2 Simplify

Selling my land

2012-01-23T16:34:00.003-05:00

Yep, you read that right. I've decided to sell my land in Terlingua. Unless I win the lottery in the next couple of months, or land a great telecommute job, there's no way I'm going to be able to move out there in the foreseeable future. *heavy sigh*

Anyway, if you're interested in buying it, you can shoot me an email at iseidh@yahoo.com.

In other news, since my last post, I sold one of my computers and have two more to go. My emergency fund has grown little by little, and I still haven't used the credit card. My FICO score was pretty outstanding last I checked, so I'm not cutting them up. Them being the Visa and the Home Depot card; having them open with zero balances helps the credit score, I guess.

I'm still slowly plugging away at the "stuff." Most of what's left is in the spare bedroom. I try to eliminate something every time I walk in there. The bigger items will be listed on craigslist soon, the rest is junk that I need to accept that I don't need to keep.

Suddenly, November.

2011-11-06T16:10:00.000-05:00

Since my last post, I've moved into a smaller room in the house for the winter months. This room is about 9.5 x 14 with an 8' ceiling; the master bedroom is about 12 x 12.5 with a cathedral ceiling, double closet, and master bath. The smaller room is staying much warmer with just the little oil filled electric radiator going. I have the other 2 bedrooms closed off. The electric bill for October was just shy of $86, about $16 more than last year. The cold weather started early this year.

I just spent about an hour going through more junk and old papers, most of which went in the trash. I have one more pile of papers to sort through, but it's a small one. I keep thinking after all this time decluttering that I'd be about done, but I know there are a lot more things that can go.

I'm sticking to the new budget thus far, and still haven't used the Evil Credit Card :)

Minimizing and budgeting

2011-10-22T11:05:00.002-04:00

This week, I said goodbye to my older desk, all my DVD's and books, and some more clothes and shoes I never wear. I replaced some of the paper books with a few free e-books. I haven't had any serious bites on the stuff I listed on craigslist, just some nibbles.

I'm happy to report that I have not used my credit card for over a month now. My only unexpected expense was a vet visit for Tara to determine the nature of a lump I found on her chest. It turned out to be a lipoma, no big deal, and the bill was easily covered since I've been putting money in a separate account for the dogs for quite some time.

I also spent several hours this week putting together a realistic budget, and looking for more ways to save rather than spend. I think this budget is the first one I've ever put together that accounts for everything, and doesn't conveniently ignore things I'd rather not think about. Let's see if I can stick to it.

Trashed

2011-10-11T19:28:00.004-04:00

I hit the back bedroom with a vengeance, and managed to fill up my trash bin with all kinds of "stuff" - shoes, clothes, hangers, a pillow, old computer cables and CD's, baskets, office supplies, old receipts and bills, etc. The only thing left in that room is a small table I need to sell; there's one more box in the closet in there that I need to go through, and that will be it for that part of my house. I threw out one box that has moved everywhere with me for 20 years!

I'm now considering selling my TV and DVD player. I barely use them any more, since I cancelled Netflix and I don't have cable. I can use the TV to watch Amazon Instant shows, but I almost always watch those on the chromebook so I can move from room to room. I've never needed a big screen or fancy sound system.

It really feels great to have so much less junk in my life. I'm looking forward to the next round of purging :)

Purging and Saving

2011-10-08T16:43:00.002-04:00

I've been doing pretty well at throwing something away every week, and now I've gotten busy getting my unused computers ready to sell, to be followed by some unused furniture. It feels good to be making progress in the purge.

Back in August, I got notification that Wells Fargo would start charging me $3 a month to use my debit card. I'm not terribly fond of Wells Fargo as it is, and I'm a heavy debit card user, so I did some research and decided to get a Mango debit card. If you sign up for direct deposit, you get $20 added to your account after the 2nd deposit is made, and with direct deposit you can get a Savings account that's currently paying 6% APY. That's not a typo - 6%! I'm a lousy saver, but this interest rate has given me tremendous incentive to work on my savings.

I'm also trying really, really, hard to avoid using my credit card. I'm not a devout follower of Dave Ramsey, but his advice is sound, and I very much want to have that savings/safety net. My only debt is my mortgage, so I've got that part down... though I'd rather not have one at all. Not using the credit card means thinking carefully about what I can pay for right now, not next month. And I'm also trying to take into consideration that any money I spend that I don't have to isn't going into the savings account.

Thankfully, I do have a good job and benefits, unlike most of these people. Reading their stories should give anyone incentive to get and stay out of debt and to save money!

Quick update

2011-10-02T15:51:00.000-04:00

Since my last post, I've been doing a lot of web surfing, spending time with the foster greyhound, nursing a badly bruised shin, and getting rid of more "stuff." I've been looking at a lot of tiny houses online, looking for ideas for layouts and options. This is a good video:

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Dee Williams' tiny house doesn't have any plumbing at all. So... no water pump (and no water pump energy requirements), no drains, no potential leaks. Her house has far, far, too many windows for my tastes; views and natural light are great, but all those windows also represent a lot of heat loss in winter, and gain in summer. It is a very nicely done tiny house, though, and plenty roomy for her and the dog.

I also want to share this link with you; it's something everyone should read. Katrina Lessons

Til next time....

Zeer pot experiment

2011-08-18T21:25:00.000-04:00

Back in February, I wrote about the Zeer pot refrigerator. I found a video to add to that post, and finally got around to making my own Zeer pot today. I used 8" and 12" brown unglazed clay pots, and got a ripped bag of "play sand" for only $1.50. The sand says it has been washed and screened, so it seemed safe to use for this purpose. The sand was very warm from sitting out in the sun at Lowe's, so the starting temp in the inner pot was 86F. I added 6 cups of tap water to the sand, and covered the pots with a thin wet towel. I also set a small fan blowing on it, since the pot is on a kitchen counter and a breeze is helpful with the evaporation process.

The humidity today is 86%; these are supposed to work much better in a dry climate. That said, after 4 hours, the inner pot temperature is 69F and the ambient temp in my kitchen is 80F. I'll turn the fan off before I go to bed tonight, and see how things look in the morning.

I also got a matching 8" saucer to use for a lid on the inner pot. I don't know if I need it yet, but it seemed like a good idea to help keep bugs and dogs out of it :) I'll post any updates in the comments here.

Batteries, Greyhounds

2011-08-02T19:28:00.000-04:00

Remember those batteries I got some time last year? The ones that have been sitting in my garage, in the dark, unhooked? Well, I finally got around to buying a charger/maintainer/desulphator/conditioner. Good God, the directions are awful. I spent about an hour reading the manual, then googled some stuff, and this 35 page manual boiled down to 6 really simple steps. Anyway, I got the first battery hooked up without incident, and left for work. When I got home, the green light was blinking in maintenance mode. Yay!

So I'm going to let that one be for a few days. Tomorrow, I should receive a 15W solar panel and charge controller, which I will use to keep the things topped off as they come off the charger. I'm sure I'll find some other use for this little panel after I get my "real" solar panels and charge controller at some later date.

In other news, the rescue that I fostered a couple of greyhounds for last year just brought back three more greyhounds from Florida. I went to meet them last night, and tomorrow morning I'll take my boss dogs (Tara and PD) to meet the only boy of this group. If all goes well, he'll be my new foster dog tomorrow afternoon :)

Prickly pear water purification

2011-07-15T10:34:00.000-04:00

Cactus Gum Can Purify Water Cheaply and Effectively

Well, that's a new one on me. Had to share for my friends and neighbors in Terlingua :)

Dreaming of home

2011-07-12T22:19:00.001-04:00

David over at the Terlingua or Bust blog reported that some road work was being done in our neighborhood, and kindly drove up my road to have a look and take some pictures. In this picture from last September, I'm walking toward my west property line. You can see James (the surveyor) set up in the road at the crest of the little rise between my place and the Legion.

Looking east near my west property line.

Edit: This is a new picture from David, showing what the road looks like now.

Way better! Of course, seeing this picture and the others he took has given me fresh motivation to get my butt out there again. I've been doing my best to NOT use my vacation time, saving it up so I can take at least 2 weeks next time, maybe 3. At this point, it's looking like November; I can take 2 weeks at Thanksgiving and only use 8 vacation days. If I recall, it's 25 hours of actual driving time from here to there, so figuring on 4-6 days being eaten up in travel time coming and going. And of course, I need to figure out what I'm going to build before I get there and bring it with me. I'm still leaning heavily toward a dome, but continue to look at other options.

