Comments on Canadian Doomer: Would You, Could You?

Unfortunately, just before I called her to put in...

2012-09-24T16:00:39.924-04:00

Unfortunately, just before I called her to put in an offer, the Realtor emailed me to say that a full price offer had been put in and accepted. I'm kind of moping today.

Oh, believe me, no one I've ever known matches Mr D as a worrywort. I've practically Pollyanna next to him. :)

Exciting! I don't have much to offer in the w...

2012-09-24T14:24:49.402-04:00

Exciting! I don't have much to offer in the way of advice, but that is very exciting!
So if you're planning to spend the winter in your apartment is Mr. D still going to work during that time? I know that if I was in your situation that's what I'd want, to pad the finances a bit. Just in case you do run into some sort of trouble and need to hire a professional. Also, my father-in-law reminded us recently that, "Houses always cost more than you expect. Especially when you first move in." I'm betting that trying to start a farm is worse. It's been suggested that you don't buy animals that first year, but you'll want to have some money to buy your first animals after that, and even more money as a "just in case"--vet bills, hospital trips (you do have young children, after all), etc. Not having to worry about money when things have gone wrong is rather invaluable, and a few thousand dollars can mean the difference between making it and not.
But that's just me and I'm a bit of a worrywart. :)

Once we buy it and get moved, finances will likel...

2012-09-23T14:57:17.012-04:00

Once we buy it and get moved, finances will likely be non-existent for a while! LOL There is a small covered porch, though. And FIVE acres of land.

No mortgage - we're paying cash. :) Which mea...

2012-09-23T14:45:29.476-04:00

No mortgage - we're paying cash. :) Which means that our living costs will be much lower.

No, we wouldn't get satellite internet. It would be broadband, and the cost is about $50/month, but we'd have to have some sort of electricity.

Electricity in the Maritimes is pricey. We'll need to set up solar somehow by winter.

"Is there X close to the cabin?" Whether you're asking about jobs, grocery stores, neighbours or anything else, the answer is no. There IS, however, a city about an hour away.

I wouldn't buy a plastic shed. :(

Wow. This is incredibly exciting to think about! ...

2012-09-23T13:28:18.326-04:00

Wow. This is incredibly exciting to think about! I hear your concerns about space and agree that would be a tight fit. I don't know how tight your finances are but is there any chance that you could add on a well-constructed (large) porch that could be screened-in and later walled-off/insulated down the line as your family grows (taller/older)? In the winter, you'd still have tight quarters, but in the milder months, some of you could even sleep out there- that sounds magical to me. Also, if you're going to be living with a wood stove, we would highly recommend hearth.com. Their articles and forums are incredibly helpful- we've learned TONS. Jamey is on there daily!

I think I might agree about holding off on the animals a bit and focus on the stuff that will make actually living there more enjoyable/easier. I'd hate for you to be overwhelmed early, trying to do too much at once. You need to make sure you take some time to just sit and enjoy the wild:-).

Keep us posted and if you do close- please, please, please show us pictures!!?? :-)

Well, it's about 1500 km away from us, so a s...

2012-09-23T08:45:54.262-04:00

Well, it's about 1500 km away from us, so a slow move might not be possible. :) However, we do have an out - we've already been promised by a friend that, if we spend the summer there, make a few improvements like cleaning up the cabin and property, and absolutely hate it, the friend will buy it from us.

Hunting is a possibility, since this is a hunti...

2012-09-23T08:42:43.786-04:00

Hunting is a possibility, since this *is* a hunting cabin we're looking at - recognizing, though, that neither of us have ANY experience with guns. :P We'd have to get licensed, etc. Without a license, we can kill property-damaging animals on our own property: coyote, mice/rats, porcupine, red squirrel, chipmunk, skunk, groundhog, crow, English sparrow, common pigeon, starling, voles and moles.

The BIGGEST concern for me is that the place is small, but mostly that's because I'm used to have the little boys in the apartment all the time. My mom keeps reminding me that we'll all be outdoors more often than in. I know Mr D has built sheds and indoor walls and small furniture - I wonder if he's up to building an entire room? :) (I have faith in him that he can do anything!)

Well, if this was me and Dh said, here is what we ...

2012-09-23T06:37:36.987-04:00

Well, if this was me and Dh said, here is what we have- Now Go, I would skip any and all livestock and their needs for the first year, I would just take it right off the table.

The first thing I would want would be a heavy duty shed to be built, It would serve at the start of the season as a extra living space for storage, I would focus on getting the most basic but heavy calorie producing garden in, and I would hunt for the meat, but then again you never said where you are going, so hunting needs to be a possablity..

No possablity of hunting, then the only thing I would consider adding in at that point would be one or two sets of breeding rabbits for fresh meat, but I still would not carry them over the winter.

Could it be done, yes, would it be hard and for me at least, the lack of space would drive me a little ah, but you do have the whole outside as well..

Well that's an exciting development! I do hop...

2012-09-23T02:18:33.936-04:00

Well that's an exciting development! I do hope it works out for you. Having a school bus service is nice in terms of the priority that will be given to ploughing in winter.

I guess I would say that, just because you own it doesn't mean you have to move in the next day or the same year. You can move as slowly as you see fit and at a pace that works for you. Which might be longer than next summer. Or might be something a bit creative like spending the summer there and the first winter back in the apartment or some other place. Just something that gives you time to get set up and used to the big change.

Where did you get your solar led lights from? Do y...

2012-09-23T00:09:09.732-04:00

Where did you get your solar led lights from? Do you have a link? This is sooo cool! Can you get cell service in that area? A mifi modem may work for your internet connection, such as a virgin mobile pay as you go mifi unit! The Walmart plan I have is $20/month, unlimited is more $$$. It works anywhere you can get a cell phone signal. I luv the altoids charger!!!