Where in US?

Amen, Wolf mom.

I had INITIALLY thought about offering a place to stay on the remote 112 acres with a cabin that we own but can't get to more than once every couple years....but after watching all the comments, decided against it.

Something just nags at me about it.

My suggestion, go vanning. Get a big panel van and set it up to live in and look for day laborer work. Trying to get hired somewhere at a regular job with no address is about impossible. I personally have no issue with folks squatting on public land but it would be nice knowing that all the work your putting into your homestead won't be gone in an instant because some over zealous government official or some do-gooder turns you in.

I lived in a van for a while, it beats worrying about being busted for squatting plus you can go where the work is. Another legal option would be to live on a house boat on a somewhat remote lake. I considered that option myself for a while. Parking might be a pain if you have a car but it can be done. I considered having an ATV and riding it to a friend's house to pick up my car. The ATV could be stored on the house boat. There are plenty of folks who squat on public land, you just never hear about it because no one likes to advertise their arrangement out of fear.

If I was in your exact situation though I would just live in a van. When one needs money it never hurts to be mobile.

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http://www.xanga.com/shackman A blog about whatever

cc-rider and Rose, that's what rubbed me the wrong way too. I've got a house that needs work but I will never condone illegal squatting. Somebody that admits they are willing to break one law could juse as easily break others.

Hmmm...I hadn't considered that Wolfman and Rose. I know that many places don't look at squatting the same way as we do, but nonetheless, it isn't right.

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Christy
Growing Human
http://growinghuman.blogspot.com

When wearing narrow lenses of hate and ignorance, is it any wonder one finds it difficult to see clearly? - Me

If you save up a few thousand you can go to another country and live like a king for a few years. In Thailand you can rent an apartment for as little as $90 a month! But then again, I'm just thinking to the extremes LOL.

Well, wherever you go, I'd say go to somewhere that is warm and tropical. Don't want to live outside in the winter..

Someone posted here that they were looking for someone to live in a home they had and help with their coop farm. It was maybe 2 -3 months ago?

Construction is still a marketable skill so it's just a matter of going to where the work is if you want to continue in the trade.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

You owe me for the taxes I've been paying on "your" land

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I read about a guy who lived for a decade in the Pine Barrens of NJ. Lived off the land native style so it must be doable if you know enough.

Actually if someone wanted to work they are actively seeking people to work in the natural gas fields in Northern PA and southern tier of Upstate NY. It's a good area for homesteading too.

If you drive a good truck, look into buying a used trailer and staying on BLM or National Forest lands. Better yet, Mexico doesn't much care where you park your RV for the night, and it's warm. You can install solar panels on your trailer to charge batteries for power and use a genny on cloudy days. You can tote pots to plant tomatoes and other fruits and veggies and set them in the sun wherever you park for the day. And of course you can fish the lakes and streams (provided you have a license of course). You can even apply for workcamping jobs. They don't pay much, but offer free camping. But I do believe the best opportunity for you would be to hire on as a ranch hand somewhere and possibly get permission to have your own garden there. I do hope you find a legal solution. Good luck to you.

I don't think he's coming back. But this thread has been bothering me. True, he seemed to get very angry very quickly, but I'm concerned at the reaction his initial post got so quickly.

Trying to put myself in his shoes, he must have been very much at the end of his rope to join a new community and post something like that as his first post. That was probably embarrassing to do and admit. His post may have simply had more bravado in it with that comment because he feels vulnerable.

Our initial reaction to him wasn't very welcoming and our responses to what probably wasn't literally intended very abrupt. After all, if he was willing to do something bad, why has he been trying so hard until he's left with nothing more to try with and not already gone illegal?

I bring this up because we are likely to find more people coming in in that same condition and perhaps we should look to ourselves on how best to respond to what will, no doubt, be suggestions we don't find appropriate.

Just my two cents.

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Christy
Growing Human
http://growinghuman.blogspot.com

When wearing narrow lenses of hate and ignorance, is it any wonder one finds it difficult to see clearly? - Me

It's the difference between a stranger knocking on your door and politely asking for help, and a stranger kicking your door down and screaming at you in your living room. Different reactions will be given for each situation.

Christy - if he had just mentioned everything but "illegal" he would have gotten a totally different reception.

The folks here are almost all ones that either saved and scripmed and did what was legally necessary to get their bit of land, or are saving for that land now - legally. And to have someone coming along asking for where to take advantage of someone else's thrift - just doesn't work here. Then for him to get his chip on his shoulder when folks didn't like that - well, it shows a mind set.

And If he had been less aggressive, etc. I do have a member that is isn't online much that would be looking for someone similar, to help with them on their land as they cannot do it alone now. But, I'd not connect this fellow with my friend.

I was really concerned when you offered, I know you're very capable of taking care of yourself, but you'd not be at home all the time.

And for a first post, it sounded a good bit like an oportunitist. And you are correct, in these times we may be seeing more on these boards.

I think all of the above are many of the reasons he received the type of posts back.

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

Huh?? I'm in Illinois and our county unemployment rate is 13.5%.

I bet everyone on this board has done something illegal. I know I have. Breaking any law is illegal.

Unfortunately, old time homesteading isn't possible anymore...you have to buy the land.

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It's not good enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required. - Winston Churchill

Guaranteed, none of us are perfect. That does not mean we should set out to violate the law, nor should we condone those who do.

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Only the paranoid survive.

I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

Dispatches From The Conservative Underground

I'm sorry, but someone's ancestry shouldn't make them entitled to live by a different set of rules. Its 2010. History is full of cultures being overwhelmed and assimilated into other cultures. It may not be fair, it may suck, but that's life. Get over it.

You want to farm? Rent land, buy land, or make an arrangement with someone who HAS land, but if I find you squatting on land that *I* pay taxes on, I can guarantee you that the law will be called.

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Ignorance is the true enemy.

I've seen the village, and I don't want it raising my children.

www.newcenturyhomestead.com

.................I'll add one more thought..........IF , you have an RV you can find Volunteer positions in most federal and\or state campgrounds ! Getting started requires an application and there are paid positions as well ! But , it won't do you much good if you are completely broke with no RV vehicle too pull it with ! Good luck , fordy

you can camp on some blm lands, most of which are out west. I had a link to the info about it but it must be on another computer.

if I remember the rules right, you could only stay in one place 14 days, had to leave that park and could not return for 14 days. so you would have to keep moving or hitch a ride. there were also specific places within the land you could camp and regulations about what you could do to the area.

here is one link I found that would cost $300 for six months:

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop/camping/ltva.html

just search for camping or free camping on blm or public land.

so far as living off the land, I have no idea what the regs are in terms of using the food resources on public land (fishing, hunting, gathering berries etc) but you can bet there WILL be regs and you may not be legally able to do it.