill and wooded.
no phone no internet
micro cabin
small veggie garden
couple dairy goats
few hens
couple fruit trees
rainwater catchment and outhouse
no job or income but barter as a way of life
thing is, I am a single woman. In tennessee the men were always on the prowl. Needed five bulldogs for protection and this time around I won't be able to afford five dogs. I can do the work but, would like to hear from single women out there, living self-reliantly in the wilderness? Also, are Ozark winters hard on goats, horses? Ozark land fertile for fruit and veggies? Any suggestions, ideas?

[BlueRose]

Hi. I'm 48 and I am also starting over. There is a 9 acre farm by White Ranch here in South Central Missouri. I haven't heard anyone complain about codes. Howell/Oregon Counties.

Livestock does good all year around here.

Good Luck

[Vosey]

One dog is essential, if not 2. Not only for physical protection but as an alert system and companionship. I read a wonderful story somewhere about a woman who fed her dogs by hunting and trapping small animals, scavenging fresh roadkill, and canning the meat.

I'm not single now, but I know my sense of security would be very different if I was. I would always have my gun on me while out on my land. Having travelled alone a lot years ago I noticed that the attitudes of men, and people in general, towards a woman alone were very different in different parts of the country. Obviously there are lots of very good people (men included!) out in the world as well. Hope that some of those are your neighbors.

Your land and micro cabin sounds like an idyllic life to me!

[clovis]

I am all for your idea, but how are you going to pay the property taxes on the land?

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by Zamis3

thing is, I am a single woman. In tennessee the men were always on the prowl. Needed five bulldogs for protection and this time around I won't be able to afford five dogs.

Get ONE small dog that barks when people come around and then a good pistol.

[homebody]

More correctly, a southern drawl or accent. Some of the men here drool when I talk. Makes me ill because I'm in my late 50's, fat and married.

When I was in the deep south in my 20's and 30's, weighed 120-140 lbs, had nothing like that happen. So there is prowlers everywhere, depending on what turns them on.With some just being alive and female is enough.

Hello, My name is Scarlett. LOL Oh yes, we live in southeast MO

Most important, 49 is young, best to you on your endeavors.

[SugarMag]

I think at least some cash is essential while setting up. I am similar but do have a vehicle and a half-dozen "once in a while" jobs.
I haven't had any problem with unwanted attention from men, and I'm not hideous or anything.
No one has ever straight up asked me if I am armed. They would not get a straight answer in any case.
A dignified but not snobby demenor can go a long way...
If you seem tough and not-to-be-messed-with, then you are, as far as any one knows!
I would be lonely without my dog. He's ten feet tall and bulletproof, in his own mind!
Best wishes to you on your new adventure.
I've never been happier in my life, and I was a cheerful person to begin with!

[JoePa]

Here's some fatherly advice - you seem like your drifting and don't know where you want to go - bad news - living alone in some lonely place by yourself is not natural - people need people - what happens if you get sick and can't take care of yourself - what happens when you get old - move into a nice town - get a job - and surround yourself with good people - join a good church and other organizations where you can meet good decent people - sounds to me like you were some kind of hippy at one time - you got to get that crazyness out of your system - please don't take my advise as trying to chastise you - I think you need someone to tell you like it is - if you were my daughter that's what I would tell you - stop living on the fringe of society - good luck - JoePa

[Alice In TX/MO]

I have met a couple of folks here in Southern Missouri who have tried that. They are emaciated, unable to keep a job to pay the taxes, unable to act in socially acceptable ways (even though social norms here are lenient), and unable to sustain themselves (either financially or physically) from the land although they have skills in foraging and woodcraft.

Winter here is COLD. It may not snow frequently, but goats, dogs, horses, and people need a way to get out of the cold and enough food to maintain warmth.

I don't recommend it. You either need a job or to be independently wealthy.

[SugarMag]

Joe P, I am going to argue with you. While many people benefit from social interaction, some folks are just introverts and much happier and at peace with lots of alone time.
Our society really favors extroverts and introverts are often considered strange and unhealthy. It's not necessarily true, depends on the person.
I get enought time to myself these days, and am just so friendly and happy to chat with every single person when I go to town one or twice a week.
But if I have to be surrounded by people all the time I get crabby.
Just, what may be healthy for one may not be for another.

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by SugarMag

Joe P, I am going to argue with you. While many people benefit from social interaction, some folks are just introverts and much happier and at peace with lots of alone time.
Our society really favors extroverts and introverts are often considered strange and unhealthy. It's not necessarily true, depends on the person.
I get enought time to myself these days, and am just so friendly and happy to chat with every single person when I go to town one or twice a week.
But if I have to be surrounded by people all the time I get crabby.
Just, what may be healthy for one may not be for another.

