....no, it's a mobile home....no, it's a.... TRUCK?!
Love this, if we could create/covert a truck and it be as beautiful and functional as the one in the link is, then we will be very happy! It has slides outs (dining and sofa area) AND a full solar roof, amazing!!!!
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Alternate living is back in the game!
Spoke to hubby this morning, and the fact we would be MORTGAGE FREE, be able to build a fancy trailer/convert a bus AND buy a boat is enough to spur us on....I spotted a beautiful boat online last week, and hubby keeps mentioning it (when we met, he was due to leave France and go sailing around the world, going from job to job, but obviously he didn't).
Although it would be hard living in such a small space, when we already feel like sardines squeezed into our 4 bed detached house, with an integral garage, a garden chalet/garage, various (small) outbuildings/shelters for our animals, it would give us the way of life we desperately crave....
I can't begin to imagine what an impact it will have on our girls, being more with nature and less with a screen in front of them, showing more respect to our resources (cause we will be off grid so electric and water will limited), sailing wherever and whenever the mood takes us (as long as we have pet sitters lol).
I know it feels like too big an adventure, what if we don't enjoy it, what if we regret it....but I can't see a reason for any regrets, or any reasons why we wouldn't enjoy it!
Although it would be hard living in such a small space, when we already feel like sardines squeezed into our 4 bed detached house, with an integral garage, a garden chalet/garage, various (small) outbuildings/shelters for our animals, it would give us the way of life we desperately crave....
I can't begin to imagine what an impact it will have on our girls, being more with nature and less with a screen in front of them, showing more respect to our resources (cause we will be off grid so electric and water will limited), sailing wherever and whenever the mood takes us (as long as we have pet sitters lol).
I know it feels like too big an adventure, what if we don't enjoy it, what if we regret it....but I can't see a reason for any regrets, or any reasons why we wouldn't enjoy it!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The latest purchase!
So, below there should be a video of our new purchase, 2 acres of gorgeousness!
In case I'm being a bit backwards (highly likely) and the video doesn't work, I will post a photo too ;)
Wow, time for an update!
Well, the last time I blogged I was happy to share the news of my new job....6 weeks in I was made redundant :( I was sooooo happy there, and the other staff and the boss were great! However, business wasn't doing well and myself and the other newest member of the team had to be laid off.
I'm back job hunting, but it has got me thinking.... this year, between my seasonal job and the new job, I had been working full time hours, which is busy when you're a mum too, and even more busy when you've got so many animals and several plots of land to look after!!!!
I would love to not need the money, but bills to pay and all that....But, what if....what if we did it, what if we just went for it, and converted a bus or a trailer, or got a boat, there would be no mortgage, no utility bills (self sufficient), even the council tax would be minimal as we'd be living as gypsies on our own agricultural land. Oh I wish I was brave enough to just jump right into the adventure rather than being sooooo cautious and unsure!
I'm back job hunting, but it has got me thinking.... this year, between my seasonal job and the new job, I had been working full time hours, which is busy when you're a mum too, and even more busy when you've got so many animals and several plots of land to look after!!!!
I would love to not need the money, but bills to pay and all that....But, what if....what if we did it, what if we just went for it, and converted a bus or a trailer, or got a boat, there would be no mortgage, no utility bills (self sufficient), even the council tax would be minimal as we'd be living as gypsies on our own agricultural land. Oh I wish I was brave enough to just jump right into the adventure rather than being sooooo cautious and unsure!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
What a difference a few days makes!
Well, after my blog entry on Thursday (Feeling Attached....!), I applied for another job (I was only employed seasonally before, April-Sept), an hour after sending my application by email I had an interview and a trial arranged. That trial was 2 days ago, and I got the job woohoo! It's only 15h per week, but it works out great with school times, and it's a permanent contract, yay!
So....this means we can afford to make a few alterations to the house, and....*drum roll*....next year we can buy a caravan and give our alternate home a trial without needing to sell our house to do so. If we decide it's what we want to do, we will build the trailers we had planned and then rent out the house whilst we live in the trailers. Perfect!
So, the caravan 'window shopping' has begun :)
So....this means we can afford to make a few alterations to the house, and....*drum roll*....next year we can buy a caravan and give our alternate home a trial without needing to sell our house to do so. If we decide it's what we want to do, we will build the trailers we had planned and then rent out the house whilst we live in the trailers. Perfect!
So, the caravan 'window shopping' has begun :)
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Feeling attached....!
So, we're thinking of going off grid and living in a....*drumroll*....caravan! Lol!
We're wanting to buy a couple of these (semi trailers) and convert/build them into something like this!
This past week though, since we viewed the other house (crumbling, ready to be rebuilt, not much view, coastal property!) I'm feeling VERY attached to our house, we had it built for us in 2009 and I designed/modified the layout. It's 4 beds, integral garage, sat in a 1.5 acre field, so about 1/2 acre is garden, the rest is animal paddocks and driveway.
The thing is, if we stay here, there is a LOT I want to do, we NEED a new shed as ours is at the point of collapse!!!! I want to convert the garage into a master bedroom /en-suite and build a conservatory/sun room extension. Then we really need a large carport, to store wood and hay, and I'd like to create a stable extension to house all our animal food, tack and goats/chickens (our horses are out 24/7 - but a stable block could be a way to get around planning permission)....all this means I have to continue working, we didn't move back to France for that, we moved here so I could be a sahm, so I could create an organic veg/fruit patch (I am however, a TERRIBLE gardener lol), and so I could care for all our animals.
