Buying land off grid

[cyrille]

i had a close friend (he died a few years back) who did a survival course in alaska. he told a story about how the weather was so bad, they couldnt air drop supplies in. the whole group had to lie down in their shelters and be still as to not spend an ounce of energy. good times!!

And with a thai / lao wife?

[rickschoppers]

^
She wouldn't last a week, especially if given the choice to go back home and eat noodles while hubby is eating roots and berrys.

Good luck Hick.

[stfranalum]

And with a thai / lao wife?

lol no he was single. this was a few years back. 2000's.

he was a very adventurous guy. said the alaska survival course was quite intense and at times, scary.


...i could imagine a thai wife doing quite well with the 'sitting around perfectly still and doing nothing' though.

[cyrille]

no, i mean hick's wife.

sorry - i can see my response was confusingly worded.

and i post as someone who has heard all the cliches under the sun about being married to a thai...as i'm sure you have too.

[rickschoppers]

Heya Katie.

Yeah, she has some interest. She grew up (kinda') off-grid, so naturally her first thoughts are: "why the hell would I wanna' go back to that?" Heh heh,...but then again, the wilderness of CAN and/or the Pacific NW intrigues her quite a bit.

We're both nature lovers.

Her main concerns don't revolve around the internet, etc...but rather more about safety. She's interested in taking a few survival courses and firearms training first.

Her farm is set and good to go, so I do believe for the first several years (or until the cabin is up and operational), she'll be in Issan while I'm on the land.

Thanks for asking about her.

Neverna said there was a Thai wife, and this was Hick's response. Maybe I misunderstood.

[stfranalum]

no, i mean hick's wife.

never met her. but i'd assume that she wouldn't have the appetite for the rugged individualism that hick is looking for.

this kinda thing is a personal pursuit i reckon. it's hard to convince someone else who isnt taking the initiative to go there themselves and expect them to be happy at the same time. agreeing with a spouse is one thing, and going along for the ride for a while...i just dont know how sustainable that is (thai or anybody). and the whole bit of this is, sustaining it through hardship and whatnot.

i mentioned some time back on this thread to not buy land but go adventure around. he keeps his hard earned savings, gets the personal peace of mind by himself, can see a gillion different places and in the end, goes back to her family land with money and a fresh mind.

the whole buying lots of shit and learning to use tools, while just having gotten a masters...it's the kind of riddled mind that one gets while in the dunes! LOL i know. i've been here since july with no holiday and im about ready to sign up for that Mars colony expedition. i know my wife sure wants me to!

[cyrille]

well he was married to a thai about three months ago according to a thread on af, rick.

by his own account i guess it's fair to say he gets around...

i'm reading this thread on a 'for conversation' basis myself. and on that basis i must say i've found it very interesting.

to us brits it's amazing of course that vast tracts of land can be had for such paltry sums.

[hick]

We've been married for (going on) 3 years, Cy.

Been a couple for 7.

[cyrille]

Cool.

So, a thai in the alaskan wilderness...

(glad slick talked you into the internet )

[UrbanMan]

the whole buying lots of shit and learning to use tools, while just having gotten a masters..

Fill your mind with civilization's ideas, then in short order turn around and tell civilization to eff off. An eccentric path to say the very least.

But plenty of eccentrics here.

[hick]

while just having gotten a masters..

2 masters

And the teaching one is a plan C.

I think what some of you are not really following is the master plan.

6 months (or more) in Issan and the rest in AK.

For the times (years) that she wants to join me in AK,...I wouldn't be choosing the winter months.

Anyways, I expect lots of reluctance from anyone that doesn't share this particular dream.

Meanwhile, I've contacted bush pilot schools in Anchorage for more info.
Looked deeper into the intricacies of learning, etc. Looks easy, just timely.

I'm narrowed down to 3 parcels in AK and two in British Columbia and will try to visit them all this summer.

They all feature (at least) running water (creek and/or river), lake front, 40+ acres, heavily wooded, all zoning/building permits.

You may think I have Saudiitis, Fran but I've been planning this for over ten years, buddy.

[hick]

tell civilization to eff off.

For a few months out of the year...at least for the first 5-8 years. <eye roll>

[cyrille]

hardly rules saudiitis out that you've been planning it for ten years...more like an advanced case.

[hick]

hardly rules saudiitis out that you've been planning it for ten years...

The idea was spawned when I was living and working in Bangkok. How bout' that?

[rickschoppers]

Yes, 6 months (April-September) in Alaska and (October to March) in Isaan makes sence and I am still thinking about that, but not off the grid.

[cyrille]

I think what concerns me () is the way you seem to be dragging your wife into this.

Wasn't following you to ksa enough of a leap of faith?

[hick]

Yes, 6 months (April-September) in Alaska and (October to March) in Isaan makes sence and I am still thinking about that, but not off the grid.

Maybe (maybe) after ten years of building on, adding to, etc. the two of us could actually stay a full 6 months on the property I want to build.

Until then, I'm envisioning "Wow" (my wife) staying for June-Aug.
And me...probably longer, it'll depend on many factors.

[hick]

I think what concerns me () is the way you seem to be dragging your wife into this.

Wasn't following you to ksa enough of a leap of faith?

Your concern is sincerely touching. She's not being dragged into anything, Cy. I'm nothing like that. She's a free-agent and she knows it.

She can come and go from Saudi as she pleases. She's in Issarn right now as a matter o fact.

This AK thing is all mine. She's welcome any time and wants to go, one summer after I've smoothed some things out.