House progress

2011-07-09T10:14:00.000-04:00

Thanks to some much appreciated help and motivation from a friend, the yard is cleaned up, the roof is cleaned off, a new screen door is installed, and the master bathroom make-over is nearing completion. I'll post before and after pics of the bathroom when it's done; all that's left to do now is cut and install quarter round around the baseboards, prime and paint the woodwork, caulk between tub and floor, change out the door hardware, and install a shower curtain and towel bars. The wallpaper was stripped, walls mudded and sanded, two coats of primer, caulked around the tub, two coats of paint, installed new light fixture, and changed out the light and fan switches. I had the plumber replace some defective toilet parts and change out the 20+ year old sink fixture.

Other than the house progress, I've been occupied with churning ideas around in my head spawned by a combination of watching Jeremiah on Netflix, reading the Unreliance blog, and reevaluating my concept of simple as it applies to living. What if you couldn't get gasoline or propane any more? What if your grocery store stopped getting food deliveries? And for people on the grid, what if your electricity was shut down for good? How would you get by without the conveniences we take for granted every day? Reading back over that, it sounds rather survivalist, and I guess it is. But I'm asking myself how I could work around those situations now, and eliminate the need to be concerned about them in the future. I don't have my answers yet.

New desk, electronic decluttering

2011-05-14T22:02:00.002-04:00

I decided to get that Manhattan desk from Target after all. It is the perfect size. The hutch doesn't cover the whole desktop, so I was able to leave enough space on the left for the Zotac ZBOX PC to sit. The DVD player and CR-48 netbook fit under the bottom shelf, and the drawers hold my supplies.

I was able to get the books and nightstand out of the room. The greyhound is happy to have more room in "his" corner to the left of the desk :) I may be able to construct a little shelf under the right side of the desk for the printer, but I rather like having it out of sight (and out of the dust) in the cabinet. It's wireless, so it doesn't matter where it is. And I don't print much.

I've also decluttered my electronic life with the addition of the ZBox PC. I've been using Google Chrome browser for a long time now, along with Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Picasa for pictures. I'm making a concentrated effort now to store nothing on my computer. Chrome keeps my bookmarks and everything synchronized on all my computers. My documents and pictures are likewise accessible from anywhere. My Blackberry keeps my Gmail contacts and calendar sync'ed, too. I got the ZBox 4Gb of RAM and a 60Gb solid state drive, which is more than enough for Windows 7. The ZBox only uses 20 Watts of power, and the only noise it makes is from the fan, which is fairly quiet.

My book collection is also electronic. I have quite a few ereader books, and have just started using Amazon's Kindle for PC and Blackberry. Both services store the books for you, and you can read them on any computer, where ever you are. Best of all, they don't take up any space in the physical world.

It ain't right

2011-05-09T20:54:00.000-04:00

The furniture. It ain't right. Mostly my desk. Here's a fresh pic of my current desk situation:

I like having a keyboard tray and a couple of small drawers to put things like pens, scratch pads, screen wipes, etc. I like the monitors raised up so the center of the screen is at eye level, but not on top of books like they are now. I like ALL the cords hidden from my view. And I really really really like real wood. My other desk is just a bit too big, which is why I'm using this little table.

Been shopping for a new desk that's the right size, and has a little hutch for the monitors to sit on, a keyboard tray, and at least one drawer. All I can find in the right design is that heavy (and crappy) MDF stuff. Like this:

Target's description of this says the frame material is hardwood. I checked it out in the store. The legs are hardwood, but the top and drawer fronts are MDF, and the veneer isn't good. They didn't have the hutch in the store, but I'm betting it's mostly MDF, too. Otherwise, the dimensions are spot-on, it looks nice, the finish matches my other furniture close enough, and it would serve my needs nicely.

New additions to the room: the books the monitors are sitting on, which will go if I get that desk, or a similar one. Bandages and first aid stuff for the greyhound's latest boo-boo. The charging cable for the Blackberry. New quilt for the bed - ratty old blanket out.

One other note: I'd like to welcome my new readers to the blog. It's reassuring to know that other folks are also travelling the road to simplifying their lives and minimizing "stuff." It is a journey, not a destination, and it's kinda nice to have company on the way :)

Lounging

2011-04-30T21:54:00.001-04:00

I had a really strong urge to lounge in front of the TV today, and the computer chair just doesn't cut it for that purpose. My choices for this were the recliner or the futon mattress. While the floor sleeping experiment went well, I decided to bring in the futon and all the spare pillows in the linen closet and make a lounger. The futon can stay, since it can be both bed and lounger, but a better propper-upper arrangement will need to be made. I really don't care for the futon frames that you can configure like this. I think a simple triangular structure, that folds flat for storage, with a non-skid base would do nicely. Update: Just had the idea to have a headboard that would fold back and down to support the upper part of the bed in "lounge" position. Then it doesn't have to be stored. |_ _ _ bed |\ _ _ lounge

The lounger was immediately popular.

It's leaning up against the dresser drawers, which will not do at all on a permanent basis, but it was quite comfortable. The blue shoebox made a temporary end table to set my coffee cup on. During floor sleeping, I also needed a a very low table for the alarm clock, so I guess this is something I need to make or buy. For maximum usefulness, I think a lidded wood box or drawer would be great; storage for remotes and a flashlight.

The cabinet the TV is sitting on has my wireless printer on the middle shelf, and all my bedding on the bottom shelf. The computer and nightstand are to the right of the squinting-in-the-camera-flash dog (Natoli).

The only other addition to the room today is the digital camera, since I actually used it.

Sleeping on the floor, less "stuff"

2011-04-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

Three nights spent sleeping on the floor now, and I've gotten used to it. Would have slept through the night last night were it not for the tornado warning alert ringing my cell around 1:20am. Got back to sleep when the warning expired at 2, and woke up just a few minutes before the alarm, feeling fine.

The netbook's left mouse "button" has gotten erratic, so I swapped it out for the Dell All-inOne. I think it's just time for a new computer. The Dell just doesn't run some things right in Windows 7, and the screen resolution for LotRO doesn't really work for me, either.

I did bring in my nightstand today, which has small drawers that are perfect for eye glasses, stamps, address labels, checkbook, and other little things. It's under the little table I use for a desk, acting as a keyboard tray. May move the dresser in tonight, too, but I completely emptied the bottom drawer and removed some other stuff that I never ever wear. I took out 2 more bags of "stuff" to the trash yesterday. Little things count, too; I brought in all the jewelry I never wear to work and gave it to the ladies I work with. The only pieces I kept are ones I love, and the only ones I ever wear when I bother to wear jewelry at all. I also returned a book that has been in my nightstand for over a year that I haven't read.

I'm pleased with the blank slate experiment so far. I use everything in the room at this point.

Blank slate simplifying

2011-04-26T08:44:00.000-04:00

Last night I took the plunge into the blank slate method of simplifying and minimizing. I completely cleared out the master bedroom. As I need things, they will come back in. So far, the room contains a small desk, lamp, netbook computer, chair, dog beds, small tv stand with tv and dvd player, alarm clock, and a pillow. I slept on the floor last night on a comforter folded in half. When I woke this morning, I folded up the comforter and blanket and stowed the pillow in the closet and instantly had all the floor space back that would otherwise be taken up by a bed.

I slept on the floor because I've been questioning the need for a bed. People didn't have modern beds for hundreds of thousands of years in our evolutionary history, and many still don't. As some of you know, I'm really interested in the Paleolithic period, when we were all hunter-gatherers. One of the few remaining hunter gatherer peoples, the San of the Kalahari in Africa, have nothing in the way of modern conveniences (like beds) and they seem to be thin, fit, and healthy people. They sleep on the ground.

Back to the blank slate, I will only bring clothes back into the room that come out of the dryer, meaning clothes I actually wear. I will only bring other things back into the room as I use them. I think after a month, I should know what I'm using and what I'm not, and be able to pitch or sell the stuff I don't actually need.

