Starting Over at 49

bergere · #61 06/19/13, 10:01 AM

If I had to be alone, found NW Oregon, up in the hills above the Columbia River to be perfect.
Granted, a lot of people, won't like all the rain and clouds. But there are few bugs, never had to deal with ticks or poisonous snakes there.
Weather stays delightfully cool most of the time.
Found most people to be kind and helpful.

Won't want to be a woman alone in the area of VA I am in now. Just don't understand the mentality of many of the men here. (nothing personal, to those that also live in VA, is just what I have seen)
You don't see that kind of behavior from men, in NW Oregon or WA.

SimplerTimez · #62 06/19/13, 11:21 AM

I was tossed into a restart by being suddenly widowed at 47. I had a job, a vehicle and a normal homestead of six acres. I lost it. Got laid off, had to move, etc. etc.
So now I'm re-re starting over yet again at 51. Will take me a bit to get debt free and save cash. Your type of lifestyle is one of a couple of choices I am considering. But as much as I'd like to think I could Walden it, in this day and age AND with my own personal skill limitations, I doubt I could without some form of income and transport, even if I could learn all the other things I currently don't know.

OP, you have experience that I did not have. But...
You don't mention electricity at all - going solar or doing without?
If no electricity, all cooking will need to be by fire, upping the quantity of whatever wood you use to year round, not just for heating.
Dog or dogs, definitely.
Arms of some kind, definitely.
But I'd highly recommend some kind of cell phone; you can get snake bit, fall, have a run in with a rabid animal, etc. You need to be able to contact someone in those circumstances.
Five to twelve acres, how will you mow what the critters don't eat? Scythe maybe? Otherwise you'll need gas, oil, repairs, etc. Six was too much for me, while working. Mowers were always breaking down.
Health plan? Even if self-medding you'll need alcohol and other things for tincture making and such.
Community contacts, even small ones, can be very helpful. I got hit by a tornado and my electrical lines covered both exits and were live. Neighbor showed up that knew what to do in the interim before the power company showed up.

I don't think what you desire is impossible. I think it is admirable and internally satisfying. I also think it may be far more difficult than you can imagine. Might be a lot more fun too! I tend to be an idealist, and sometimes reality has bitten me right in the arse. Just be wise, be safe, and best wishes!

~ST

Ernie · #63 06/19/13, 12:03 PM

Y'all sort of make men in the Ozarks sound like you're living on the set of "The Hills Have Eyes". I cannot believe that y'all constantly have rapists and murderers prowling around your property in search of single women to prey upon.

Strange Bear · #64 06/19/13, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Thanks

. I've been waiting for over a week now to speak with the code officer of a small town in upstate NY. I't hasn't been so straightforward to find code info. online. If anyone knows of a good resource for NY or any other northeastern states, I'd be very grateful to receive it. Me and the cold are good friends. Most of the past three years were in cold climates and I didn't notice the hot flashes 'til I left

I've used some amazing tiny woodstoves for a tiny cabin which would require just small chunks of wood for heating and cooking.

Try this site, hope it helps
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode

Tango · #65 06/19/13, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimplerTimez

You don't mention electricity at all - going solar or doing without?
If no electricity, all cooking will need to be by fire, upping the quantity of whatever wood you use to year round, not just for heating.
Dog or dogs, definitely.
Arms of some kind, definitely.
But I'd highly recommend some kind of cell phone; you can get snake bit, fall, have a run in with a rabid animal, etc. You need to be able to contact someone in those circumstances.
Five to twelve acres, how will you mow what the critters don't eat? Scythe maybe? Otherwise you'll need gas, oil, repairs, etc. Six was too much for me, while working. Mowers were always breaking down.
~ST

Maybe a mid-sized panel for limited electric for lights at night. I haven't had electric for the past three years and haven't missed it. My cabin before was totally powered by solar but tooo expensive this time around. I had propane lamps also but don't want to rely on any sort of fuel but wood.

