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Open letter to UJ...
Best of luck with whatever it is you're trying to accomplish. I see lots of neat ideas, but they seem like parts of three different projects, so I'll just assume that you have plenty of time/energy/money to pursue all of them at once.
Me, I'm just fascinated by the huge disconnect between "homesteading my own land, growing my own food, not paying anyone for work I can do myself" and "must have grid power and piped water, will do whatever County says (just as soon as they approve my concrete yurt plans)".
The idea of "don't want solar because it requires random workers who will judge me for not having a husband" (paraphrased) is even more bizarre, because as far as County is concerned, you're not allowed to do your own electrical work. Grid or no, you're hiring that out anyway. Same thing with the piped water.
This isn't meant to sound harsh and/or judgemental. We've never met (and maybe never will) but you seem like an interesting person, and I'd hate for you to have to leave the island because your projects were too unrealistic.
Now for a little sharing. I bought some property several years ago. By the time I got here, I had already discarded the first set of house ideas and was actively working on the second. After living here a year, I had a completely different idea of what the house should be; I would have been miserable with either of my original plans. Since then, the plans have changed three more times. I still haven't built anything. It's not just the house, either; I had lots of other grandiose plans about starting a business or two, maybe building/buying a rental as an investment, etc. The best advice I've heard so far is this: the island will not change for you; you must bend to its will.
At this point I have about 1.5 acres of productive farm, and the time/effort invested there is giving a far, far better return than a huge house or a paved driveway -- and that's not counting the awesome tax posture.
To each their own, and good luck.
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Hey, thanks for the wellwishes. Things are working out great so far. Good luck with the farming. That sounds like a huge amount of work. BTW, I was not worried about the county admonishing me for not having a man around, it's all the judgmental people on the message board ( I didnt mean for the install, I meant for the upkeep). Yes, I do usually have a million things going on at once, and I like it that way. I am easily bored. The house I am buying it totally an unrealistic project, but it's the best I can do at the moment, and will make the best of it. MY boys have to be housed somewhere, and there is a cost to everything. I hope you get a house built. IT sounds like you might need one!
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I self-taught for both solar and catchment. Upkeep isn't really a big deal. Even if I wanted to hire it done, I wouldn't. Self-sufficiency is incredibly empowering, and highly addictive. Recommended.
The property came with a nice little shack. Funny thing, it's smaller than the garage at my last place, but the longer I live in it, the less I even want a huge house that has to be cleaned and maintained.
Do not underestimate "the cost for everything" unless you're on some kind of government payroll. Your income stream could evaporate and leave you holding the bag on expensive mortgages.
There's another piece of advice from the book "Die Broke": build your second house first. Most people treat their "first house" as an investment -- which means it's never quite a "home". There is big, big difference, especially if you have family.
quote:
Originally posted by unknownjulie
OH no, I feel this thread veering off into "parenting territory"! Anyhow, I dont really know why anyone would think a single woman with three little kids would "want to" or "have the time" to be messing with catchment water, solar systems, milling her own grain to make homemade pizza crusts, or refusing to shop at Walmart. It's not like my tiny little house or a yurt would have a large "ecological footprint". And I do love the phrase, "the best parents are the ones who dont have kids". Anyhow, my philosophies on "solar power" or "shopping at walmart" or whatever - come second to taking care of my kids, and they are the priority right now. IT is not going to be good for my kids to have me in tears, and stressed, and taking time, dealing with a solar system- having strange workmen around to "take a look at it", or being berrated on this message board because I "should have thought of this prior to moving into a house with solar power" (which is really just another way of saying, "why isnt your man around to take care of it, and what did you do to make you become a single parent?"). I know very well that I am not 'handy" and cant deal with solar at all. It is good to know ones limitations.
I hear ya unknownjulie, I respect that you know what is good for you. Why the concrete stemwall...why not a wood deck on piers? Much easier. Solar isn't for everyone but I love it.
quote:
Originally posted by kalakoa
I self-taught for both solar and catchment. Upkeep isn't really a big deal. Even if I wanted to hire it done, I wouldn't. Self-sufficiency is incredibly empowering, and highly addictive. Recommended.
The property came with a nice little shack. Funny thing, it's smaller than the garage at my last place, but the longer I live in it, the less I even want a huge house that has to be cleaned and maintained.
Do not underestimate "the cost for everything" unless you're on some kind of government payroll. Your income stream could evaporate and leave you holding the bag on expensive mortgages.
There's another piece of advice from the book "Die Broke": build your second house first. Most people treat their "first house" as an investment -- which means it's never quite a "home". There is big, big difference, especially if you have family.
Good stuff.
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Aloha Sun, I just am so busy that I dont even want to be painting or worrying about termites and wood. IN a couple years in my rental, the paint is already peeling off of the front steps in my rental. But, given that I just bought a large, wooden (single wood wall even)- plantation style house in Hilo- I am sure as heck going to be doing lots of painting, and soon!(unfortunately)
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UJ, you just made my point for me.
"don't want to paint/worry about termites/wood" ... "just bought a big old wooden house" (and per earlier post, one that's not been maintained).
Best of luck.
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I learned a long time ago that there is a big difference between "ideal situation", and "situation that I can afford". Kids staying in school district is more important then me having to paint. Simple to me... The lots up where my house is located are almost the same amount of money (if not the same) as the house I bought. I could never have bought a lot up there, developed it, and also built what I wanted. C'est la vie. I am thrilled to get into my own house again- hopefully I will see the inside of it soon!
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Of course: "choice of school district" makes everything else completely obvious.
...and actually buying a house so as to legitimately be "resident" in that district is a completely reasonable (and 100% honest) solution.
Maybe your kids will even be allowed to ride the bus 
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Yeah, well I havent really seen many buses, and they are expensive too- so, I'll still be driving them. In keaau public schools I know the buses are mostly if not totally free- unlike HIlo. I think is has to do with income levels or something. It may also have to do with the individual income level of the family. I dont know how HAAS had it set up , but dumb that they are now excluded. I am just glad they will eat at school! My kids ate 13 pounds of grapes in 3 days, and my 4 yr old ate 19 (all natural nitratefree) hotdogs one day. Enough is enough!
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