Has anyone thought of moving far into the woods without ammenities?

[Friday]

Gilligan was satan and he used the 7 deadly sins to keep the people on the devils island.

http://www.gilligansisle.com/sins.html

s Gilligan the Devil?
Years ago, CBS had a popular little series called "Gilligan's Island". There is, however, a dark secret about this "comedy" you may never have realized. The island is a direct representation of Hell.

Nobody on the island wants to be there, yet none are able to leave. Each one of the characters represents one of the 7 deadly sins:
Ginger represents LUST - she wears skimpy outfits, is obsessed with her looks, and is a borderline nymphomaniac.

Mary Ann represents ENVY - she is jealous of Ginger's beauty.

The Professor represents PRIDE - he is an annoying know-it-all.

Mr. Howell represents GREED - no explanation needed.

Mrs. Howell represents SLOTH - she has never lifted a finger to help on any of their escape plans.

The Skipper represents two sins: GLUTTONY - again, no explanation needed and ANGER - he violently hits Gilligan on each show.

This leaves Gilligan. Gilligan is the person who put them there. He prevents them from leaving by foiling all of their escape plots. Also, it is HIS

island. Therefore, Gilligan is SATAN.

Crazy? He does wear red in every episode.

Haha!  That rocks.

[Friday]

rainey, there was an excellent miniseries on PBS several years ago called Frontier House, in which the producers took three modern American families and stuck them in an environment that matched the American frontier in the 1800's.  They all got lots of expert advice on what they needed to do to prepare for, and survive, the coming winter (they were in Montana).  I highly recommend it if you can afford it or find it for rent; it's for sale on amazon.  I can tell you more about it later when I'm not eating lunch at work. 

[Pat McCotter]

outhouses are not a big deal. its really not any different than shitting on a toilet except there is no water. and it'll stink worse unless you put something on it.

when you make an outhouse just put on a regular toilet seat, and you dump lime on the hole to stop the smell and everything else.

then you just move the outhouse and cover up the hole and dig another one.

It saves a move to dig the new hole first.

[Pat McCotter]

Do those old ringer wash machines that you pull the clothes through use electricity?

The wringer doesn't. The rest of the machine does. The next-earlier iteration involves scrub boards and wash tubs. They had hand-cranked wringers for those, too.

I agree that "simple living" has a great attraction, but when you're the only one doing it, it's going to get pretty lonely. Not to mention, it's going to be impossible to find anyone in person with experience living that lifestyle, so you'd be on your own, without any advice. Unless you turned to the internet, of course... lots of advice and information there, but it's not compatible with candlelight.

Yay, finally an answer to one of my questions, thanks KB!        Oh well, to the river with the clothes I guess unless I found a hand cranked one.   I probably will never do this especially if I have to lose the internet but so many times I've yearned for a pionner,(sp?), type life.

The kids would hate Rick and I if we moved them "into the woods" , your right it would be pretty lonely but I'd be willing to play Monopoly with them. 

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/07/qa_electricity.php

http://images.google.com/images?q=Wonderwash

[Pat McCotter]

Right, that's what Rick said too about living in the woods in a house that's why he just wanted to live in a teepee or something. Would that be possible, not having a house so you wouldn't need permits for a dwelling?

The kids would probably be removed for not having electricity and stuff too even if it wasn't required.

I told Rick when he just wanted to become invisible, so to say, that it would be impossible because the land we bought would be on a county record somewhere and there would be yearly taxes.

I worked with a guy whose two daughters loved going hunting with him. They wouldn't go on overnight trips, though, until he got running water at his camp. In NH there are camps without the usual amenities of normal buildings.

[Pat McCotter]

I've come to the conclusion that there is no way to truly get away from it all however, there are other options to lead a simpler life.

Just because we have electricity doesn't mean we need to use it, we coud unscrew all of the lightbulbs.   I could wash clothes in a stream or look for a hand cranked ringer washer.   We could use wood to heat the house.

Just turn off the main breaker. Turn off the water line coming into the house. Block the toilets from being used.

You'll need to install a hand pump. My first wife's uncle in NC hosted a family reunion and the big story of the day was they had just got running water - a hand pump in the kitchen. That was much easier than going outside to pump the water. We still had to go to the outhouse, though, and this was the reason for hosting the reunion; more folks to help with digging the new hole and moving the crapper and filling in the old hole.

Be careful with the lanterns and wood stove. You don't want to be burning the house down.

[Pat McCotter]

That idea sounds revolting to me, personally. I can't imagine myself living any kind of quality life without constant social interaction, electricity and a decently fast high speed internet connection. To each his (or her!) own though.

I might have fun doing that on a vacation though, but not as a lifestyle.

Yeah, I could see how it can sound pretty bad; but less stressful.  The social interaction, especially on the forum would really bug me more than "in person" social interactions.  

I just know that when the power is shut off due to a storm or something my whole body/mind seems more at ease.  

Hmmm...less stressful.

