Tired of this world as it is

[foxysox]

My dream is a modified version of this; I'd like to find a job that I can work at part-time, or look into some sort of cottage industry like gourmet sauces or vegetable and flower starts that I can grow in my own greenhouse and sell to pay all the unfortunate dues of modern 'society' like fuel and insurance, but try to rely as heavily upon myself for the basic needs of food and shelter as possible.

[Chronisseur]

I talked to an old buddy today and him and a couple others plan to buy 200 acres up north for like $40k. There's been talk of many 'simple' self-sufficient ideas, yet no decisions on the future financial stability. If anyone's done anything like this, I'm all ears!

[stinkyattic]

Chron isn't it too rocky and mountainous to make a go of farming 'up north' of you?
Finding an area with fertile soil, preferably already cleared, is key.

[Reefer Rogue]

May the force be with you.

[LuckyG]

You gotta do what the Amish do. They're doing rather well for themselves.

[smokerofweed420]

I think your idea is good but you might want to try to do this with a few other people. If you try to do all this by yourself or even with one other person it will be damn near impossible. I would say try to get about 5-6+ like minded people and start planning on how to do this. Maybe start with where you want to build your community. Then learn about farming and energy, and how to build homes.

[psteve]

GET A JOB HIPPIE!!!
j/k!!!

[smoke_and_fly]

Hell, it's a beautiful world!:thumbsup:

:

very true

[jakez]

i think a lot of 'heads feel this way. sure i know a bunch of frantic overachievers that still enjoy their j's now and again, but most of would like to just chill in a world where just chilling IS THE MOST EVILEST THING EVAR.

a portion of the generation before me REQUIRES a 9 to 5, then they come home at night, crash hard in front of reality tv on big lay z boys for a few hours with some super high calorie snacks and bitch a bit then repeat it all in the am. my parents are this way. they are cool people but theyre mortal enemies of leisure that isn't on paid vacation time.

suffering makes people feel 'alive' in some weird way i guess, and 'the grind' serves as validation for people who feel like they need to validate their existence when its all just luck that we're here anyways=p but mostly i think that its been this way so long for so many people that its all they know really.

but they think i am nuts, my parents. i am self-employed and barely get by, but im super happy most of the time. i dont stress about work more than is necessary. they wonder how i can sit outside on the porch and smoke cigs and just not worry about anything. they are so accustomed to western civ that they just do it every day like its alright i guess. they seem happy enough, married a loooong time now and ive never seen them so much as raise their voice at one another. honestly they deserve an award.

am i a huge bum to my parents? i guess man, nobodys perfect, but im happy and i dont bother anybody. i dont take what isn't mine. i try to help out a little when i can and do minimal mooching.

i think they are catching on finally. theyre tired too. they want to move out west with a little bit of money and just relax. but i dont want to wait till im near 60 to enjoy my damn life. i already started:rastasmoke:

Amen, I am exactly the same way, self employment ftw.

[JD1stTimer]

Yeah, the government has pretty much prevented this very thing with the hard-hitting combo of real estate taxes and income tax. If you produce enough food to sell and pay you real estate tax and the guy that certifies your well and your vehicle registration, gasoline, and maintenance, buy a new water heater when it goes out, clothes for the misses and kids (You'll probably be looking for a good solid woman after a couple of years...if for nothing else to help out with all the work. Self-sufficient homesteads can be exhausting to maintain. And of course woman is interchangeable with man/tg/draft horse/dog pack. I'm not trying to be a bigot here in case there's some ultra-lefties reading.) Anyway, I make just around 9000 of taxable income per year and the government takes around 13% of that. That's amazingly harsh when living on such a small amount of money. And as far as being on a south-facing slope, you might want to rethink that. The northern slopes might have the only source of surface water once global warming kicks in full strength.