Simple living

This is both a request for advice and a post in and of itself.

I am moving back to where I grew up for the next six months to complete my degree. It's just me, Mrs. O'Connor and the hellspawn aren't coming. I don't want to live with my parents because they have a TV in the home and do other things that agitate my sensory defensiveness, and I am unwilling to spend the money to rent a place, both because of my frugality and that the money could be better spent since I have a kid on the way.

My grandmother (lives next to my parents) has an assload of land, and much of it is thickly wooded and not maintained. There's a treeline that begins (or now, has grown around) a dilapidated barn, and after that, it's just dense brush with a few "clearings" (and by "clearing," I mean areas with few trees but still with knee-waist- high grass).

My plan is to make a trail and clearing into the woods (nothing a khukri and axe can't handle) and have a small living space. Ideally, I want to erect some sort of structure that can be taken down without too much hassle and moved when I leave or if she ever sells or otherwise loses the land (I'm not telling her about this ). For the time being, I'm going to use a tent.

I've never really gone camping, because I never saw the appeal or point of it. When I have, it's been connected to another activity, like hunting, and even then, I've usually opted not to do it. Nonetheless, I've gone through periods of homelessness that would make your idea of camping look like a stay in a Hilton with complementary champagne, cigars, cocaine, and hookers, so I know what to do as far as tent life is concerned.

Here's my question: can anybody think of an affordable DIY home that would be better (IE more airtight, sanitary) than a tent?

Star Forge wrote: would make your idea of camping look like a stay in a Hilton with complementary champagne, cigars, cocaine, and hookers, so I know what to do as far as tent life is concerned.

first, what hiltons have you been staying at?

next, just do a search for 'tiny houses' and read up from there. these are exactly what they sound like: very small houses that are much more inexpensive than full size one. as i understand, its something of a building boom, particularly in areas with a high land value.

here's one site.

A stationwagon or a moving van. Park and stay, drive away! Or if you want a seperate structure, for a few hundred dollars you can by cheap , self assemble plastic shed from Home Depot or such. Cover the walls and ceiling with a heavy blankets and your good to go. All of this assuming your digging a hole for sanitary, don't need running water and will be cooking all of your meals over a fire...

Oh, a quick latrine can be made by using 2 by 4 s(or equavalent branches) cut to about 14 inches. nail then together( or lash with cordage) to make a "picture frame" and then put similar sized boards on the side for legs. Place this "seat" over a hole and you don't have to squat as much. For a shower you can poke holes in one corner of a tree-hung garbage bag and just tie off loosley when you don't want it to be "on"(warning: NOT for hot water!).

Desolous wrote:

Star Forge wrote: would make your idea of camping look like a stay in a Hilton with complementary champagne, cigars, cocaine, and hookers, so I know what to do as far as tent life is concerned.

first, what hiltons have you been staying at?

next, just do a search for 'tiny houses' and read up from there. these are exactly what they sound like: very small houses that are much more inexpensive than full size one. as i understand, its something of a building boom, particularly in areas with a high land value.

here's one site.

I've considered those for the long-term, but while they are certainly very affordable compared to a house, they are still quite expensive. Those are something I am keeping in mind for the future, especially since they are portable.

rugadd wrote: A stationwagon or a moving van. Park and stay, drive away! Or if you want a seperate structure, for a few hundred dollars you can by cheap , self assemble plastic shed from Home Depot or such. Cover the walls and ceiling with a heavy blankets and your good to go. All of this assuming your digging a hole for sanitary, don't need running water and will be cooking all of your meals over a fire...

Oh, a quick latrine can be made by using 2 by 4 s(or equavalent branches) cut to about 14 inches. nail then together( or lash with cordage) to make a "picture frame" and then put similar sized boards on the side for legs. Place this "seat" over a hole and you don't have to squat as much. For a shower you can poke holes in one corner of a tree-hung garbage bag and just tie off loosley when you don't want it to be "on"(warning: NOT for hot water!).

I've actually lived in my Mustang before, and that was cramped, especially when one has the body proportions of a dwarf (in my case Bombur). It's doable, but a decent tent is preferable in most cases. I have both the car and the tent, so I have both options depending on the situation.

Thanks for the info on the crapper. I think I have enough room to shit somewhere isolated in several acres of woods, but it's definitely something to think about.

What state and how cold are the winters? What's your budget?

I think the cheapest and most flexable shelter is to buy some huge tarps and heavy cord and make a a tepi or yurt. Actually with a few tarps and somee enginuity you can make a very comfortable shelter. Do you have a need for: heat, cooking, water, light, electricity and a potty?

So you like a little peace and quiet?

More for comfort than necessity. Your welcome!

Sure. Affordable is a question mark as everyone has a different ideal of that. And your skill at DIY also comes into play. But it is not that difficult to build a small shed/cabin which could be comfortable. I mean with drywall and even some instillation. My experience is more with sheds, but I built one as a playhouse for my brother and sister when I was younger. That one was made to be more homey. Floorplans can be adjusted to suit the size you need. These are a bit more permanent. Can be taken down easily. Or you can surprise your Grandmother with a useful shed or what-have-you.
I recommend an on-grade foundation. Cheapest and easiest to remove. But that is up to you. I don't have the plans or material list from from when I built the previous sheds. But here is one that is very close to the playhouse. I read through it. Has some good tips, especially on saving money. Link

If that is not your speed. Too structured. Or too expensive. Or Both. Since you can get some pretty amazing tents for what you'd pay to build your own shed. Also I'll double onto Rugadd's suggestion of looking at cheap sheds at Lowes or Home Depot or whatever. You can easily reinforce the structure - put in some drywall and instillation. And they are easy to cut out a hole in the up for a potbelly stove. Those can really warm up a place. I use one in a small cabin - works wonderfully if you have one (http://www.northlineexpress.com/ if you don't).

Again don't know your budget. But a friend of mine escapes into the Montana hills for a couple weeks each year. He is my camping guru. He recommended http://www.cabelas.com/ for me - I am more the city-boy than camper. They have some great stuff. Like this Tent and Stove . Could serve your needs.

It all varies on what you really want. In the end - best to just consider what you need - go to a DIY store and have a walk around. Look at prices and what you might want to put together for yourself. You can get some great ideas and cheap alternatives by doing such. It also ensures you aren't buying or building more than your need/want.

Military surplus stores can be a great way to go as well. Often you can find some great quality gear at pretty reasonable prices.

Cheap and easy living, (emphasis on the cheap, lol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hdnBHb09iI