so it's been a while

Life seems to find interesting things to do to you when you think you have a plan.
Finances have taken a turn for the worse. Or have they? The debt was there I knew it had to be taken care of well now I am being forced to do so due to a garnishment.  Now I could throw my hands in the air and be all woe is me but, what will that accomplish? Not a lot really. So we will pay this bill off in about four months. Then we will have an extra 1400 a month to apply to the remaining debt and after going that long without it shouldn't be too much of a chore to continue for a little while.  The state of the economy is kinda scary  and I really don't know how much time we really do have before things start to go south. But my hands are kind of tied at the moment. I am looking at savings in gold though to ensure the continued worth of what we are putting away for our future and part of that 1400 will be socked away in that type of investment.

Oregon is still the best option that I have found as far as land is concerned. I  do admit that I have not looked at to many other locations so I will continue to focus on that direction. There are still  many many options as far as property.  My biggest concern is the well. It will be a large expense and it is a hard pill to swallow  that we have to come up with prior to moving there.
I am still confident that we can still go within three years. I am hoping to go visit the Klamath area in the spring take the whole family and make a long weekend of it to really see if this is where we want to live.

okay I have been kinda busy

So first off great article and awesome things to keep in mind for when we are there. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/Homesteading-Lessons-And-Advice.aspx

Jen and I went to Idaho over the Labor Day weekend and on the way home we looked at a number of different properties in NW Utah. These places I have been looking at for years and it was good to see them in person because it was very apparent that they would not work. Maybe as a last resort but Oregon is much more attractive at this point.

I love this man.

MARK TWAIN on the KachelÖfen

and one in a first day cottage.

http://www.oldpoppy.com/heatingpage3.htm

Perfect

Very Nice Rural Acreage - Property - LandAndFarm.com - Land for Sale

Well in place power owner carry on half down almost five acres lots of trees and already fenced. Wish I had 25k about now.

This is a good process and its free.

Envelope Budget Spreadsheet @ Moneyspot.org

Something Dave Ramsey talks about in his debt books. We used to use an online version of this but they charge too much.

Best short term housing option.

Pacific Yurts-Original Modern Yurt Manufacturer

There are a number of places here in Utah that rent these for the weekend and I would like to go and stay in one to assess the viability to living in one for an extended period of time

It would cost us about 20k for three units giving us enough space and privacy. I still want to see if there are some other options that would be cheaper and as viable. The nice part about these is that they are portable in a sense we could take them and move them. if needed. Also they are not an eyesore and we could utilize them for a covered porch area after the permanent house is built.

A few options for our long term home.

FirstDay Cottage House Kits - Elegant Homes You Build Yourself
Green modern kits

After the long weekend

My family went camping this least weekend and it was pretty awesome.  I started De-junking when I got home and quickly wore myself put but i did get through about 10 or 15 boxes in the garage. It felt good but  I felt very much alone in the process and there were decisions that needed made on what to keep and what to toss that I needed Tracy there for she did come out for a brief moment and that was nice.  Conversations continue on the PLAN and options for the temp housing and permanent housing and so forth. Excitement is cooling some but for the most part I think we are gonna be okay and this is something that will stick.

It begins with a single thought

I am not happy where I am.

It seems like a simple enough expression. Many people are not happy with their situations but I am going to do something about it. This place will be my record,. and you /them /they will be the witness to the ups and down and triumphs and failures.

I am a middle aged man. Okay typing that was like a hammer blow to the groin.  When did I "become a middle aged man"? Seriously where did the years go?  I was born I grew up.... and then Wham!!!! 40. Well Since I believe we only have one ticket to ride I am going to make the best of the 30 or 40 years I have left. Did I mention I am an optimistic man with a head full of dreams and a terrible credit score?  Well that is me not the whole of me but the dreams part is a big portion of it and the mindset that credit is so damn important is another thing I will address in time.

 I live in Utah with my lovely wife and two wonderful children, a Newfoundland, 4 cats and a dozen or so chickens ducks and turkeys. The menagerie is ever growing and shrinking but the part remains the same I am sick to death of being a slave to society I want my own land I want to raise my children in a place where the only predator they see will be the raptors in the sky and the occasional coyote.

So I am going to move away from the city. Most likely away from Utah.  Now right now we live paycheck to pay check and rent. so how am I going to buy a place to build my own home and pay for it all.? good question. Cheap land is a start. it is to be had but you need to be willing to move pretty far away from civilization to reach it. I have found some land that interests me. Two acres in Oregon. for less than 5k. There is a lot more available if I were to move to someplace a bit less hospitable like Nevada or Wyoming but I am not sure if I like those options so  we will make a trip soon to see if what I have found is viable and worth while.

The 40k foot plan is to buy inexpensive land  improve it enough to build a temporary home to live in while we build our home. Now in doing so we would be debt free except certain bills like student loans and phone. but I plan on going off grid ASAP and being free and clear except for the yearly property tax. This will enable us to save large amounts of money for the house and kids college and "GASP" Retirement.

The time line for this move is three years give or take six months to move on to the property and be rent and mortgage free. The dollar amount to do so is roughly 60k.

Today is the day I start on this journey.