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Thread: Discouraged

  1. #1

    Default Discouraged

    I live in the city. I would like to live in the woods. Every time I try to make my dream happen, something makes it too difficult. Money, government rules. .... people. :-(

    I found land, but I can't live on it the way I want without permits.
    To get the permits, I need to take courses.
    The courses are only offered at certain times of the year, far from where I live.
    Etc, etc, etc....

    Then I got an idea. Instead of telling government, (and people who think I'm nuts for wanting to live in the woods, that I'm "living off the land", why don't I just tell them that I'm "camping"?

    What do you think?
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  2. #2
    Alaska, The Madness! 1stimestar's Avatar
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    Why don't you just go camping? Or move somewhere you don't have to have permits? But if you are really going to go live off the land, make sure it's your own.
    Why do I live in Alaska? Because I can.

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  3. #3
    Senior Member DSJohnson's Avatar
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    I agree with 1st here. Go camping.....but be very careful about where and how you are camping. If you really are serious about "living off the land" then you really do need to buy some land to live on.

  4. #4

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    Thanks. Buying land has been something I've wanted to do for awhile now.
    Wish me luck.
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  5. #5
    Alaska, The Madness! 1stimestar's Avatar
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    Good luck. Let us know how it goes. What are you looking for and where? I would say "move to where you don't need permits" but I assume you live in Canada and don't know their system at all.
    Why do I live in Alaska? Because I can.

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  6. #6
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
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    The situation as you have described it tells me that this is not a serious goal of yours.

    I'm not saying this isn't something you want or dream about, but it is not a serious goal. Now, before you start cussing and hollering at me (or if you've already started, it's time to stop)......if you want this to become a serious goal then you have to act like it.

    You need to do ALL of your homework and legwork. You need to research everything it takes to achieve the goal. You need to start taking steps toward that end. If that means you need to take classes for permits, then take them. If that means you need to save a down payment for the land, then save it. Not trying to be harsh, but if this is to become something you truly want then you need to focus like a laser beam on how to get there from where you are. The permitting process will not be a surprise because you have researched it and have taken steps to obtain those permits.

    Goals are important. Write them down. Put them where you will see them every day. Let the obstacles become smaller hurdles and then eventually just something that took you one step closer to where you want to be.
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    Senior Member DSJohnson's Avatar
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    Miz Can, ma'am,
    Not trying to be too pryin' here but I am curious. Have you looked at doing some "extended" camping on "public" lands? Is that what requires the permits?

  8. #8

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    Yep--camping is the only thing that keeps me from wanting to live in the woods.

    People make me crave solitude. Solitude makes me crave people. Work makes me crave play. Play makes me crave work. Living off the land makes me crave restaurants and grocery stores, which make me crave living off the land.

    So.... camping.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SlowRide13 View Post
    Yep--camping is the only thing that keeps me from wanting to live in the woods.

    People make me crave solitude. Solitude makes me crave people. Work makes me crave play. Play makes me crave work. Living off the land makes me crave restaurants and grocery stores, which make me crave living off the land.

    So.... camping.
    Yep, Kinda the way it works......funny ain't it?
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  10. #10

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    What am I looking for? Ideally a lot of woodland, next to a lake, and a creek.

    Here's the deal (well, some of the deal anyway). I live in Quebec. Winters here very cold (but not as cold as Alaska, obviously). I found land that I can afford in Nova Scotia (162 acres, plenty for me).
    It has a lake. I think the winters are moderate enough to survive in a cabin.
    But to get a hunting permit I would need to take their safety arms course, there.
    I would have to sell my home here, of course. And move.

    I would start with a tent. I would build a large teepee. And eventually put up a cabin. And build on virgin land. By myself most likely. I talk to one of my coworkers about it and he thinks I might have to do more research like it was suggested here. I know that some people will think I'm nuts to live in the woods, but many people have done it successfully and been very happy.

