Early retirement and leaving Plato's cave

[mskitty]

I have often thought of being the slave to the corporations of the world and that I am just another number to "they" .. and how do I get off this cycle of buying stuff that I really don't need. We have the other thread regarding clutter and waste but this thread I would like to introduce a philosophical approach to stopping it before it begins. I have found a like mind with this physicist who has opened my mind. I purchased this book but then found it in it's entirety online and am sharing it with all. hope you enjoy it as I have and I hope it is enlightening to all that read it .

http://myreader.toile-libre.org/uploads/My_515606ffeb932.pdf

 

[SheLikesKitties]

So what are your plans?

 

[mskitty]

my goal is to be self sufficient and have/leave a very small/or no footprint on this earth.

As time went on I had fallen into a cycle of debt, work, stress , which lead to me almost dying... After seeing what society or the maddening cycle we have fallen prey to by the corporations of the world I am choosing to not follow the drum beat of insanity. The vicious cycle of digging the hole to only fill it up again. I didn't think I was a lone thinker in this concept but I didn't actually FEEL it yet. Sometimes it takes an epiphany as a wake up call. I intuitively have started this process by slowly preparing myself to be off the grid. 5 years ago I purchased a piece of property with a stocked lake and eventually will not depend on services from the city or state. I have a septic in with a well. I will eventually install solar and a windmill. The property is 3 acres and within city limits and only a few miles from all a city has to offer without the problems that go with being in a city. The property is secluded and forested like an oasis. I purchased it on a tax sale for 3,000. I have decided to not build an onsite home but am looking for a very small "tiny house" www.tumbleweedhouses.com/‎ (this is just for an example) which does not require a permit due to the square footage. I mean to live a fruitful life ..growing food , catching my own fish, doing my art and living basically free of need. That is my goal and I feel as though I have made a good start. Since I have moved back to this town I have not stepped foot into the mall and do not intend to ...8 yrs now...

when I pass I will leave the property to someone who will continue the philosophy and I will have my ashes scattered on site with my prayer flag...

 

[SheLikesKitties]

That seems to be like a very relaxing, and satisfying life. We really do not need a bunch of stuff to be happy.

 

[gorillagirl]

MsK- that sounds so beautiful! I also want to live in a tiny house, off grid. I think the key to not "buying" is to look at the life cycle of the purchase from cradle to grave. Where/how is it's made? How long will it be useful/cherished/needed? What happens when I no longer can/want to use it (eg: donate, landfill, etc). Watch, if you already haven't, THE STORY OF STUFF, on youtube. i hope you're feeling a wee-bit better today. I'm sure the shock to your system is still rockin' ya. Just remember, it's not you, it's the addiction. xoxoxoxox

 

[christina923]

sounds so great!! i love the house plans they have, and your property sound beautiful! where is it located?

 

[Faith]

mskitty, this sounds like a beautiful way to live. I admire your bravery and resolve. If you face obstacles on the way, here's some advice from another person who is daring to walk a different path:

Overcoming the Social Costs of Being Different : zenhabits

Also, Tammy Strobel is very inspiring for living small. Here's her tiny house:

Our Tiny House

 

[Mebel]

Our Tiny House

Ohmm, happy memories come up! I have lived in a simular tiny house in the woods for six month in 1991, alone with a cat, and surrounded by trees . I had too at the time because of several unpleasant reasons. I left a city.
It was so healing there on my one and in nature! If I could I would do it again with my 2 cats now!
I will show Kevin this 'óur tiny house concept', I am sure he would love it too. We were already looking for such a place for him.
The only problem in Holland is that even though many small houses or cabin's are for sale. You have to 'dig deep financialy' to pay the cost of the property, even if you rent a small field. Yeah; small country..many people!

 

[mskitty]

Ohmm, happy memories come up! I have lived in a simular tiny house in the woods for six month in 1991, alone with a cat, and surrounded by trees . I had too at the time because of several unpleasant reasons. I left a city.
It was so healing there on my one and in nature! If I could I would do it again with my 2 cats now!
I will show Kevin this 'óur tiny house concept', I am sure he would love it too. We were already looking for such a place for him.
The only problem in Holland is that even though many small houses or cabin's are for sale. You have to 'dig deep financialy' to pay the cost of the property, even if you rent a small field. Yeah; small country..many people!

I completely understand and one thing we did while being over in Europe was we purchased a Hanomag and redid the inside of that ..it was really nice all white birch wood with arches and a loft..lol...kinda like being on a sailboat...you can even put a deck on top...:tongue2: of course I do not know what they cost these days. Nothing is cheap anymore and money is scarce.