Apples and Oranges

2011-04-14T19:52:00.000-04:00

It puzzles me that the makers of the 12V refrigerators and freezers don't have to provide one of those yellow Energy Guide stickers like other appliance makers do. Their info on the web says how many watts it uses, but this does NOT help me estimate how much solar panel or battery I need to run one. If it uses 90 watts when running, how often does it run and for how long? Why can't you give me the annual kWh number that "real" appliances do? Or even how many watts it uses in one day? I can at least extrapolate that the "real" mini-fridge I'm looking at that uses 274 kWh per year according to the Energy Guide sticker uses (274000 watts divided by 365 days) 750 watts per day. End gripe. Mumble.

In other energy news, I got myself a geeky new internet connected LED LCD TV that uses half as much power as my old one. It's a really fun gadget; even though I don't have cable and there is no chance of pulling any TV stations with an antenna (they're all in Atlanta), I'm keeping entertained with lots of Netflix and the novelty of checking facebook and the weather on the TV :)

Spring Cleaning

2011-03-13T11:08:00.000-04:00

The cold winter resulted in some enormous electric bills, and vet bills added to that, plus new glasses means I'm playing catch-up again, so... no progress on my homestead plans. Last week, I filled my trash bin with stuff that needed trashing, and I've got another full load ready to go for this week. I think that's it for the bigger items of junk, but I still have a lot of smaller things to sort through, and I noticed a lot of stuff in the garage that doesn't really need to be there. Small steps...

My DSL internet went out on March 3, and wasn't fixed until March 8. That was a pain in the butt. Too late, I remembered that my Google Chrome CR-48 notebook comes with a FREE Verizon 100mb/mo data plan. I had trouble getting it activated, but got in touch with a Chrome "ninja" who fixed me up in no time. Next time the DSL goes out, I can at least get to my email and Facebook. Will also be handy when traveling.

Terlingua Green Scene

2011-03-09T09:25:00.000-05:00

Please check out the Terlingua Green Scene coming up April 2, 2011 in Terlingua, TX. I won't be able to go, but hopefully some of my readers will!

Zeer pot refrigeration

2011-02-01T17:39:00.003-05:00

I stumbled over an interesting refrigeration method today that I'd heard of before, but didn't have a name for: Zeer pot refrigeration.

This is basically an evaporative cooler for food and drinks. Two unglazed clay pots, a layer of sand, some water - and a dry climate. Cover with a wet cloth, add more water to the sand every 12 hours, and your food stays cool. It helps to raise the pots on some sort of stand so air can get around the bottom of the outer pot.

I will definitely try this out, though I'm not going to expect much in Georgia with the higher humidity. This would be a nice little zero power cooler for eggs, cheese, butter, and veggies, and perhaps some processed meats like sausage that are preserved to death.

Update Aug 11, 2011: I just found this video that shows how to do this, and results.

Lighting: check

2011-01-29T09:33:00.001-05:00

I've been searching high and low for some decent solar powered LED lights for my future home. I finally found two that I like; the first is the Sunforce Solar Hanging Light with Remote Control, Model# 81091, which will go in the middle of the house for general lighting. It lit up my living room pretty well, so it should be great in a small living space. The other is a solar BBQ clip light with 10 LED's. The light is a little on the blue side, but I used it to read the directions, and it can be used to light the grill or any other work area. Since these both have their own panels and batteries, there will be no drain on the house batteries. I also have the Dietz lantern and LED flashlights, so my next trip out to my land will be well lit :)

In other news, I'm still in communications with a geodesic dome company and working out the logistics of that idea. The foster dog is back at the rescue until she's fostered or adopted elsewhere - she was snarling at Tara every time she saw her, so those two cannot be together again. No further progress has been made on the batteries. It's been god-awful cold here and I haven't wanted to spend time tinkering in the garage.

Solar Water Disinfection

2011-01-28T06:51:00.000-05:00

Just ran across this info and had to share. Check out SODIS!

"The SODIS method is very easy to apply: A transparent PET bottle is cleaned with soap. Then, the bottle is filled with water and placed in full sunlight for at least 6 hours. The water has then been disinfected and can be drunk."

So tired

2010-12-28T23:24:00.002-05:00

Foster dog is recovering nicely. But I've been with her 24/7 since I got her back and I'm exhausted. I hope she can sleep alone tonight, because my own dogs miss me and I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.

The battery bolts came in the mail yesterday and... they fit! I need to get some pipe cleaners tomorrow and clean out the bolt holes, though - looks like mud daubers had set up shop in them some time ago and they are full of dirt.

I'll also try to play with some floor plans for a dome tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

Update: To help alleviate some confusion (mostly mine), click here to see what my batteries are. Please note where it says "Terminal Type I2-Thread lead alloy recessed terminal to accept M6 bolt"

I will try to take a close-up picture of one when I get to cleaning them.

Update 2: Ok, here's a pic of my batteries.

The one on the right is exactly how they came to me. The one on the left, I have inserted the bolts I bought. There seems to be a "stop" inside the socket, so there's a gap between the hex nut and the face. This begs the question, do the cables I use for the parallel connection go under the hex nut, or between the hex nut and the wing nut, or does it matter?

Wrapping up the year

2010-12-26T18:38:00.000-05:00

While I try to recover from the big vet bills of November, I've been looking at other options for my cabin and I'm seriously considering a geodesic dome. The metal framed one, not the wood one. I like the aesthetics a lot, but the round-ish shape is a bit difficult for cabinetry and furniture. Domes are also extremely strong in high wind. I also looked some more at yurts, but I really don't care for the way they look on the inside.

I ordered some bolts for my batteries that I think will work. If I didn't mention it before, the batteries I bought didn't come with the bolts that you attach wires to, and it took me forever to figure out what I needed to buy. Hope I got it right :) I'm hoping the bolts will come next week. Next, I need to figure out where to buy the cables to hook the batteries to each other. Then see about the rest of the gadgetry to charge them and use the power. My house here is surrounded by really tall trees except on the north, so sunlight is scarce, but I'd like to get something going anyway just to get the hang of the system.

Christmas day was off to a good start, then my foster greyhound girl made the mistake of arguing with Tara (the boss dog) and got her ass handed to her. She's at the UGA vet school where she got stitched up and is spending 2 days there with a grenade drain in her chest. They expect to release her tomorrow. Tara got a few cuts on her face and has been pretty subdued since the fight, but seems ok. I will be keeping them separated while the foster dog recovers.

Turkey Day

2010-11-25T15:42:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone is having a very happy Thanksgiving holiday! I wasn't able to get home for the holiday, but thanks to technology, I'm able to hang out with the family using video Skype.

On with the plan!

2010-10-29T21:25:00.000-04:00

I've spent many hours looking at the Plan B design, imagining it, measuring, pondering, and redrawing. It's a keeper. So, on to the next order of business: ordering the container and prepping the land for it.

You may notice the plan does not have a microwave. I'm still thinking about that. I use the thing every day to heat water for coffee and to cook frozen veggies. Maybe 15 minutes use a day. I've been considering unplugging the thing for a day and see how much I miss it. It wasn't a big deal for the week of camping, so maybe it won't kill me not to have one... the fewer electrical gadgets I have, the better.

I think found the charge controller(s) I want for the cabin. I'm looking at having two separate power systems; one for an AC and electric radiant floor heat, and the other to run everything else. 500-600W of panels on each system. So I need to find a truly outstanding deal on panels so I can afford to do that :)

Plan B

2010-10-24T18:38:00.000-04:00

Ok, rearranged the cabin plan to put in a sliding glass door on the east side to give myself a stellar view of Nine Points Mesa.

You can see the outline of a 2nd slider on the south wall, and a door a bit to the right of it. I'm not sure that kitchen window will make it in; that's where the cooktop will be, above the under-counter refrigerator. The west wall is the door end of the container, so that could be left as-is, or I could open the doors and build a wall there to add a window AC unit. I would like to have a roof AC, like RV's have, but they don't make them low power enough to suit me. This thing should not take more than 5,000 BTU to cool, and they don't make RV air conditioners that small.

All it needs now is a nice covered patio for a living room and dining area :)

Rough Sketch

2010-10-16T23:15:00.000-04:00

Here's a rough sketch of the interior of the shipping container cabin; I created this using the Ikea Home Planner software. The kitchen is pretty well where I like it, the rest is a mock up using their furniture of approximately what I want and where it goes. This is far from exact, folks!

