New Digs

[JC5123]

Well I have gone and done it. Keeping pace with my busy year I am taking a HUGE step in the self sufficiency direction. I sold my suburban house and bought a horse property outside of town. After months of searching my fiance and I found a nice property with nice orchards and gardens on 19 acres. Good sized house with 4 car garage and set up for horses, chickens, and turkeys. We plan to run horses, goats, chickens and a bum calf or 2. Between the livestock, orchards (apple, plum, cherry, and apricot) and the gardens (both fruit and vegetable) we hope to bring our grocery bills to near nothingness, being able to live on what we produce without any outside support if necessary. We are on an artesion (sp) well so no pump required. (there is one installed just in case) pumping 25 gal/min. Propane and 2 wood stoves for heat. (Propane hasn't been used in 5 years since 1 stove will cook you out of the place) All I have to do to take the place totally off the grid is to integrate some solar and wind. The terrain is such that my very own secret hidden bunker is a real possibility, and I already have mapped out where my own private shooting range will go. I am also about a mile from a skeet range. We are a little over a mile from a couple million acres of BLM land, and all of the neighbors that I have talked to are of the same mentality. Very close knit community with a self sufficient approach. Best of all we already have old friends that live in the same area.

Downsides- Internet sucks
              - little more work than just mowing the lawn
               - I am going to be cooking ALOT more (oh the horror!)

We close on the place at the end of this month and will be hosting a Halloween/ House Warming/ Engagement party on the 26th of October. If any of you are in the area, come on by, and I'll hand you a beer!

[alfsauve]

Sounds great.  Of course we need pictures.

[Bic]

For better internet access you might try a 'signal booster' from Wilson - they look like something you might have bought while a bit toasty from QVC or somewhere but damnit if they don't work great! I made a tenfold difference in speed out at my place.

[santahog]

Even if just for the solitude and "land", you'll be thrilled with this one for the rest of your life, I promise!! (At least till your body quits working..)
AWESOME, AWESOME!!!
Congrats!!!!! 

[crusader rabbit]

Sounds like you made a really good move.  I hope it works out even better than you anticipate.

Crusader Rabbit

[Sponsor]

[JC5123]

For better internet access you might try a 'signal booster' from Wilson - they look like something you might have bought while a bit toasty from QVC or somewhere but damnit if they don't work great! I made a tenfold difference in speed out at my place.

I know that DSL is available. Would this still work? Or am I too limited on bandwidth?

[brushmore]

I know that DSL is available. Would this still work? Or am I too limited on bandwidth?

 DSL has issues with being too far of a distance from the central office which can be an issue in rural areas.   If the phone company is telling you that DSL is available that's the way to go. I am a telecommuter and I very dependent upon my internet connection.  DSL worked for me for years until I got FOIS.

[Solus]

For DSL, it is true you need to be close to the Switch Station.  This is not a building.  It can be mounted on a telephone pole....but it can still be a distance problem in a rural area.

Find out where the closest station is.

I had a friend who lived in the suburbs and the station was too distant for good service.  He contacted his phone provider and encouraged to bring better service to his neighborhood.  They did...he could see the new station from his back porch.

[JC5123]

I'll have to do some more looking. Thanks guys!

[PegLeg45]

Rural living is great......... Thrilled for you, JC.