 

[mskitty]

sounds so great!! i love the house plans they have, and your property sound beautiful! where is it located?

here in good ole Erie , Indiana....still lots of super deals on property ...I even found an old brick downtown building for sale for 25,000 owner contract on Craigslist in a place called Clay, Indiana... it is so cool with mega space but too much for me to handle these days..heat would cost a fortune...but it would make a wonderful Antique Mall.. they call the city of Clay ...the Mayberry of Indiana... lol but I have never been there...

 

[gorillagirl]

msk- i always thought it would be awesome to get 20-30 of my friends to buy a big building and live in an urban community. everyone gets their own unit w/ own kitchen/bathroom but car share, grow food on the roof, etc... 25k for a building sounds amazing. it would easily a million where i live.

 

[mskitty]

msk- i always thought it would be awesome to get 20-30 of my friends to buy a big building and live in an urban community. everyone gets their own unit w/ own kitchen/bathroom but car share, grow food on the roof, etc... 25k for a building sounds amazing. it would easily a million where i live.

Absolutely GG... that is the truth...and so would my mothers home...lol three story brick 1879 Victorian full basement and loft in the turret on 1/3 acre in town. Communal/shared living is a good plan and could be the way to go but getting "like minds" is another story. Rulz are always broken and I refuse to try to control anyone anymore. I gotta "Let it be" I think Percy started a thread on just that subject ..to take a Zen outlook and to relinquish control is a freeing approach to life.. I just need to practice it .. somewhere I have a book by Melody Beattie on Daily Meditations where she gives daily affirmations ...the language of letting go...yep that is the one..:yes:

 

[MissMuffins]

I don't know if early retirement is a possibility for me, but as for leaving Plato's cave...

Now that I'm no longer content with looking at shadows on the wall, I'm aware that so long as I rent, I'm a slave to "the system."

My ultimate dream is to have 5-10 wooded acres with my own spring or well, on off-grid "stand alone" solar, small wind, micro-hydro or wood gas system for energy. I would like to have my own chickens for eggs and meat, vegetable garden, small orchard--apples, pears, plums, walnuts--rhubarb and berries. I could barter for milk, hunt for game, and forage for other fruits and berries (either native or feral cultivars).

More realistically, I would like to have my own home on a large-ish lot, with room for a few fruit trees, garden, and laying hens. Owning my own home supports financial stability and aging in place, as well as serves as an asset in the event long-term care should become necessary.

MM

 

[mskitty]

MM...the piece of property I have is only 2.66 acres...and I believe that is plenty to take care of along with the costs ..i.e taxes..which can be avoided depending on your state. I also have found that there are several rent to own sheds or cabins ..that once you have the piece of raw land you can put a shed on it and begin the process of making it your tiny house. Once the property and shed, is paid for you can do what you want to it...
this is a rent to own cabin built by the Amish...comes in several sizes...I am sure there are rent to own sheds in your state. They run around 5,000 for a 12 by 32 and rent to own will run you approx 300 pr month..for 36 months ...and you can go from there. There are several options ..I just happen to like the log look. Wish we could be neighbors...lol..

 

[MissMuffins]

I am very strongly considering using my 1978 8' x 40' park model RV as the starting point for for a "tiny house"...then pimp it out, which will require gutting it and working from the frame out. I would want to add a 16' x 36' "sun room" on the south side so I would have room for a pantry, laundry facilities, entertaining guests, pursuing hobbies, etc.

MM

 

[mskitty]

Excellent idea...I have joined a group called the tiny house blog..and in there are some wonderful restored single wides....I also purchased a book with ideas on that very thing you are considering....no mortgage is the goal...:yes:

 

[christina923]

MM...have you ever hunted?
why not raise a pig for slaughter? certainly easier then hunting.

 

[mskitty]

i am back....

Hello to those that may remember me. ​i am grateful..looking at some of my old posts i can't remember being that confident. I ended up on a very long grieving journey. I lost everything, then even ended up homeless. But moved back to Bisbee got a small house and have been healing for 4 years now. Still shakey but more clear and self esteem is slowly rebuilding.

 

[SheLikesKitties]

Welcome back, and I am glad you are no longer homeless. If you ever want to talk about it, we are here, not as often as we should, but we are still a community.

 

[Slow Worm]

Welcome back!

Very sorry to learn that you have been through yet more hardships since you were last here, and wishing you better for the future.

SW