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frankpaige
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# Posted: 31 Jul 2021 22:37
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We purchased the property 7 years ago. Took a couple of years to sit there and say... here is the place for the cabin. This is the way it should be oriented. I want big windows there. Built the walls in the home cul de sac. (12x16). I am retired. So when people asked what do you with your time? It is.... insulation, drywall, solar, deck, sun shade. Now, it seems to be complete.
Now, I say when they ask what do you do? I sit and spit. I enjoy this place. I enjoyed building this place. I am in a little let down period where I do not have a long list of things to do. 73 yrs old. Now I love the time to read, sudoku, watch the hummingbirds and watch contrails.
Have others found their goal and said OH, Yeah! Yes, I have.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jul 2021 23:44
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Sounds like you have reached your goal.
Doesn't sound like a "Let Down" to me.
Now you can sit down, wind down, and enjoy what you've worked for.
Congratulations.
But I would imagine, between the hummingbirds and the sudoku. There is still a project in your head. Lol.
Enjoy it. You've earned it. But don't throw away your hammer and screw gun. ðŸ‘🤔🙄
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 05:38
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Some times the goal is the journey to get there.
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 07:24
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I started my "Adventure" in 2014 when I bought the land, then 2015 when the building started. The first 3 years was hard & heavy work, which then started to get throttled down as the health deteriorated as expected and has been dwindling as a result.
Still working on projects but at a painfully slow pace, relative to before and it IS painfully slow... Started the Toolshed Project in June clearing the land space, 22 tons of gravel and just yesterday mostly finished the 6x6 Beam Base Frame, all that left is to just install the joists & installing the floor deck, to start building the walls. Sadly some of the delays was due to several Hospital Visits (damned health issues + ruptured ligament in the arm and a bone infection as a bonus) and of course being Right Handed it had to be the Right Arm no less. And this Totally Freaky Weather here has been a nightmare too (Deep Heavy Rains, screwy abnormal temps.
Now the Job Jar is minimal;
- Toolshed & its solar setup for it (24V/3000W).
- Front Entry Porch.
- Final Powerhouse Roof Mods and interior update.
- Completing the Live Edge Cedar Siding on the Powerhouse to match the house & toolshed (That's a tough hard job too).
-- Not even sure I'll manage all of that without help but I'll find a way to get it done somehow. All of this has to be completed so I may be able to coast the last year or two of my being here before I kick the bucket.
A touch of clarification.
I was diagnosed Terminal and given 5-7 Max in 2014. This is Year 7 and in the last two years my health state has really hit the crapper, I mean seriously Crap ! This Entire Project has been something I always wanted to do and GF Talked me into going for it and so I made it my Bucket List Thing to do. I did so but with one condition, it's all in her name from the get-go (no hassles with estate stupidity). My hope was that GF would keep it but it would make her very sad. Alternative is one of my kids could buy it "at cost" or it will go up for sale at market value (current estimate $225K).
One Bonus of slowing down, is I get to enjoy the wildlife & area so much more now. The things I see and the critters even look different now. Really seeing the amazing perfection of nature, which I never really slowed down enough to soak it in. It's nice to have the deer in my yard and them not running away from me because they know I am safe... Same with the Wild Turkey's, partridges and of course the Gangs of Chipmunks who always tell me off when making noise outside (it's hilarious actually).
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 09:32
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I think my "let down" is a bit different. We bought the cabin and purposely bought a place that was "completed" because one of our main reasons for buying the cabin was to be closer to the areas we live to backpack and hike in. Yeah, a cabin/house is never really completed until we have put our own touches on it. Then there is the property, NO fire mitigation work had ever been done, it was a mess. A section of the back deck just wasn't a substitute for a proper shop... so that had to be built. Oh and a woodshed to keep the firewood dry. A greenhouse and cold frames so we can garden...
The projects go on.... Getting older, need to put a toilet in the loft where we sleep to avoid night trips down steep stairs. Under the back deck needs to be enclosed.... the hillside by our driveway needs widened so we can turn around.... an equipment shed to house the snowplow, chipper and water tank... oh and my wife wants the porch extended down the west side of the cabin...
You get the picture! Don't get me wrong, I like building and projects most of the time, but it can get overwhelming and definitely takes away from the hiking and backpacking time. Prior to buying the cabin we put in on average 750-800 trail miles a year. Since the cabin, 150-200... Hoping this year is different, with the high lumber prices we have put some of the projects on hold and have been on the trail nearly 200 miles already... just finished 41 really tough miles on the Colorado Trail. When these torrential monsoon rains subside we will get back out there.
Quoting: Brettny Some times the goal is the journey to get there.
There is truth in this statement! But I want leisure time as well....
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 12:55
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For me, just wanted a cabin in the forest, close to national forest with lots of wildlife around.
Bought the land, closed early 2005, sunk well in 2006 (always fights for water rights, so wanted to get that in ASAP).
Started cabin in summer of 2008, final inspection in 2010. Just a roughed in shell, then finishing touches in cabin, then it appeared to be all done.
I actually enjoying making improvements, so started with signage, campsites, fenced off well head, fenced off 20 acres (didnt own the back 20 then) punched in campsites, brought loads of gravel, trimmed well out by making it a solar livestock set up, bought back 20 acres totaling 40.52, brought in container, added roof to it, hauled out beetle kills, after debarking them, had nice peeled logs, built log park shelter...
Been doing the USFS, NP and State Parks theme is designs and colors from early on.
But my idea of enjoyment is making improvements. I do not want to increase the infrastructure, I want it easy to maintain and keep up on as I get older. Might add one more campsite.
I go up there each trip with improvements. Family goes all up in August, next trip. I will be adding more pilot rock picnic tables to all campsites, up to 3 now, purge out wooden framed ones. Digging trench from cabin to log shelter to run power, lighting and some ceiling fans out there. I may do a neat solar light set up too. But I need to do some projects, its my way of relaxing. I dont make anything a must get done, its a do it if you feel like it and if its not too hot and at my own pace.
To me, that is relaxing. My health has been good, I'm in my good productive years still, but turning 61 soon, wife retires end of year, I have about 3 to 4 more to go.
I'm always on the lookout for forest service, national park stuff, new, reproduction, original etc or making things with that theme in mind.
Heaven on earth for me right there!
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 14:02
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Our cabin life has improved year after year, a slow process, from bare building with a bed to now. This year has been really nice, solar works terrific, no more dragging batteries back and forth. Water tank fills with clean water by just a tug on the generator cord. Wall heater when I don't feel like stoking then stove. Ceramic cooktop works fabulously. Fiber optic internet better than my house. My crap in the new shop out of the elements.
Refrigerator..
Lately when we return to the city house for laundry, shopping and mail the wife says "can we go back out today?" Gotta love that!
But there will always be projects.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 17:30
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I do like the planning stage for a project as much as doing the project and I like to see the finished project. For me, I realized it was as much a desire, maybe a need, to keep occupied as anything else. I have stuff I built that I really do not need.
So, for several years now, I have kept myself occupied doing projects for others. Not projects like the remodeling and new construction I did with my brothers company, getting paid for the projects. Rather, I do projects in the community I live near for people who for myriad reasons have found themselves in need; damage from an extra heavy snowfall or rain for example. I also work with the nearby tribal government where we do projects in which the residents are engaged for much of the labor and they learn some skills. Some of the materials for these projects have been obtained through Habitat for Humanity.
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