    If I leave my job (in an office) I don't think I can go back. So it's a huge decusion. I'm giving myself two years to decide. I'm 48 (healthy, in decent physical shape, no kids). So, at 50 I'll know in what direction my life is going. Mid-life crisis? Probably. But it's catching - everyone in my office has it.
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  11. #11
    Alaska, The Madness! 1stimestar's Avatar
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    So things you also need to think about: Do you know how to hunt and preserve the meat you get? Do you know how to operate and maintain a chainsaw? Have you looked into how to build a simple cabin? You can find all this info on youtube actually. What about gardening in that climate zone?
    Why do I live in Alaska? Because I can.

    Alaska, the Madness! Bloggity Stories of the North Country

    "Building Codes, Alaskans don't need no stinking Building Codes." Sourdough

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  12. #12

    Default

    And what kind of transport is available, i.e.: can you deliver goods and material to this site by truck, plane, etc?
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  13. #13
    Resident Wildman Wildthang's Avatar
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    That is a huge undertaking to do by yourself. Do you have a friend that could help you with this, and maybe stay with you long term? Dont get me wrong, it can be done alone, but it wiont be easy and it will take a loooooong time!
    Making a cabin out of rough timber is a huge job for one person, and back breaking to say the least! Then there's busting ground for a garden, hunting, a root celler etc. Creating a place in the wilderness and thriving is huge never ending work, and it will get you down if you don't have an iron will and a penchant for hard work. Doing this by yourself makes it all twice as hard!

  14. #14

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    Yep....follow your dream but educate yourself. Prime example of not doing this was Christopher Mccandless (you can watch a show loosely based on him on netflix called Into the Wild).

  15. #15
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    As Crash said, You first of all need to e sure that this is what you want to do. Next thing after you sit down and have a long talk with yourself on the subject be ready to start making decisions that are are going to lead you where you want to be in the end. Some of those will be tough and some may be an outright gamble. However, never loose sight of your goal.

    It took the wife and I a half of a lifetime to get where we are now.(28 acres of timbered homestead in East Texas) Make the choices and never give up. GOODLUCK!

    Oldtrap
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  16. #16

    Default

    Thanks guys. I think I know how tough it will be. I have been roaming around in the woods since I was a kid. (I'm only in the city now because I needed a job to make money). I had four brothers who taught me how to fish, hunt and put in rabbit snares. I used to check them everyday after school. It's something I miss. It's a shame that so many people can't do this life when they're young because they can't afford it. Then when they can, they're too old, physically, to do it.

    I will do a lot of research before I do anything rash. And I would like to find someone else who's interested in coming in with me. Obviously, that would have to be a very special person.
    See ya for now.
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  17. #17

    Default McCandless: what was he thinking?

    Quote Originally Posted by Catfishfiddler View Post
    Yep....follow your dream but educate yourself. Prime example of not doing this was Christopher Mccandless (you can watch a show loosely based on him on netflix called Into the Wild).
    Yes, I saw "Into the Wild". Geeze, I couldn't believe how many basic survival mistakes he made. (He didn't even bring rope. ) Okay, I admit I don't know the whole story, but still, what we saw in the movie showed how woefully unprepared he was. (He didn't anticipate the Spring thaw?)

    I know I'll make mistakes, we all do. But not those kinds. I have more experience.
    His death was still sad. But he died doing what he loved. He looked truly happy in the photo they found of him afterwards. And well, that counts for something.
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  18. #18

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    Lol. He didn't die doing what he loved. He died where he loved (at least initially) He died a horrible suffering death and left a note pleading for help as proof. But I digress. I never intended to insult your woodcraft savvy and I am truly sorry if I did.

  19. #19
    Senior Member ClayPick's Avatar
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    One of the first things I would do is see if the property has a maintained road. If not your going to need a 4 wheeler, snowmobile or whatever, hauling stuff tends to be a reality. Zoning is everything. Make sure it’s agricultural or a woodlot. It’s a bonus if the property has a civic address. With 162 acres you should have no problem getting a permit to build a camp. STAY AWAY FROM THE BANKS !!!!!!!!!! and pay your taxes. I would want to know if the land has been logged. Stumpage can be money in the bank. Be firm on your price if someone has already taken the wood off it. Some land around here with lakes tends to be boggy. Makes for good fishing and hunting though. You really can have the best of both worlds here. Once you leave the towns the population dwindles quickly.

  20. #20

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    Insult my bushcraft savvy? (Smile) Not at all. I enjoy your posts. Thanks.
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