Also, her father (lots of experience with house building) and Wow are thicker then thieves, the two of them. He is interested in renting out the farm for a season or two and accompanying me to start the build. Heh. That'd be pretty cool.

[stfranalum]

to us brits it's amazing of course that vast tracts of land can be had for such paltry sums.

nice plots of land with rivers and views can be pricey. there are loads of acres of crap land to be had though. i would suspect hick wants something he can actually live off of. it will cost a pretty penny.

i just interviewed a guy who is living off the grid and wants to get back to civilization...to riyadh lol. but i think it can cost more than some think, and this guy, looking to stock up on cash. so you dont run up a tab going to starbucks being away from everywhere, but water pumps cost money as do repairs, parts, and tools. and phones. and trips to get things. and the whole set up. i mean lets face it, hick's no grizzly adams. it's going to be quite a haul doing all that when it's said and done. pray for good health, because a busted knee or god forbid anything else sets you back big time.

there's a reason why civilization is convenient. we live longer.

but i get the peace he has in mind. i envy it, i really do. i just think the cost will be tremendous.

[hick]

Of course, cost is one of the major factors.

Initial costs:

Land 50 - $100k USD

Many factors at play with this cost (obviously)
[owners need, financing options, water, view, access, latitude, standing timber, etc.]

Cabin + additional buildings + hydro, solar and wind set ups = practically any number over $15k could go here. It's entirely up to the building plans, complications and who does it.

My "budgeted" cost for building is hovering around 50 - $60k right now and that's based on calculations made across a board of forum posters, actual off-gridders and realtors I've communicated directly with. That's the figure I feel I can get by on (comfortably enough) initially.

Of course factors (again) are at play.
I.E., If the land had road or reasonable boat accessibility (both I'm still considering), I'd be open to buying a log cabin kit (could even have it put together), which lowers tool costs, but raises labor costs.
Obviously, doing it all on your own is cheaper and much, much more strenuous as well as being more prone to hiccups and holdups.

So, we're now at $150,000 (on the high end) for plot of land and buildings.

Although, I'm most interested in building the cabin myself over a considerable amount of time and by hand.

https://homesteading.com/build-log-cabin-by-hand/

Issue is, I don't know that this is feasible. Most accounts I've read indicate the importance of having the roof on by season's end. So, the time clock is on from the word "go," other than the initial one year drying off the fallen and stripped timber. I need to look further into this. I've gotten some conflicting feedback thus far.

There are no property taxes on remote land in AK (outside the buroughs).

Bush Plane (licensing, purchase fuel, insurance, maintenance, storage):

$105k the first year and $10k per year after.

265k total. And (of course) that is only the initial set up and is not counting the great 'unknowns,' problems that sprout up and take on dimensions, if I were building and then injured (as you pointed out), health insurance (I plan to remain covered by my workplace for the next 7 <maybe 10> years), travel to AK from Saud and/or Thai, etc. etc.



Expect to pay $50k to $100k for your land and $50 to $100k for your home INCLUDING the solar and wind power system. That’s just the way it is. Labor and materials and equipment. Those are your next biggest expenses.
https://offgridworld.com/how-much-do...o-go-off-grid/

I've got a nice homestead going but it took me 4 plus years of looking, a modest amount of cash (less than $200k) and a lot of sweat fixing the place up.
The Alaska Homestead: One Way To Do It - Survivalist Forum

[Neverna]

Heya Katie.

Yeah, she has some interest. She grew up (kinda') off-grid, so naturally her first thoughts are: "why the hell would I wanna' go back to that?" Heh heh,...but then again, the wilderness of CAN and/or the Pacific NW intrigues her quite a bit.

We're both nature lovers.

Her main concerns don't revolve around the internet, etc...but rather more about safety. She's interested in taking a few survival courses and firearms training first.

Her farm is set and good to go, so I do believe for the first several years (or until the cabin is up and operational), she'll be in Issan while I'm on the land.

Thanks for asking about her.

Neverna said there was a Thai wife, and this was Hick's response. Maybe I misunderstood.

Really? I haven't posted in this thread until now, so I think you are confusing me with somebody else.

[hick]

So,...u married, Nev?

[rickschoppers]

Heya Katie.

Yeah, she has some interest. She grew up (kinda') off-grid, so naturally her first thoughts are: "why the hell would I wanna' go back to that?" Heh heh,...but then again, the wilderness of CAN and/or the Pacific NW intrigues her quite a bit.

We're both nature lovers.

Her main concerns don't revolve around the internet, etc...but rather more about safety. She's interested in taking a few survival courses and firearms training first.

Her farm is set and good to go, so I do believe for the first several years (or until the cabin is up and operational), she'll be in Issan while I'm on the land.

Thanks for asking about her.

Neverna said there was a Thai wife, and this was Hick's response. Maybe I misunderstood.

Really? I haven't posted in this thread until now, so I think you are confusing me with somebody else.

Sorry Neverna, it was Katie23 who posted about Hick's Thai wife. You ladies all post the same.

[Neverna]

Thank you, ka.

[hick]

i mean lets face it, hick's no grizzly adams.

I couldn't compare myself to "the greatest," but I've completed two certified survival courses, logged a full month off grid alone once and 2 / 3 weekers a handful of other times and...oh yeah! was an Eagle scout.

Want to take and/or refresh:

Wilderness survival + primitive fire making in wetlands
Refresh my first aid, self-first aid and accident prevention knowledge bases
Firearms safety & training
Edible plants/mushrooms, regional foraging (poisonous identification)

..there's more. drawing a blank

Oh yeah,

small craft engine repair and maintenance
topographical map reading / compass use
star navigation
trap construction/setting