Go'n off grid

I were read'n what's his names blog a while ago and it got me to think'n bout liv'n off grid on nothing more than social security. That got me to think'n how much do a person need to stay alive, have no bills and still be healthy and happy. Well...it depends. If ya be by yourself with only a couple old dogs to feed, yeah it can be done. And put a few $$$ in the bank for a rainy day.
But, if'n ya got a family, ya need to do some mighty hard think'n. For one person...and his dogs, it's an adventure. But for a family, it's a responsibility.

Now, let's take a look see what I'm talk'n bout. Before ya even think of go'n off buy'n property, can ya afford it when ya know your only income is gonna be SS??? Ain't gonna be mak'n no payments with that. That's eat'n, heat'n and gas money.

Then ya gotta have a place to sleep at night....a heated place. Now we talk'n bout a chunk of change, although a little shack can be built pretty cheap. But then, ya gotta have ya some solar panels, an inverter and a bunch of batteries. Another chunk of change.

Ok ya say, "that ain't nuttin". But it is something. A big something. Bout $10,000 worth...and if ya ain't got it, it ain't gonna happen. Oh sure, ya can live in a tent for a year sav'n up a few dollars, but in the end run, ya gotta pay.

If'n I was gonna go off grid...and live in a shack, first thing I would do is check my finances. Ok....they fine. Then find my little chunk of paradise land and set about build'n that little shack, but not liv'n in it quite yet. Then in the next two months (sav'n what SS I could) buy me an inverter and a couple batteries and charge them with a cheap generator and battery charger. The last two items are an investment not an expense (right bout $300).

A cheap shack many overlook is a small older travel trailer. They have everything ya gonna need to live comfortable....much more than an empty wooden shack.

That's what I would do, but I'm so far ahead the game all I got to do is park this big ol' motorhome somewhere, put out the awning and sit on the porch sip'n a cup. Although, that's not what old Billy Bob has in mind. Pull this big sucker up under at shelter, walk out the door and sit on "da patio" and sip a cup. My cost would still be $5000 plus the land...and then my personal improvements, probably another $5000. So there ya have it...no matter how ya look at it, it gonna cost $10,000. "That's all I have to say bout that" (GUMP)

Can you believe it? At 5am this morn'n it were 50 degs outside. Then long bout 8am it were 62 degs. Not long after that it were 74 plus degs. Boy howdy!!! But then all hell broke loose. Wind started blow'n (bout 8 mph), clouds started roll'n in and the temp fell to a very very comfortable 71 degs. Ain't this weather screwed up this year?? HEEE HEEE....just love the slabs.

Ain't done a thing all day. Not that I had planed anything, but my God Billy Bob, ya gonna get "cast iron butt". Yesterday, my lady friend dropped by on her way to some hot springs south of here. She brung me a whole bunch of 2 and 3 inch styrofoam think'n I would build another solar oven. Not!!! The only way ya can use this crap is to build a completely air tight box so's the "cancer caus'n toxic fumes" can't get to your food. Then I got to think'n, I could make a bunch of them little whirly Florida flamingo thingys ya put in the flower gardens. But then I got to think'n, what ya need to do Billy Bob is get rid that junk and give Sadie Mae a haircut. More on my mind boggl'n ideas later. In the mean time, I'll save it just in case someone wants it....any takers???