Get up in the morning.
Take care of the animals.
Make breakfast.
We may need to slaughter something, milk the cow/goat.
Tend the vegetable garden.  Pick some vegetables for lunch and dinner.
Make the beds.
Clean the house.
Mend broken/make new furniture.
Get water.
Make lunch.
Clean the clothes.
Shear the sheep/goat.
Spin thread.
Weave cloth.
Mend the torn/make new clothes.
Make dinner.
Get wood for the stove.
Clean the ashes from the stove.
Bank the fire for the ight.
Sleep.
Start over the next day.
Very relaxing!

[Pat K]

rainey, there was an excellent miniseries on PBS several years ago called Frontier House, in which the producers took three modern American families and stuck them in an environment that matched the American frontier in the 1800's.  They all got lots of expert advice on what they needed to do to prepare for, and survive, the coming winter (they were in Montana).  I highly recommend it if you can afford it or find it for rent; it's for sale on amazon.  I can tell you more about it later when I'm not eating lunch at work. 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/

[violence]

That idea sounds revolting to me, personally. I can't imagine myself living any kind of quality life without constant social interaction, electricity and a decently fast high speed internet connection. To each his (or her!) own though.

I might have fun doing that on a vacation though, but not as a lifestyle.

Yeah, I could see how it can sound pretty bad; but less stressful.  The social interaction, especially on the forum would really bug me more than "in person" social interactions.  

I just know that when the power is shut off due to a storm or something my whole body/mind seems more at ease.  

Hmmm...less stressful.

Get up in the morning.
Take care of the animals.
Make breakfast.
We may need to slaughter something, milk the cow/goat.
Tend the vegetable garden.  Pick some vegetables for lunch and dinner.
Make the beds.
Clean the house.
Mend broken/make new furniture.
Get water.
Make lunch.
Clean the clothes.
Shear the sheep/goat.
Spin thread.
Weave cloth.
Mend the torn/make new clothes.
Make dinner.
Get wood for the stove.
Clean the ashes from the stove.
Bank the fire for the ight.
Sleep.
Start over the next day.
Very relaxing!

well, thats all fine and good but its still 2010 and you can get modern things, especially things that only have a one time cost.

buy/barder/etc...

you could still buy food...etc... 

[Pat McCotter]

rainey, there was an excellent miniseries on PBS several years ago called Frontier House, in which the producers took three modern American families and stuck them in an environment that matched the American frontier in the 1800's.  They all got lots of expert advice on what they needed to do to prepare for, and survive, the coming winter (they were in Montana).  I highly recommend it if you can afford it or find it for rent; it's for sale on amazon.  I can tell you more about it later when I'm not eating lunch at work. 

Thanks Friday!

Just watched the first episode. Seeing them in their separate locations is going to be interesting.

Set in 1883 without hunting is a bit out of whack, though. They should have found an area that would allow at least small game hunting.

[Lloyd Danforth]

They did another series up in Maine, I think based on how the Pilgrims lived.  I seem to remember that these shows were fraught with personality problems, possibly scripted, and offered little in practical living.  The not hunting was unrealistic.

[Lloyd Danforth]

The Film about the guy who goes to Alaksa and builds a cabin is closer to reality as to how one would do this today on an individual level. Even that would have been more impressive without the airplane deliveries

[liftsboxes]

lots of information and resources are available at

www.thesurvivalpodcast.com

and Jack's forum

www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum

[Raineyrocks]

That idea sounds revolting to me, personally. I can't imagine myself living any kind of quality life without constant social interaction, electricity and a decently fast high speed internet connection. To each his (or her!) own though.

I might have fun doing that on a vacation though, but not as a lifestyle.

Yeah, I could see how it can sound pretty bad; but less stressful.  The social interaction, especially on the forum would really bug me more than "in person" social interactions. 

I just know that when the power is shut off due to a storm or something my whole body/mind seems more at ease.   

I don't know about living without the internet or a shower though and I know I'm too big of a chicken to have an outhouse to go to the bathroom in.  How in the world did people used to do that?    I guess you can't miss what you never had. 

outhouses are not a big deal. its really not any different than shitting on a toilet except there is no water. and it'll stink worse unless you put something on it.

when you make an outhouse just put on a regular toilet seat, and you dump lime on the hole to stop the smell and everything else.

then you just move the outhouse and cover up the hole and dig another one.

Yeah, but what if there's a snake or mice in the outhouse?  That's what I'm afraid of.

[Raineyrocks]

Rainey, come visit me and we can talk about simple living in a realistic sense. Different people do choose different ways depending on their goals. It isn't too far for an afternoon trip. I will bake a loaf of bread and we can sit on the porch with lemonade. Sorry, we have no cable or tv or stereo/cd/dvd stuff. I do have a toilet, though, and a shower.

Cathleen

Cathleen,

That sounds perfect, thanks!  I don't have cable anymore either, I just got it turned off last week, besides I'd rather talk with you than mess with electronic interference.

Whenever Rick gets back from California we can set up a date so I don't have to bring the kids.  He's supposed to be getting back next week but his dates have already changed a couple times so who knows. 

I will PM you when he's back, okay?   

Thanks again!