simple life

[campcrazy]

My name is Cody. My wife and I are looking for a more simple way to live. To get away form all of the things that aren't important and focus on what is like, Doing what is right and paying off our debts. My wife is expecting our first baby in September and we are tiring to cut out all of the unnecessary bills and luxuries that we don't need so that we can afford for her to stay at home and raise our daughter. We currently own a 14 ft. camper that we would like to live in. The only thing keeping us from doing that is a place to park it. We would be able and willing to pay a monthly rent to park on a small secluded spot in the woods. All we need is access to the road and we would be able to clear a path if necessary. We will also be more than happy to look after anything that you may need, such as clearing brush, feeding animals ect. Please if you know of anywhere or you yourself have some land Pray and consider this. God Bless, Cody and Heather

[old_grump]

What area of the country are you looking at?

[RangerRick]

I think you'll find poste haste that the trappings of a newborn will soon fill the already limited space of a 14' RV but it would be an interesting experiment.

Rick

[WileyCoyote]

I think that the question is - how "simple" a life can you stand? I'm not trying to be mean, honestly, I'm not, but just how simple can you both deal with on a personal basis?

a 14' foot RV still has the problem of dump tanks, heating and cooling (unless you have access to fuel) and electrical sources/hookups/generators. Since they are not built for day-to-day living over an extended period of time, they can lose their efficacy and suffer needed repairs.

What's your knowledge and experience on mechanical and electrical matters as well as waste disposal? Few folks would want a camper on their property that put grey or waste water into anything but a disposal unit. I know of folks who live full time in campers down south on lots; but the lots charge for the electricity, dump tank disposal, etc. This can actually be more expensive in the long run than owning a home or trailer on property... plus your camper devalues as your rent and costs for keeping the camper in order escalate over time.

Rick is right; the trappings of a newborn are extensive. Washing cloth diapers is time consuming especially if you do it by hand. How far are you going to go with this - grow/grind your own baby food, hand or laundry-wash diapers and baby clothes, etc?

I'm asking because I really do care and really do want you to be prepared. I raised two kids in a shack with no running water and no electricity, and we did tolerably well - but 'the simple life' is very very physically demanding and takes a lot of personal time as well as knowledge and basic living skills. It is very physically demanding as well as stressful, and the feeling of being 'closed in' after a newborn can be exacerbated when one tries to isolate oneself.

Again, please understand that I'm not saying "No, don't do it!" - or "No, you can't do it!" you just have to take into account all of your abilities as well as your expectations and be rational and practical about them. A lot of times it isn't fun, it is exhausting and hard physical work, and I hope that you are prepared for that... as well as for all of the fiscal and physical impacts that can occur, when say, it's 25 below with three feet of snow and the generator quits.

[bookwormom]

well put coyote.
You did not say which area you plan to camp in. another question would be, have you done anything similar before? How did you grow up? The winds of reality can blow harsh around your ears. However, if you are not a starry eyed, so far living the normal AWOL romantic dreaming of living simply, of course it can be done. Folks have survived in tents for millennia. I would not want to wash and dry diapers in a RV in bad weather.( there is a little washer that requires no power, you add hot water and wind it up or something like that. I would like one myself if it works good). I am totally sold on sawdust toilets. we have both and every one who has stayed with us winds up liking the sawdust toilet. It does not have to be inside, right next to the RV in a makeshift so you only need to step out . since there is no smell it works okay and you can start a compost pile. We have had some rough times and I actually used a bushel size apple box for a "bassinette" as our first was still sleeping in the crib and we had nothing for the second. He was fine, snug and warm. We lived in a 10 by 40 trailer at the time, I hated it . My frugal soul just cringed at the cost of heating it, there was no cooling beyond a box fan. We lived in a tent while we built our house. I cooked on an open fire, five rocks and a wok, it heats coffee water faster than a microwave, the cooking was no problem. It was not romantic, we made the best of it, the lack of housework was convenient as we were so busy with building. It was okay for a while, no complaints, but not for too long. I guess you will breastfeed the baby, carry it in a sling with you or something like that. as long as it is very little you may do okay, but they grow fast and want to explore the world, crawl around etc. Here you could not put it down, a little one would be eaten alive by invisible bugs, chiggers, turkey mites, you name it. I used to have a play pen in the garden for my daughter. she hated it. I commend you, being a young person and wanting to live a simple lifestyle, if I had a hat it would be off to you. But like W. Coyote said, the simple life is not simple. you have to learn a great many things, you have to learn how to do multitude of tasks, the simple life is not simple. Not wanting to discourage you, and wishing you well.

[campcrazy]

We are looking for a place in Georgia. My wife and I have lived in the camper before with 3cats and a small dog for 4 months in the winter. We both look back on that as the happiest time of our lives. I will be working and we will do our laundry at a laundromat with the exception of the diapers. My wife will wash those by hand since it doesn't really get cold here. as far as heat a small propane heater with an automatic shut off works well and we will only need enough electric to run a dorm fridge. It is all my wife talks about anymore...
Plus we will be able to pay off our debts so that in about a years time I will have the credit to either put a down payment on a house or some land of our own depending on the way we feel about continuing to live in our tiny home. I really appreciate the feed back ...keep it coming...