Lately I find myself writing less about owning my own land and the off grid way of living. While I certainly continue to have that goal, I feel like there isn’t a lot more to say about it except that I continue on my routine savings and investment plan as I inch towards it. But I’m making good money at my job – which I’m putting towards my future while not be laboring the point – my savings and investments are automatic and require little day by day thinking.
At the same time, I’m continuing to read and learn. I keep reading books about livestock and homesteading, learning how to manage natural resources and labd effectively. I’ve been been continuing to learn electricity and the building code, solar power and gardening. I follow several YouTube channels on these topics and are subscribed to many homesteading podcasts and groups.
The thing in my mind is not to jump too soon. Enjoy life today but keep a focus on a better tomorrow. While nothing beats having hands in the soil directly, learning through watching and reading is the next best thing. Being book smart at least gives you some background – and ideas where to go next.
Many people at my point in my career would looking to buy a house and settle down. I do look at future properties from time to time but my focus now is investing and saving. I just don’t want a suburbanite house – I want to live out in the country, on my own land away from neighbors where I can do my own thing on my own land.
Yesterday, I gave you some of my thoughts about the urban life — what I like about it — and the key elements that I think I find enjoyable about it from connectivity and accessibility of products and services nearby by walking or taking public transit.
Yet, I’m in my heart a country boy, and I love spending time in the woods.
Live in a small community, with a small city (of around 20,000 persons) within 15-30 miles.
Own inexpensive land in hilly, rocky area, maybe 25-50 acres of woodland/pasture that I could run a couple head of cattle on, ride ATVs around.
Hobby farm a little bit, grow some of my own food, kill and eat my own animals.
Have no neighbors right nearby to bother me, be able to have fires, and burn my garbage (love fire!).
Be able to shoot targets and play with guns in my backyard.
Relatively low property taxes and fees so I could afford the land.
Have ATVs and snowmobiles, handguns and more long-guns, that I could ride around own land.
A big 3/4 ton or 1 ton 4×4 off-road pickup truck with cap.
State or federal public forest land nearby to hunt and fish on, along with ride ATVs and snowmobiles on.
Places in the boondocks nearby where I can truck camp or tent camp for free.
Hilltops and ridges to climb up on, look at wilderness and valleys below.
Lakes and ponds to swim and paddle around on, and fish.
Low taxes, friendly and helpful government agencies.
There is a lot to celebrate about living in a quality urban community and living the urban life, I sure do love the wild nature of Rural America and the folks who spend every day of their lives in the wood.
Last week, the Supreme Court announced a decision that large companies do not have to enforce the vaccination-or-testing requirement proposed by the Biden Administration. However, the decision is ultimately left up to the employer whether or not to continue the vaccine requirement. And that has put Carhartt in a tight spot with its customer base. Carhartt has come under fire from its more conservative consumers after it decided to keep the vaccine mandate in place for its roughly 3,000 U.S.-based employees.
This week, #BoycottCarhartt started trending on Twitter after the announcement from Carhartt’s CEO Mark Valade. In an email sent it to workers a day after the Supreme Court’s decision, Valade emphasizes workplace safety.
“We put workplace safety at the very top of our priority list and the Supreme Court’s recent ruling doesn’t impact that core value. We, and the medical community, continue to believe vaccines are necessary to ensure a safe working environment for every associate and even perhaps their households,” the message said.
