Roughing it on an unlimited budget

[jmc]

Thought this article might be of interest about throwing money at remote living:

Buyers Build Upscale Homes in the Backwoods - WSJ

 

[MossRoad]

If I had that kind of money, I'd buy a large chunk of land, put a small house on it and enjoy. Once you have so much that it takes a staff to maintain it, you have too much. It sounds like this guy will be a slave to the finances and planning for a long, long, time. I would not enjoy that. However, to each his own.

 

[Ed of all trades]

When I built houses I helped build a little 8000 sq ft log cabin. Had a 2400 sq ft deck and 1500 sq ft patio. The man that had it built loved it but he had to sell it because he could not make the payments. Now someone else is enjoying his dream home. Ed

 

[teg]

So he is building a "hunting business" so he can write most of it off!?!?!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My idea of spending money to rough it is hiring a pack train to haul the rugs for the tent.

 

[Wagtail]

When I built houses I helped build a little 8000 sq ft log cabin. Had a 2400 sq ft deck and 1500 sq ft patio. The man that had it built loved it but he had to sell it because he could not make the payments. Now someone else is enjoying his dream home. Ed

I'm doing that now. It's an owner/builder house; rammed-earth walls (like mud-brick without the bricks), custom sawed beams, french floor to ceiling windows/doors, art-glass flourishes... A really nice place.

But you could tell that the original owner was beginning to run out of cash about 4/5ths of the way into it. Fittings were "OK" as opposed to "First Class" in other areas, the living room ceiling fan was a white 'kitchen' style. I bought the place & property for a song, really, and have hopefully finished & improved on his vision of what the place would finally look like.

I've put out an invitation to the original bloke to visit & see what I've done to improve/embellish/complete but he's never taken me up on the offer. I understand why though, in a way I'm living his dream.

 

[BuzzardA91]

That wouldn't have been my plan, even if I could afford it.

 

[TheMan419]

It isn't really living off the grid if you need a staff to take care of it..... No mention in the article where power comes from, but mention that wells were dug and power lines trenched in. So not sure it is really even off the grid.