The object on the left is a rather tall bed, with the idea that the dogs' bed will be under it so I don't have dog beds all over the floor. Going to the right from there is a dresser/nightstand, wardrobe, desk, and broom closet. The back door will go out to the outdoor facilities. I will probably add more cabinetry above the desk and dresser and perhaps over the bed so there's plenty of storage.

Almost there...

2010-10-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

I'm 95% sure I'm going to go with a shipping container cabin now. Still futzing around with the design, though. And have to figure out what to use for a foundation; I suppose it should be off the ground, so maybe something under the corners and in the middle? I wonder if anyone out there does the spray on foam insulation, and how well that would work on the outside, with maybe a layer of stucco over the top. And of course I'd need someone to weld on a big raised roof for water catchment.

I'm currently planning to get back out there the week between Christmas and New Year's, perhaps longer depending on how my vacation time accumulates. I don't think I want to stay in a tent this time, though; it's going to be cold!

Still entertaining ideas

2010-10-03T16:41:00.000-04:00

Since my last post, I've been doing room rearranging, staring at various spaces and imagining how things would fit and look, and more work with an online room designer. Still haven't arrived at that "just right" design, but I'm getting closer.

To take a break from that design, I spent some time today designing my composting toilet. I made a cardboard template for the top (that the toilet seat sits on). I'm trying to work out a rounded front for it, rather than doing the big square box seen here. There are several options in materials that will wrap nicely around the curved front. I'm lacking some of the tools I need to build this thing myself, though. I miss having a table saw at my disposal.

In other news, I got AT&T DSL last week to replace Charter. My bill from Charter, for just Internet, has been a hair over $60/mo. for their 5Mb speed, which in reality is closer to 13Mb. DSL is a bit slower, topping out at 5Mb, but is only $20/mo. for the first year. I don't watch TV and I haven't had a landline in almost 4 years; it used to be really hard to get Internet service without being forced to "bundle" it with TV or phone. I'm very glad that is no longer the case! This will save me some money I can put into my cabin.

Missing Terlingua

2010-09-20T22:06:00.001-04:00

I'm missing Terlingua very badly. I've been spending more time outside on the patio since I got back, and gazing up at the little tiny patch of sky I can see through the trees with like ONE star showing. Meh. Sunrise here happens behind the neighbor's house and trees. I gaze longingly at the picture of Nine Points Mesa sunrise I have for my desktop background. There is no comparison.

The smaller room is working out so far, but I'm going to rearrange it due to a new idea for cabin design.

Changed rooms

2010-09-18T21:34:00.000-04:00

This evening, I moved my bedroom furniture into the 9x14 bedroom to see how that's gonna work out. I can see right now that all 3 dog beds do not have room on the floor. I put in 2, and will see how that goes tonight. This is the room that has the dog door in it. I'm using the smaller desk, which is really a sofa table. This room also has a vinyl floor instead of carpet, which will also be a good test on how well and how easily I can keep it clean.

I guess tomorrow will be spent cleaning out the junk closet and moving my clothes in there.

Too much thinking

2010-09-14T22:14:00.000-04:00

Been trying to work out my solar & wind power system components and parts, thanks to much help from Nick. Also still pondering on the cabin plan ... I still haven't tried arranging all my stuff into a smaller space to see if it works for me and the dogs. Perhaps I'll tackle that this weekend so I can move forward. There are so many other things I need to do; I guess I should make a list and just start doing them.

This land is my land

2010-09-12T21:25:00.000-04:00

For my 46th birthday, I treated myself to a week off work to go check out my land and do some sightseeing and meet some neighbors. I left Athens at 9pm Friday night (Sept 3), drove to Alabama to pick up my friend Jim, and we got to Terlingua Ranch just before sunrise on Sunday morning, September 5. We stopped at Nick's container and unloaded a few things, then hit the showers at the Ranch Lodge. Then it was off to David's place for Sunday Brunch. We got there a bit late, but there was plenty of good chow and coffee, and a great group of people to enjoy it with. We had basically no sleep on the way down, so after that, we went to my land to poke around and set up camp. James, my neighbor and surveyor, stopped by in the afternoon and let us know he could come and get my corners marked Monday morning. We stayed up long enough to enjoy the night sky; you can see every star out there! Some time in the night, the dogs growled and had their hackles up at something outside. Jim shined a flashlight out around the tent, but didn't find any eyes, so what ever it was decided to take off. Slept like logs til dawn.

Camping on my land

James showed up with his survey equipment at 10am and explained the process, and showed Jim how to work the prism pole with level bubble. The two of them spent the next several hours getting my 4 corners marked, plus the halfway points on the long sides.

James setting up in the road, Jim at the marker

My southeast corner

After that, the rest of the week we did the touristy stuff; drove to Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, and Lajitas, visited John Wells at The Field Lab, had lunch at the American Legion post just up the road, and visited with David one more time. I picked up some stakes at the hardware store and marked where I want my cabin to be.

12x20 cabin site staked out, clothesline showing sides

The picture above is looking west-northwest. Here's a 360 degree view of the site that I took standing inside the perimeter of the future cabin. It starts out looking south, then turns east, north, west, and back south.

I can't even describe how much I loved the area. The sights, the sounds, the smell... I really didn't want to leave. Five days were not nearly enough time down there, but we took off Friday morning, September 10 and headed for home. I'm planning to be back down there between Christmas and New Year's, if all goes well. In the meantime, I need to finalize my cabin plans and make some extra cash to pay for some fencing and get started on the cabin.

The drawing board

2010-08-15T23:28:00.000-04:00

I've spent many hours with graph paper and the online room designer this weekend and still haven't got a plan I like for my cabin. Where I'm running into trouble is with the storage - clothes closet, coat/stuff closet, and utility room. Arranging these to my liking is proving difficult. I also keep going back forth about the indoor plumbing thing.

If I can drag my butt out of bed early enough tomorrow, I'll go look at some 12v 150Ah AGM batteries I found online that are close to town here. He only wants $50 each for them, and says they're all good. They came out of a cell tower. It's worth a look.

I also want to stop at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore and see what they have in windows, doors, and kitchen cabinets.

Blessings

2010-08-11T19:37:00.000-04:00

I am feeling very blessed today. Between Nick and John, I now have a contact down in Terlingua that can build my cabin and probably do the fencing for me, too. Then I was thinking how low I am on my e-cig supplies, and looky there, Vapor4Life 19% off sale code in my inbox. My foster greyhound, J, has used the dog door on his own twice now today, and is playing with my dogs and being part of the pack; a pleasant change from the previous foster. And I got in 20 minutes of sunshine at lunch without being bugged by bugs. Probably should have bought a lottery ticket :)

Survey(or) says!

2010-08-10T22:22:00.000-04:00

Called James the surveyor this morning. I gave him the legal description and described where the property is; have no idea when he can do it, but my fingers are crossed that it will be soon. There are two other surveyors in the area that I can try, but I wanted to try James first since he was recommended. He also lives a mile from my property, so he's a neighbor. I can't get too serious about finding someone to put up fence until I have some survey stakes in the ground.

Design headache

2010-08-01T22:54:00.000-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time with pencil and graph paper trying to work out an acceptable floorplan using a single 20' shipping container. I know, I know, I looked at this before. And yes, I'm still trying to make it work. I just can't quite squeeze everything I want in there. But this is the 2Simplify blog, so I'm trying to make it simpler :)

I'm really not crazy about outdoor "facilities," but they do take up a lot of space in the house. I'm also trying to use my existing furniture, which is probably making this more difficult. Built-ins would make more sense. Back to the drawing board...

I rounded up some more "stuff" that can go to charity. I still haven't tackled the old office closet, and that needs to be done soon. I'm also thinking a few more kitchen things I never use can go. Maybe I'll get some of that done this week and get it out of here before I head to Texas on Friday for Grandma's 90th birthday.

Refrigerator & Generator

2010-07-21T22:41:00.001-04:00

I like this refrigerator: the Sundanzer DCRF134. This will fit under the countertop and is just the right size for me, though I would prefer a much larger freezer, I suppose I could get a little chest freezer if I really needed one down the road. I did check out some propane fridges, but then I remembered how much gas they use from my RV days. The chest fridges and freezers made by Sundanzer are probably more efficient, but not really suited to little tiny homes with limited floor space.