Bulldogs, yes

Before I had 50 acres and it was alright. 5- 12 is on the small side but prob all I can afford. Would like partial woods and partial pasture I can get it hayed for free and me and the goats can take care of the rest little by little. Don't think it will get out of control.

Heating and cooking with a tiny wood stove - I only eat once a day so not a big deal. Can have a tea kettle going anytime. Tiny stove for a tiny cabin works well

This way of life is not for many, I don't think. Even on forums like this one it is a rarity. Maybe more people try this way of life than are suited for it. It has an allure that brings out the wilderness in us- but its different. I wouldn't call it difficult. I call urban life, difficult. I've been on my own and in the woods -progressively more rural for almost 15 years and know it is what I seek for the rest of this life.

simi-steading · #66 06/19/13, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zamis3

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post; your opinions and experience are very much appreciated. Having lived on my own for many years now, it is not the alone part that concerns me. That is what I seek. The barter would be for the most part but not the entire part. I saw the amount of no down payment type land offers and considered that it would attract a variety of personalities so I came here to ask about that. Sounds like I would need five bulldogs to live in the Ozarks too. I don't mind. I love dogs; just that they are quite expensive to care for properly. A bulldog saved me from rape on more than one occasion in the past 15 years. I don't own a gun and won't own one; but a few bulldogs will be just fine

...

Good luck with a no down payment land deal... It's hard enough to find a bank that even considers loaning on land, much less not want a down payment. Most places that will loan on a land deal will want 25% down.

About the only way I could see you finding land for nothing down would be someone doing a bond for deed kind of deal...

Tango · #67 06/19/13, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernie

Y'all sort of make men in the Ozarks sound like you're living on the set of "The Hills Have Eyes". I cannot believe that y'all constantly have rapists and murderers prowling around your property in search of single women to prey upon.

I've never lived in the Ozarks but I've lived in the South for most of my life. Single, married, older, younger, with or without teeth, with PhD's and assembly line workers; one of the first was a police officer. The last one was a married deacon who pinned me to the wall in an empty store. Just a few times in maybe 34 years or so. Hardly the making of a suspense thriller. My closest friends are good decent men [and women]. Please forgive if this thread has offended you or anyone. Tangentially, I am having fun picking out my bulldog pups

looking for two now but maybe three are in order.

Ernie · #68 06/19/13, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

I've never lived in the Ozarks but I've lived in the South for most of my life. Single, married, older, younger, with or without teeth, with PhD's and assembly line workers; one of the first was a police officer. The last one was a married deacon who pinned me to the wall in an empty store. Just a few times in maybe 34 years or so. Hardly the making of a suspense thriller. My closest friends are good decent men [and women]. Please forgive if this thread has offended you or anyone. Tangentially, I am having fun picking out my bulldog pups

looking for two now but maybe three are in order.

I'm not offended, I'm just puzzled. I've never seen nor witnessed this behavior outside of television.

SugarMag · #69 06/19/13, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernie

Y'all sort of make men in the Ozarks sound like you're living on the set of "The Hills Have Eyes". I cannot believe that y'all constantly have rapists and murderers prowling around your property in search of single women to prey upon.

I've only lived here since last October, but every single person I've met so far has been polite, kind, and friendly.
Not one guy has givin me the heebie-jeebies at all.
Still, having a self defense plan and practicing it is just a good idea for anyone.
It only takes one creep to ruin your day.

SugarMag · #70 06/19/13, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

Good luck with a no down payment land deal... It's hard enough to find a bank that even considers loaning on land, much less not want a down payment. Most places that will loan on a land deal will want 25% down.

About the only way I could see you finding land for nothing down would be someone doing a bond for deed kind of deal...

There is a lot of undeveloped land in the Ozarks that is land contract or owner financed. The seller or agent gets a very good deal...collect on it for a few years and toss them out when they can't pay, then sell it again.
Some folks buy for a second home or hunting camp, etc. Such land is affordable, but difficult to access, running grid power would cost you more than the land itself, etc.
It attracts some unrealistic dreamers and some crazy people, for sure, but most of the folks around here are real nice. The vast majority.

