Thanks! It makes such a difference speaking to someone who's actually done it. Not theoretical.
I guess you must have been relatively near civilization - at least a town. Can I ask how much money it took... and how much you think it would take today?
I think it depends a lot on the land, which seems relatively expensive here in Australia; if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities. I get the impression there's very cheap land in some places in the States.
I want to start by saying this was 35 years ago. I chose a part of the country where land was relatively cheap (Oregon), and bought 5 acres for about $3000.
I built a small cabin at first -- 12x24 feet -- and this is where I wrote Apple Writer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer), while relying on a very long extension cord for power.
Later on I bought more land and built a larger house, but still with the idea of living cheaply firmly guiding my actions. Then my income went over a million dollars a year and I decided to do something completely different -- so I bought a sailboat and sailed solo around the world (http://arachnoid.com/sailbook).
> if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities ...
I chose Oregon because it rains a bit, and I had previously built a cabin in Colorado where it is very dry -- I decided that was a mistake. In Oregon, for water I walked up the hill behind my cabin and dropped a hose in a creek. If you choose the right altitude difference, you can duplicate normal household water pressure. For sewage, I built an outhouse.
It really was quite primitive. But it freed me from having to pay rent or needing much money, which meant I could think about anything I wanted. Then I acquired an Apple II, which ironically enough I probably wouldn't have done while working for NASA a few years before. I had this fantasy that I would write some cool programs and people would buy them, and I could just live in the country and people would mail me money.
The weird thing is that this is exactly what happened.
Oh man, it's such an awesome story. Thanks so much for replying. Good to hear the shack wasn't the first iteration (nor the last). Did it take some experience to be able to build a stable, long-lasting shack (perhaps just woodwork in general?)
How far were you from a town, for food, construction materials, etc and a PO (I guess biking distance)? I guess you had a friendly nearby neighbour for the extension lead? [I've been thinking solar, which I actually used for a hp200lx, using 4 rechargeable AAs, but today's netbooks need a gruntier, more elaborate setup: large solar panel, lead-acid battery, transformer etc. Seems error-prone. Maybe a kindle-like ARM+OLED/e-ink/LCD will change this.]
I'd like internet - either wired or mobile (we have rural mobile coverage, and the govt just reelected campaigned for more) - instead of a PO, but I'd still need a local town for food etc. It scares me a bit to be too far away - but that's where the peace/silence is that I want/need.
I checked online real estate; the cheapest land I saw was $45,000 for 2 acres - with services available, but not connected, and with road access. I expect an unserviced, with no road, on the "edge of wilderness" bush block would be cheaper, esp if a private sale and if not online.
I've tried looking in the past, with no luck; don't know how to find out about it.
I called the power company and asked for a "construction box." This is a very common request, rarely turned down, for a "temporary" power hookup for construction purposes.
The "temporary" box was located near the road, about 1/4 mile from my cabin, so I simply ran a very long extension cord through the woods. This arrangement lasted for years.
I guess you must have been relatively near civilization - at least a town. Can I ask how much money it took... and how much you think it would take today?
I think it depends a lot on the land, which seems relatively expensive here in Australia; if you want water, electricity and sewage utilities. I get the impression there's very cheap land in some places in the States.