Also looked into generators today. I would like a Honda eu2000i, but this Yamaha EF2000iS 2,000 Watt 79cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator (CARB Compliant) looks to be functionally very similar, and at a better price. It's on my wish list. I'll only need a genny to power the AC and for backup to the solar power. There's supposed to be a DC powered air conditioner out this fall that will bear watching. I think their first release unit is BTU overkill for my little cabin, so I hope they put out a smaller unit that uses even less power.

More tinkering

2010-07-18T21:53:00.000-04:00

I may continue to use the Stickam, but I managed to get my wireless webcam working again last night. I discovered I can embed the stream on my blog here, so it's currently playing at the top of the page. My netbook was overheating being on all day with the Stickam running. The wireless cam doesn't use a computer, so I'll keep it on to watch Quinn while I'm at work. If you're interested, this is my camera, a Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11. It's a lot more complicated to set up and run than it needs to be, but once it's set up, it does the job. I've had it since October of '07 and it's been a great dog monitor.

I briefly considered using my asian style cabinet as a kitchen cabinet, but decided I really need to stick with conventional cabinetry. Right now, it's a stand for my LCD TV and houses my DVD player and DVD collection. None of that will come with me to the desert, so I'll just hope I can find a good home for that cabinet. It's my favorite piece of furniture and I'll miss it, but it has no purpose now.

I still haven't made a decision on a house. As picky as I am, I think I need to have what ever it is built here and shipped out there, ready to live in. Or mostly ready...

View to the south

2010-07-16T20:18:00.000-04:00

My future neighbor, David, was kind enough to snap a few more pics of my land today and the views from it. Here's the view to the south, taken from the road. Is this just freakin' awesome or what?

The phone box is right there across the road, too, so it shouldn't take too long to get a landline and/or DSL installed.

The new sink arrived yesterday; I just now opened up the box and checked it out. Looks great, and the finish is a good match for the cooktop. So, sink, cooktop, and faucet are now stored in my pantry ready to go. I still have to figure out what kind of house they're going in. Nothing I've looked at thus far has seemed "just right," but maybe I'll find something this weekend.

Lovely Land

2010-07-14T17:37:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Nick, here is a picture of my land, I believe looking to the north-northeast. I think that's Nine Point Mesa on the right side of the pic, and you can just see a red roof near the middle that you can also see on the satellite maps of the area. It looks like there might be another hill or peak on the horizon just left of center.

He took this after there had been a lot of rain in the area, so I don't expect it's always this green, but... Wow! Pretty :) Nine Point Mesa is east of the property, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the sun rise over it. Nick, this is now my desktop background. I've had a splitting whopper of a headache all day and this is really helping me find serenity, just looking at this and imagining myself standing there feeling the warm breeze...

Tinkering

2010-07-11T21:33:00.000-04:00

Got me a Stickam account today using my facebook account. Not real impressed with it, but it seems to do what it's designed to. I may run it tomorrow to see what the dogs are up to while I'm gone, since my wireless camera doesn't like my new router. Also added a few blog links on the sidebar.

Tracking says my new cooktop should get here tomorrow, and the sink should arrive Thursday.

Took readings off my Kill A Watt today and used this nifty watt hours to amp hours calculator to get how many amp hours a day my computer, 2nd monitor, router, modem, and lamp are using: 12. The lamp has a 25W CF bulb in it. I do turn the computer off at bedtime, and when I leave for work in the mornings, but the modem and router are on 24/7. I also have the netbook plugged into it to keep it charged. I forgot to plug in the wireless printer, so I'll reset the Kill A Watt when I do that and get a fresh reading. Still, 12 amp hours a day isn't bad at all.

And the kitchen sink, too

2010-07-07T21:09:00.000-04:00

Yep, just ordered the kitchen sink. A good sized 7" deep bar sink, equal in size to half of your typical double bowl kitchen sink, so the dish drainer will fit nicely inside it. $56 shipped on Ebay.

It's an under-mount, and I'm strongly considering a wood counter-top from Ikea. If you're wondering why the small cooktop and sink, it's because my future kitchen will be approximately 6' long, in a cabin of 240 sq ft or less.

I'm still hoping to find a good deal on some used kitchen cabinets on craigslist, or perhaps a cool piece of furniture that could be converted to house the sink and cooktop.

Score!

2010-07-06T20:22:00.000-04:00

I just won an Ebay auction for a Suburban stainless 2 burner cooktop for my eventual cabin, for about half the cost of buying one retail. One less thing on my "to buy" list.

My foster dogs are both coming along nicely. The girl goes back to the rescue tomorrow night in advance of her vet visit Thursday morning, and will stay there to recover. She's been a handful (like having an ADHD toddler in the house) and I need to spend some quality time with the boy to get him out of his shell and encourage him to let his personality out.

2 complications

2010-07-03T17:17:00.000-04:00

And adorable complications at that! I'm fostering two greyhounds for the weekend, a boy and a girl, about 2 years old each (which means they failed as racers), and this is their first time in a house. They're both unsettled and unsure right now. Hope I can give them a good start on becoming good pets for someone eventually :)

Next steps

2010-07-02T09:01:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I shot off an email to request the 911 address for the property. I understand I'll need that before I can get other things done. This morning, I downloaded a copy of the county's homestead exemption application. This can't be filed until after January 1, but I made a note on my calendar to remind myself to do it. The phone company lady still hasn't responded about DSL availability. Guess I need to call.

I've been racking my brains trying to figure out when I can get down there to see the place, get some pics and video, and meet the neighbors. Maybe Labor Day weekend? I would love to bring the dogs with me, too, but it's 24 hours of drive-time to get there, and for the time constraint, I think I'd be better off flying. We'll see what happens, and if a good airfare comes up, between now and then.

Update: Holy cow, Aaron just called me back already. My 911 address for the property is 530 W. Legion Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852. Note: This will not be my mailing address!

Isn't it hot out there?!

2010-06-29T15:27:00.001-04:00

For those of you that ask....

Not that different, eh?

Texas Landowner

2010-06-28T21:03:00.001-04:00

I bought 5 acres of prime desert land in the Terlingua Ranch this morning, which is near Big Bend State Park in the great state of Texas. It was cheap enough that I could just buy it outright; no payments! All mine!

Location of my 5 acres

So with that accomplished, as time and finances permit, I will get on with the process of making it a home. I'll need a survey so I can get some fence up for the dogs. I'm sure the girls would stay pretty close in shouting distance, but PD (my greyhound boy) could be playing in the middle of the highway in a matter of seconds if he was let loose. Or in the next county if something ran and he was inclined to chase it.

Tara's foot is healing very nicely. Her stitches come out this coming Saturday, and after that I'll allow her to have fun again. Though I think she kind of likes not having to play with her sister 24/7...

Didn't get much organizing done this weekend, just some of the paper pile on my desk, and found a few things I've had stored for 6 months and have not used; those got tossed.

Addition:

Here's a screenshot of the POATRI map. My 5 acres are the easternmost 1/4 of 4919 (henceforth known as 4919-D). The Legion is right there at the 118 graphic underneath the crisscrossing red lines.

Here's a black and white version, with a green rectangle where my property is:

The GPS coordinates listed with the property are in another section entirely, so I choose to believe the tract maps are correct :)

Whooosh!

2010-06-24T21:51:00.000-04:00

That was the sound of my money vanishing. Spent a good chunk getting the van roadworthy, and yesterday Tara cut her foot somehow: over $300 to the vet for surgery/stitches. Ouchy. Also used up some vacation time so I could stay home and keep an eye on her. She's supposed to "rest" for 10 days.

Stitches on Tara's right hind foot

Just now got an email from the gentleman I was looking to buy land from; he got a substantially better cash offer but was willing to honor the contract he sent me, even though neither of us had signed it yet. What a nice fellow! With the whooosh of my cash being half gone, I told him he'd be nuts not to take it :) So... back to land shopping and hopefully motivating myself to get back to working side jobs to make up that money.

I must also note here that my organizational state is a shambles. I've spent so much time on the computer lately that my papers are not filed and things are not put away as they should be. I will try to remedy that this weekend. I hate living in chaos.

Safety first

2010-06-10T23:03:00.000-04:00

Got the van looked over today, and glad I did. I already knew it needed new front tires, and boy did it ever! Both of them were down to the mesh in places. Also needed new brakes and a wheel bearing. Got about half of that done today, and will drop it off in the morning to get the rest done. So that will set me back a bit, but I get the reward of knowing I'm driving as safely as I can.