A quick run into town once a week to sit with my friends for coffee at the café is about all the in-person social interaction I require. Internet is entertaining (and time wasting) and means I can have a quick interaction with someone without the long term commitment of sitting down face to face and losing a whole day.

Different strokes for different folks, I think. Not everyone is a social butterfly and benefits from constant human contact.

[Vosey]

Originally Posted by JoePa

Here's some fatherly advice - you seem like your drifting and don't know where you want to go - bad news - living alone in some lonely place by yourself is not natural - people need people - what happens if you get sick and can't take care of yourself - what happens when you get old - move into a nice town - get a job - and surround yourself with good people - join a good church and other organizations where you can meet good decent people - sounds to me like you were some kind of hippy at one time - you got to get that crazyness out of your system - please don't take my advise as trying to chastise you - I think you need someone to tell you like it is - if you were my daughter that's what I would tell you - stop living on the fringe of society - good luck - JoePa

I totally agree with the getting sick part, very hard if you are alone. And it is good to have a support system for all the ups and downs of life.

But many of us are introverts, which in it's first definition was about people who derive energy from being around people (extroverts) or those who are exhausted/stressed being around people. Introverts can only recharge by being alone. Animals can be wonderful companions for us introverts, as can the internet! Because, yes, we all need a little human interaction.

My husband and I are very happy, very content with knowing almost no one where we live (we do know the neighbors). We have never been social people, no parties, no church, rarely, if ever, going out to eat. Interestingly all my siblings are the same way! If DH were to pass, I'm pretty sure I'd be the same way. I am blessed with wonderful family even though they are all many miles in every direction.

[Vosey]

Zamis3 - a bicycle would be a lot cheaper than a horse!

[SugarMag]

To the OP: I live in the Arkansas Ozarks, and it does get cold. Goats and horses would surely need housing. The land can be very rock/clay (mine is). To garden it takes a lot of soil amendment. In some cases.
My neighbors are really down to barter, but you know , as a single woman, if you suggest that to a certain type of man, he might have a different idea than you about what your end of the deal will be!
So, I earn cash and pay cash, just so there are no misunderstandings.

[Yvonne's hubby]

I started over at age fifty and single. I managed to allude the wimmens for a while, but my Yvonne finally caught me. My life was drastically changed, but in all seriousness its really not that bad. I do a fair amount of bartering too, but a lot of times plain ol cash makes the deal easier. Swapping a cow for a carton of smokes just dont make sense to me... what I do is trade the cow for cash, then trade the cash for smokes and other stuff as I need them.

[o&itw]

If you feel the need to ignore the above (good) advice, find a like minded woman so that you can take care of each other.

[ronbre]

i'm just starting to read the book The man who gave up money..got to
www.permies.com and go to the frugality thread..there is info in that thread about what he did

[Jennifer L.]

Originally Posted by Ernie

A quick run into town once a week to sit with my friends for coffee at the café is about all the in-person social interaction I require. Internet is entertaining (and time wasting) and means I can have a quick interaction with someone without the long term commitment of sitting down face to face and losing a whole day.

Different strokes for different folks, I think. Not everyone is a social butterfly and benefits from constant human contact.

Don't you have a wife and kids? At least, I thought you did. That's hardly without social interaction.

[JoePa]

Come on folks - your talking about a single woman - not a married one with kids - she would be alone - how in the world is she going to cut enough wood to keep warm during a long winter - how is she going get enough food if she's got no money - a chainsaw or anything else that she would need - no means of travel except a horse or a bike - how is she going to build shelters for her animals - how is she going to feed them during the winter - the list goes on and on - it's one thing for a healthy man to try and live like that -even he would have a tough time - but a woman - get real - encourageing her is not doing her any favors - believe me - have I ever tried living like that? - no but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night -

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by JoePa

Come on folks - your talking about a single woman - not a married one with kids - she would be alone - how in the world is she going to cut enough wood to keep warm during a long winter - how is she going get enough food if she's got no money - a chainsaw or anything else that she would need - no means of travel except a horse or a bike - how is she going to build shelters for her animals - how is she going to feed them during the winter - the list goes on and on - it's one thing for a healthy man to try and live like that -even he would have a tough time - but a woman - get real - encourageing her is not doing her any favors - believe me - have I ever tried living like that? - no but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night -

I am guessing she would do it the very same way several other women I know personally here in my county do it. They work their butts off, take care of their own business, and do quite well.