AngieM2 · #71 06/19/13, 05:30 PM

Tango - I'm reading your going tiny home. Have you been getting some ideas from the tiny home forums? blogs?
While many of them are super expensive to my way of thinking, they give ideas of how to do the rent to own storage sheds that are even being shown as adaptable
(these are at Sullivan MO)

Here is something I saw recently, - it's small but could be fitted out for tiny living. The end doors could be sliding or french doors.
And the 2nd one has a porch, and could be finished decently also.

salmonslayer · #72 06/19/13, 07:38 PM

A lot of people do that around here Angie. I have been on two ambulance calls lately where the address turned out to be a small pole barn in one case and in the other one of those larger Derksen buildings similar to what you posted. It wouldnt be for me but to be honest they were both kind of cool and very "homey".

I also dont understand this fixation on murder and leches in the Ozarks. I live knee deep in the Ozarks and its one of the most religious areas I have ever lived in and the people around here just dont tolerate that kind of behavior. We have a lot of widows or otherwise single women living by themselves around here just like the OP envisions and there are no problems. Now, are their murders? Sure, let me know of a place there isnt but the Ozarks stretches over 5 states and in our county the crime rate is a fraction, literally, of the national average.

Winters Bone was a movie and depicts typical Ozarks life about as much as Scarface depicted life in Florida.

motdaugrnds · #73 06/20/13, 10:07 AM

Just make sure what you're planning to live in is "legal" in that area.....

wyld thang · #74 06/20/13, 04:20 PM

Hi Tango!

I just wanted to invite you down to Country Singletree here on HT. There's a lot of us who live single and it's a great place to bend an ear and especially laugh!

Re the Horse. MOST vet issues can be taken care of by keeping it healthy and happy the way horses were meant to be(first off get a scrapper of a horse that is tough and an easy keeper), and knowing some basic vet skills/wound care. And to be blunt, when its too bad, do it a favor and send it to Jesus and to really get practical, can it. A new horse can be had cheap or free(at least around here).

This single woman alone stuff...GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, make them pie, be a lady. They will watch your back(tho you probably know all this). I have a blue heeler, in my neck of the woods their reputation is more bad--- than pitbulls. I'm talking voodoo ninja stuff ha.

I wish you well! Dunno about Missouri, but I have found people squatting out here in the woods an hour and a half from Seattle. Goats, chickens, gardens. Lots of barter out here. Trick is to do it at the end of roads next to recently logged timber and private land with good relationships with owners. or else go WAY out, you know the drill. Local PBS magazine show talks about squatters living in abandoned mines etc. Network of "voluntary homeless" up and down the west coast up into Alaska. Go to a Further concert/Oregon Country Fair/Folklife to network(Furthur is remnant of Grateful Dead).

la la la la la

Good luck to ya!!!!!

Tango · #75 06/20/13, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngieM2

Tango - I'm reading your going tiny home. Have you been getting some ideas from the tiny home forums? blogs?
While many of them are super expensive to my way of thinking, they give ideas of how to do the rent to own storage sheds that are even being shown as adaptable
(these are at Sullivan MO)

Here is something I saw recently, - it's small but could be fitted out for tiny living. The end doors could be sliding or french doors.
And the 2nd one has a porch, and could be finished decently also.

Yeap tiny

Thanks for those pics. The one with the loft over the porch is precisely what I am thinking of or else have it built on site. Depends on when I find the land and when I can move in as to how much money there will be. I've lived in no bigger than an 8 x 10 hut these past three years and find they are perfect in size. Easy and quick to heat, inexpensive to build, minimal footprint and resource damage on Mother Earth and really I own nothing anymore so it is the right size

Was thinking the 12 x 16 if the porch is 4 ft. with a few extra windows- one in the loft. The layouts of the tumbleweed homes are helpful but the houses themselves are too pricey.