Still looking at cabin options, and I can't tell you how many bad designs I saw tonight. The people that design these things have obviously never tried living in one. Kitchens with no drawers, or any other storage to speak of. Folks, if the place is under 200 sq ft, I'm not going to be entertaining, so don't try to squeeze a full sized kitchen into your design. Give me as much counter space as possible, and lots of storage. I don't need a double sink, a range, or a full sized fridge. Do try to get a small washer/dryer combo unit in there, I'd love that!

Speaking of washers... check out the Electrolux Shine. It's a concept that comes in either a wall mount unit or under bathroom cabinet unit. Spiffy! I wonder how much power they'll use? I think I read the wall unit uses only a gallon of water per wash, but I bet it only holds as much as the Wonder Wash.

I also like the Smev single burner cooktop sold by Aery on ebay. Their sinks are cool, too.

I have a van!

2010-06-08T20:50:00.000-04:00

Did the vehicle exchange tonight! The van is a really tight fit coming into the garage, I mean like 2 inches to spare on either side. I wrestled out the middle seat and turned the floor mat so it covers the holes where the seat was and all 4 dogs piled in. They loved it! I'll try to take them for a ride tomorrow.

PD between the front seats. I expect he'll probably ride here regularly.

PD, Tara, and Devi happy with the new ride! Natoli was unavailable for comment.

Roomy! The back seats are pushed all the way back.

The sales agreement for the land is now in the hands of a local real estate attorney for review. He said he'll get to it and let me know how it looks by Thursday.

I spent some time this morning looking at solar power panels and components. I still have no idea how much power I'll need, but there are some good deals out there. One of my LCD monitors says 1.5A. Can that be right? Just seems kinda low. The Dell all in one computer is 130W. I wish everyone would either print amps or watts, one or the other. I keep forgetting the math to convert it all. The netbook, cable modem, and wireless router all say 1A. And there is a DC adapter for the netbook, pretty reasonable, so I might get that.

Van test drive

2010-06-07T20:22:00.000-04:00

Finally found someone looking to trade their minivan for a car! We did a mutual test drive tonight up in Hull, and I think we were each happy, but we're taking tonight to think on it and will discuss tomorrow. It sure would be nice to be able to take all 4 dogs somewhere all at once! For those who don't know, I have a 2005 Ford Focus 4 door sedan. PD the greyhound takes up the entire back seat all by himself, though Devi can squeeze in with him. All 3 girls can ride back there, but not with PD. Thankfully, I have not had to take all 4 anywhere yet, but the time is coming, so I need a van!

I think I have to nix the shipping container idea. I'd absolutely need 2 of them, and the cost of the containers, mods, and shipping (especially the shipping) is just too much. Really, I think my best bet is going to be finding a good builder down there to make me a shell that I can finish myself. Papercrete and it's kin seem like very good desert options - good R value and can handle high winds and bug resistant. I've seen some neat pics of straw bale and adobe type homes out there. I need to revisit that house plan I drew up and see if it still works based on the new things I've learned from others blogs.

Saw a UGA listserv post today that there's a local charity for computer stuff. I'm going to see if they will take my old printer and the shuttle pc and the other pieces-parts I have lying around here.

Water bill up

2010-06-05T23:00:00.000-04:00

Drat. The water bill was WAY up from last month. The electric was way down, though. I need to come up with a new water conserving method of dish washing I guess. It was so much easier when I lived in the Casita and I knew I only had 16 gallons in the fresh water tank and how long it had to last me.

Spent a good bit of time today trying to find pictures of existing shipping container homes, real ones, not computer models. There's not much out there. I did find a place near Atlanta that sells the containers and does mods, so I might call them and get a quote once I figure out what I'd want. I've seen a couple that have an oversized large canopy roof that would be perfect for both shade and water catchment. Those containers are really narrow, though. The greyhound needs a lot of room to turn around.

Plugging away at the "stuff"

2010-06-03T23:03:00.000-04:00

Last month, I treated myself to new kitchen things that match and that I like, and got rid of almost all of the old stuff. I missed some glasses, and decided I don't really need the egg cooker, much as I like it, so those are set aside to go to charity. I decided to only have 4 of everything - flatware, dishes, bowls, mugs, etc. I also tried handwashing the dishes all last month. I should know in a few days what effect that had on the water bill. Also turned the AC up a bit higher and the weather was fairly cool, so maybe the electric won't be that bad this month.

I need to figure out how to do roasts in the dutch oven that came with my new cookware set, then I can bear to part with the crock pot. Is it possible to do a roast on a gas cooktop in a dutch oven? I've really been enjoying the little Coleman camp stove/grill I got. It has one burner, and the other 2/3 of the surface is a non-stick grill. This has really helped me get back on my Neanderthin diet! Grilled meat is the best!

Found a few acres out in Middle of Nowhere, TX that I'm probably going to buy. I should get the sales agreement next week in the mail. The owner is very kindly willing to finance it for 2 years at 0% interest. Can't beat that with a stick. I'm sure I'll pay it off early, but the payments are more than affordable. Power and water are not available on the property, but DSL is - how awesome is that? Broadband in the boonies FTW! I've been finding and reading blogs written by folks that live out there; I'm learning a lot.

Time to get serious about my downsizing and simplifying. I still have stuff all over the house and I need to put everything in my bedroom, and I do mean everything! I'm planning on having a cabin not much bigger than this 12x12 bedroom, and everything needs to fit in that cabin and look good while doing so. I do not want "stuff" stacked in corners. I want everything to have a place to be put away out of sight. Having everything I own in this room will really help me to make some decisions about what to get rid of, and then do so! What's left will tell me where I'm lacking on storage solutions.

Back to basics in the kitchen

2010-05-01T22:41:00.000-04:00

My microwave is the single most used appliance in my kitchen. I drink instant coffee, for which the water is heated in the microwave. I cook my veggies in it. I cook bacon in it. I warm up meats and sauces in it. So while playing around with small efficient kitchen designs tonight, I asked myself if I really need a microwave. My answer is that no, I don't, not really. I knew already that I could live without an oven. I never use that. Dishwasher? Don't really need it, though I hate washing dishes by hand. Refrigerator? Well... I could keep things for a few days in an ice chest if I bought ice and lived near a grocery store to replenish my food every couple days. Or I could eat out all the time and not have a kitchen at all. Some people do that.

A lot of my thinking here comes from giving myself a power outage scenario. I know I need a non-electric way to heat food, water for coffee, and water for bathing and washing up. And that leads to thinking, "Why don't I just design it that way to begin with, and then I won't even notice if the power goes out?" I know already that I want an LP gas tankless water heater. So I think as long as the LP is there, I may as well just get a 2 burner gas cooktop.

What else do I need in the kitchen? I don't entertain, so I don't need much in the way of dishes, glasses, flatware, or table linens. Probably a service for 4 of each. Basic cookware, my crock pot, and I do love my little electric grill, though with LP available, a real outdoor grill would be nice. Of course, the smaller the kitchen, the less room I have for "stuff" in it, so it makes sense to pare down my belongings for that eventuality.

A long cold winter!

2010-03-08T09:13:00.001-05:00

The radiators have worked very well, considering the temps have been below freezing for weeks on end. My electric bills have still been a bit over $200 a month, but not as high as they would have been if I was trying to heat the house using only the furnace.

This winter, I did manage to get rid of a couple of large furniture items, but I had to buy a new desktop computer. In the spirit of keeping it simple, I got a Dell Inspiron One, an all-in-one desktop system. It's extremely quiet and very space conservative.

On a sad note, my 17 year old cat is no longer with me; she passed on in mid January. I miss her and I'm still adjusting to not having a cat in the house for the first time in 19 years.

And on a happier note, I quit smoking on January 1, which also inspired me to get back in shape and lose those extra pounds I put on 3 years ago.

Heat

2009-10-19T21:12:00.001-04:00

It was 34 degrees outside when I woke up this morning, and my furnace (heat pump, not designed to handle cold weather as I know it) ran for about 4 hours non-stop. I've been running a little space heater in my bedroom to keep me at 75, and leaving the rest of the house a bit cooler. Last winter, my electric bills ran over $200/month. I'd rather not see that again this year, so I went out after lunch today and bought two oil filled electric radiant heaters.

I'd been considering a couple of the radiant electric heat panels that mount on the wall, but they're pretty expensive. The oil filled heaters seem to be the most cost effective of my other options, and with a $10 coupon, I got both of them for only $75. I put one in the bedroom, one in the dining room (for the cat's benefit), and put the other two "regular" space heaters in other rooms, where they can be run as needed. I'm really enjoying the quiet heat so far. I'm a huge fan of total silence.

I cleared out a few more things this weekend. I've gotten rid of so much stuff, and still have too much, mostly things I need to try to sell. Perhaps I can get to that this weekend. Perhaps.

An Empty Basket

2009-10-10T17:04:00.000-04:00

I got everything that I think I want to keep out of the office closet, went through my sewing and crafting stuff, threw out a bunch more stuff I don't need, and I still have one large basket completely empty. The other large and the medium both have a little room left. And I think I may not need some of the stuff in them, either, but I'll let it simmer a bit and revisit them at a later date.

Files are not a good fit in that large basket, so they're going to keep living in the wire mesh file boxes they've been in for years. For now, anyway. I hope to find an attractive natural fiber container for them some day.

The empty basket is bugging me. I suppose it will get filled eventually, but my mind keeps picturing things I could put in it. However,having "extra" space does mean I've done a good job of reducing "stuff," so I'll call it a job well done for now.

Further organization

2009-10-08T19:26:00.000-04:00

The table is working out well as a desk. I do miss the handy drawers, but I'm getting by so far without. The table is 14x39, as opposed to the desk at 24x44. The table is a perfect depth for the netbook, and still wide enough to hold my purse, cell phone, and coffee without being crowded. In my last post, I also mentioned rearranging the furniture, which I did, and I got the cabinet and a couple of pictures hung, and brought in one of my fake plants.

My new external DVD ROM drive came yesterday, and definitely passes muster for watching movies on the netbook. I'll give that some more time before I sell off the TV in the living room. I do like watching movies on a big screen, but I've gotten rather accustomed to kicking back in bed with the netbook on my lap to watch stuff. I also have one of those little folding TV tables that I use sometimes, too. I store it behind the bedroom door when not in use. The DVD ROM also fits nicely in (or on top of) the cabinet when not in use.

Today, the first of my underbed baskets arrived. I ordered one medium and two large. The two large ones should get here tomorrow. I'll try my files in one of the large ones. I'm not quite sure what's going in the medium and the other large, but I do have quite a bit of stuff still in my office closet that needs a home. I'm hoping that will be it for my storage needs.

I'm still looking for something to use as an attractive laundry hamper. I've been eying storage ottomans, since that would serve as a seat, too. Or a footrest. I also have my eye on a reclining desk chair for more comfortable movie viewing or chat sessions with the netbook.

So... things continue to shape up in my simplification plan. Storage, multi-purpose items, and less stuff!

Less Stuff

2009-10-03T21:08:00.000-04:00

The cabinet came today. It's currently sitting on top of my desk. I just put all the useful stuff from my desk drawers into the cabinet, and it's a pretty good fit. So the few things left in my desk drawers are things I don't really need. I haven't used any of it since it went in the drawers, thus, I do not need it.

I have a nice wood sofa table that matches my other bedroom furniture fairly well that I'm thinking of turning into a desk. It's a bit smaller than this nice new desk I have, but this is a work in progress, and things will change as I fine tune the simplifying. I'll try out the table for a while and see how it goes.

I also haven't decorated my room yet, so I may swipe some things from the living room and give the bedroom some "finishing" touches, and perhaps rearrange the furniture and get this cabinet hung.

More decluttering

2009-09-30T22:50:00.000-04:00

I wish I could remember the web site I read it on, but I can't. The gist of it was: get rid of the paper, pens, and other junk on the desk. I'm in the habit of scribbling notes on paper, and they stack over time into a big mess. It's a very hard habit to break, but I'm going to try. On that note, without paper, do I really need a stapler, paper clips, and rubber bands? Probably not. I'm not ready to tackle the desk drawers just yet. Another day.

I also tossed another heap of stuff that I'd set aside in the garage for a month or two, just to be sure I was never going to miss the stuff. I don't even notice it's gone now.

I am making a new addition to my stuff, though; I finally ordered a wall cabinet that matches my other bedroom furniture. It has a couple of little drawers in it. I'll figure out what's going in it once it's assembled and on the wall. I have several choices of things that can go in it; maybe my letter holder, where I organize my bills... it could hold a small TV... my netbook might fit in there... I'll see when it gets here.

On that note, I will try soon to get some pics or a video of my bedroom so you can see where I'm at with all this minimizing and organization.

Composting Toilets

2009-09-17T19:45:00.000-04:00

I did a little research into composting toilets the last few days. The ones you can buy are, apparently, rubbish. I read review after review about several brands of them, and 99% of the reviewers had nothing good to say about them. They cost well over $1,000 and have complicated drum and rake systems. Then I found a link to The Humanure Handbook, and found my answer. This is an utterly simple system for a composting toilet. A box, a bucket, some sawdust, and seat. And it doesn't waste a gallon and a half of perfectly good drinking water with every use, since there is no water required and no flushing.

They sell these very reasonably, but I can't see any reason to buy one when they are so simple to make. There are some great pictures on that site of toilets made by the readers of the book, and some are very, very nice! The only other point to using one of these is that you need a compost bin, or a service to haul away the "produce." I'm pretty well sold on this composting toilet, but I wonder how accepted they are by local health departments. Will I still be required to have a septic system just for the grey water produced by my shower and sink? That I will have to find out.

On another note, I finally came up with an acceptable floor plan for a 12x18 cabin, which is as small as I can go to get in all my requirements for space and storage capacity. Yay!

To solar or not to solar, tiny house link

2009-09-12T23:32:00.000-04:00

Today I spent some time looking into solar power again. I figure the system I would need for my cabin would cost me between $2800 and $4000, but paying for grid electric would probably only run me about $500 per year, if that. So the system would pay for itself in 5 to 8 years. Which is simpler? I like the idea of having my own power with a low impact on the environment, and one less monthly bill. On the other hand, paying that one bill would allow me to be lazy; not having to monitor my batteries, and what ever maintenance is involved with a solar array.

A lower cost system would force me to live more simply. I would not be able to run an air conditioner very much, if at all. I'd have to do without that nifty radiant electric heat I'd like and just use some sort of propane heater or a wood stove. And I could use a propane refrigerator instead of electric.

Another point to solar is that power outages would not concern me. I will definitely be giving this much more thought.

I made a brief decluttering pass today, and found a few more things I no longer need or want. Last night I ordered something new, though - I found a really cool looking basket that will fit perfectly underneath my nightstand for more storage. I'm also in the market for similar containers, preferably with lids, that will fit under the bed for functional and decorative storage purposes.

By the way, for those of you that think I'm crazy for wanting to live in a small house, please check out Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, which has given me some inspiration and a few ideas. These little houses would work for me, but not for the dogs; they're just a bit too small!

Still searching, good neighbors

2009-09-09T21:15:00.000-04:00

I've had a flu since last Friday. Have spent the days since then alternating between sleeping and web surfing, scoping out MLS listings and craigslist for land and cabins. Being sick also reminded me why I do not want to live out in the middle of nowhere; if I can't get toilet paper and over the counter drugs for a cold/flu within 15 minutes, it's too far out for me to be living by myself.

Today I found a possible lot and a possible cabin. This cabin is 12x16. I emailed the seller for more pictures and information. I also emailed the listing agent of the lot, though I am not very hopeful for a reply. Realtors, for the most part, suck at answering email. My agent back in Texas got my business because she was the only one that answered email, and kept my business because she's fabulous. If you need a realtor in Rockport, TX, call Pat Redmond.

I also wanted to touch on the topic of neighbors today. I know none of my neighbors here, except on a waved greeting basis. In the RV park I lived in, I knew quite a few of the neighbors by name and by sight, attended a pot luck or two, and was checked up on by them when they felt I had not come out of my rig for too long. The lady that was the assistant park manager at the time brought me an Easter basket. Everyone was helpful and friendly.

Best neighbors before that were back in Michigan out in the boonies. Farm country. You depended on your neighbors and they on you. You help them put up hay, they help you put up hay. Those with snowmobiles got supplies for those without when everyone got snowed in. You watched the neighbors kids and fed their critters if there was a need to. Everyone knew all the kids, so the kids didn't get away with much.

I hope where ever I end up, that I will know my neighbors and have that sense of community with the folks around me again.

Transportation and Living Simply

2009-09-03T22:17:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking for a while now about getting a bicycle. Today as I was watching folks biking around the UGA campus, it occurred to me that bikes are really only good for going somewhere. Just you, and maybe a bag or backpack. I could not use a bike to take the dogs to the vet, bring home 80lbs of dog food, get groceries, or transport 8' lengths of crown molding. Sure, I could hit the grocery store every few days and carry back just a little food each trip. I could probably bike to work. But... I am not fond of being out in the rain and can't imagine biking in it. I have no idea how much a taxi costs. And the nearest bus stop is a mile from my house. I've hit a brick wall when it comes to simplifying my transportation. Can't be done at this time in this place.

I sometimes wish I could step back in time to when people walked where they needed to go, and it wasn't all that important that they arrive at a given time. I've watched specials on National Geographic that show "primitive" people and I so envy them and their simple lifestyle. They get up, gather their food for the day, make or repair clothing and tools and shelters, visit with friends and family. They don't have a mortgage, electric bill, or broken appliances they can't fix. They work as much as they need to for that day, for their own needs and those of their tribe or village, and they're done. They aren't slaving away for some faceless corporation doing work they may not enjoy that doesn't directly benefit themselves or their people. And they just walk; around the village, to pasture with the herd, to hunt, to gather food. Simple.

Me, I have to work to afford the car I need in order to get to work, the house that has all the stuff required by laws to be able to live in it, of a size determined by the zoning in my city. And the media implies that I need to have a better car, a bigger house, fancier appliances, fancier clothes, and it will all make me a better and happier person. Bullshit. Those villagers on Nat Geo have none of that, and they all look pretty happy to me, or at least content with having a full belly and a place to sleep. And that's really all I want. Simple.

Utilities and Mechanicals

2009-09-02T19:48:00.000-04:00

I spent a lot of time today thinking about the utilities and mechanicals I will want in my cabin. I know I want some sort of solar energy, at least for lighting and items that don't draw much power, like my netbook. For a long time now, I've wanted electric radiant floor heating instead of a furnace, but ... I'm not sure how much solar power I would need for it, and it is very expensive to purchase. And if that can't go solar, or there's a cloudy stretch, I absolutely want a backup heat source, perhaps propane. The other option I'm considering for heat is electric radiant heat panels - no noise, no moving parts. It just seems like the floor heat would be more efficient, and the heat panels require precious wall space, but about 1/5 the cost of floor heat initially. I think they would use about the same amount of energy to operate.

I did run my refrigerator on propane a few times in the travel trailer. It works, but seemed more expensive than electricity. I will probably get another under-counter fridge, like I had back in my condo. I loved that thing. Then there's the air conditioner. That pretty much has to have grid electricity. I'm leaning toward a small window unit mounted through the north wall (so the sun never hits it - more efficient that way).

I've heard good and bad things about tankless water heaters, but I am sure I will want one; propane. My only hot water use is sinks and showers. I do all my laundry with cold water. I think I can live without a dishwasher. I think :)

That leaves me with cooking. I rarely do actual cooking, on a stove or in the oven. I tend to use the microwave for the most part, with the occasional slow cooker use for chicken or a roast. And I never use more than one stove burner at a time. Rather than take up space with a cooktop or stove, I think I could do just fine with one of those little buffet single burner things, that can live in a cabinet while not in use. And/or a propane camp stove for those pesky power outages.

Oh, almost forgot! Internet! I've been watching Clear (www.clear.com) for a while, and hoping that service spreads like wildfire. The technology for it is also being built into laptops and netbooks. By the time all my plans fall into place, perhaps I'll be ready for a netbook upgrade and be good to go in that regard.

Decluttering

2009-08-28T21:33:00.000-04:00

I've been working on the decluttering for a few months now. I pick an item up and say, "Do I need this?" I have read "need" being determined by the fire test: If your house was on fire, and you had 5 minutes to save what you could, those are the things most valuable to you. The rest is crap and you can get rid of it. For me, though, after getting the dogs and cat out, I'd grab the stuff that's the most tedious to replace. My purse containing driver's license, insurance cards, glasses, cell phone, etc... and the folder holding my birth certificate, Social Security card, and title to my car. I've been stashing digital stuff on the internet (Google Docs, Picasa Web, and an online file storage service), but I'd probably still take my netbook. Next up would be my prescriptions, and a change of clothes. Tax documents if there's still time remaining.

I tend to keep stuff "just in case" I'll need it some day. Mostly, that some day never comes. I've recently thrown out a whole bunch of old computer component boxes, clothes I never wear, old papers and bills, magazines and catalogs, and plain old "junk." I've also sold a whole bunch of stuff via craigslist, and have a few things that will eventually go on e-bay. Old dog and cat collars and things get donated to rescue groups.

The other half of decluttering is organizing the stuff I'm keeping. I replaced my glass desk with a wooden one with five drawers. I bought a nightstand with three drawers. I got all my spare computer cables into a big plastic bin with a lid. All the manuals for the heat pump, appliances, and other house stuff are in the same cabinet instead of all over the house. The linen closet is even neatly organized now.

I know that sounds like a lot,but I have a long way to go in simplifying. I still have too many clothes, and a few pairs too many shoes. I don't really need 6 cat-5 cables or 4 co-ax cables or 3 s-video cables... I don't need 8 ice cube trays (they came with the house), or 4 phone books, or hundreds of DVD's. When I finish scanning in all my old photos, I can get rid of the printer/scanner. And the printer stand. The list goes on.

I try to tackle just one room or closet or drawer every week. I'm ignoring the garage for now, but its day will come. Every armload of stuff I get rid of gives me a greater sense of freedom.

How much space do I need?

2009-08-27T13:57:00.002-04:00

Some of my readers may be familiar with the story of Thoreau's cabin on Walden Pond. It was 10'x15' and contained a bed, desk, table, 3 chairs, and a lamp. In my case, noting where I spend my time during the day, I require a bed, desk, chair, and a dresser and nightstand. A small closet will do, and a small rv or boat style kitchen and bath. Toward this end, I've moved into the smallest bedroom in my home, about 10'x10', to experiment and get a feel for the space. After more than two weeks, I'm finding the space sufficient for me and the dogs. Of course, there is no kitchen or bath in the room, but I have determined that this space is adequate for living area.

I do not entertain. I rarely have guests. My home is my sanctuary. I like it uncluttered and clean. The clean part is difficult with the dogs... I think I could live well and cheaply in a 10'x18' or so cabin.

Today I found a steal of a deal on a 12'x30' cabin. Unfortunately, it has to be moved and I have no land on which to put it. It is much larger than I want or require, but the price can't be beat! I'll keep looking for land to buy, lease, or borrow and try to figure out something for funding. I'm not ready to sell my house yet, and that is where all my money is at the moment.

The Beginning

2009-08-26T16:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new blog, and thanks for stopping by! I suppose I should give you a little background to explain why this blog is here...

See, I used to live a pretty simple life. For nearly two years, I lived in a 17' Casita travel trailer. It was quite an adjustment for me to scale down my belongings from a good sized one bedroom apartment and to figure out just what I truly needed to keep. Clothes, shoes, kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff, computer, important files and papers, bedding. Within six months of moving into that tiny space, I discovered that a lot of the stuff I brought with me had not been seen or used; out it went. The Casita was my little nest, shared with my cat. Most of the time, it was parked in an RV park, but I also took it with me to Michigan and to the Texas Gulf Coast to visit family. My electric bill in the RV park averaged about $20 per month. I went through about 4 gallons of propane per month for cooking and hot water. I saved enough money to pay off the Casita within a year.

Then I blew my blissful simple life by "moving up" to a park model RV, then a condo. I accumulated more "stuff." I had more and bigger bills. And now, finally, here I am in a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house with a mortgage and big utility bills wishing I had never left the Casita!

In the meantime, I also adopted four rescue dogs; not all at once! As much as I long for the Casita again, there is no way the dogs and the cat would all fit in one. So now I'm trying to figure out just how small a space we can all live comfortably in. I'll get started on that in my next installment.