I'm feeling stuck, I'm desperate to get out of the system that screws you and takes your money (bank/insurance/mortgage), I want to be eco and live off grid, but I'm in love with our house....?!
ETA, look at this, amazing!!!!
We're wanting to buy a couple of these (semi trailers) and convert/build them into something like this!
This past week though, since we viewed the other house (crumbling, ready to be rebuilt, not much view, coastal property!) I'm feeling VERY attached to our house, we had it built for us in 2009 and I designed/modified the layout. It's 4 beds, integral garage, sat in a 1.5 acre field, so about 1/2 acre is garden, the rest is animal paddocks and driveway.
The thing is, if we stay here, there is a LOT I want to do, we NEED a new shed as ours is at the point of collapse!!!! I want to convert the garage into a master bedroom /en-suite and build a conservatory/sun room extension. Then we really need a large carport, to store wood and hay, and I'd like to create a stable extension to house all our animal food, tack and goats/chickens (our horses are out 24/7 - but a stable block could be a way to get around planning permission)....all this means I have to continue working, we didn't move back to France for that, we moved here so I could be a sahm, so I could create an organic veg/fruit patch (I am however, a TERRIBLE gardener lol), and so I could care for all our animals.
I'm feeling stuck, I'm desperate to get out of the system that screws you and takes your money (bank/insurance/mortgage), I want to be eco and live off grid, but I'm in love with our house....?!
ETA, look at this, amazing!!!!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Doubts!
Keep having doubts (verging on absolute panic) about our next *house* move, so every time I'm having a wobble, I'm going to look at this! I think this will be the one thing that will make me (us) go through with it....?!
We had thought, originally, to split our time between the house on wheels and a boat, but with so many animals it's totally unrealistic, so will have to be a weekend/holiday treat instead.
We're off to see another house today, the photo below is the view from the side of the property (where there is a public footpath), it's STUNNING and we could just about be mortgage free (it needs renovating/new roof etc), but....it's got LOTS of neighbours, plus only a 1/4 acre garden, and I'd rather be in a private/secluded spot, away from the world, and our animals would all have to be kept in our other fields, I can cope with the horses further away, but I'd want the goats to be in the garden as they are now - for milking if nothing else....still lots to think about, before we make that final decision, but the house on wheels seems to be getting our biggest vote each time....
We had thought, originally, to split our time between the house on wheels and a boat, but with so many animals it's totally unrealistic, so will have to be a weekend/holiday treat instead.
We're off to see another house today, the photo below is the view from the side of the property (where there is a public footpath), it's STUNNING and we could just about be mortgage free (it needs renovating/new roof etc), but....it's got LOTS of neighbours, plus only a 1/4 acre garden, and I'd rather be in a private/secluded spot, away from the world, and our animals would all have to be kept in our other fields, I can cope with the horses further away, but I'd want the goats to be in the garden as they are now - for milking if nothing else....still lots to think about, before we make that final decision, but the house on wheels seems to be getting our biggest vote each time....
Amazed!
Finally, after searching the internet for what seems like forever, I've found the perfect inspiration to our new home here and here!
I'm hoping to find the time to complete this simple task asap, which will give me great encouragement about living off grid!
Safe water harvesting and recycling is another thing I need to learn about, and also being self sufficient, I MUST turn my fingers green, lol....for the moment, I am the worlds worst gardener/harvester....
I'm hoping to find the time to complete this simple task asap, which will give me great encouragement about living off grid!
Safe water harvesting and recycling is another thing I need to learn about, and also being self sufficient, I MUST turn my fingers green, lol....for the moment, I am the worlds worst gardener/harvester....
Monday, August 12, 2013
Mortgage Free?
Due to events beyond our control earlier this year, we have decided to try and ditch the mortgage, but I'm not sure if we might be seen as a little extreme/mad?!
Sooooo, our village has a rule that you can live in a field for 3m of the year, as long as what you're living in has wheels (caravan) and doesn't make a permanent change to the field, and as we have enough fields to rotate each year, this is a serious consideration. We could sell our house, pay of our mortgage and fees, pay off our loans (for buying our 13 acres) and still have enough money left over to sort out the next part of the plan....
Originally we were going to go for one of these, but heating is by electric or gas, and as we have our own supply of wood, we prefer a wood burner for free heating!
We had also thought about a gypsy caravan but it's quite small, esp for the price.
So, we're thinking about buying 2x HGV trailers and building two of these! They will slot together, one being the kitchen/dining/living room, the other being a shower room, a seperate WC and 3 bedrooms (yes, 3 beds is possible, as the trailers will be 3x14m lol).
We will also have enough left over to build a stable block - which as horse owners we are allowed to do in our fields (each field if we please!), with water and electricity connections. The stable block will be 2 stables and a tack room, the tack room will have a shower room and WC, and also will have plumbing for a washing machine, and electric to charge appliances
Will will create an area in each field, where the trailers will blend in with the surrounding nature/landscape. We will also invest in wind and solar, and also rain water recycling. It will be a back to basics, self sufficient type of lifestyle, which I feel will benefit our children.
Is this absolute madness, and a stupid way to be mortage free? What would you think of people living like this? How would you feel if your children went to school with other children living like this?
Sooooo, our village has a rule that you can live in a field for 3m of the year, as long as what you're living in has wheels (caravan) and doesn't make a permanent change to the field, and as we have enough fields to rotate each year, this is a serious consideration. We could sell our house, pay of our mortgage and fees, pay off our loans (for buying our 13 acres) and still have enough money left over to sort out the next part of the plan....
Originally we were going to go for one of these, but heating is by electric or gas, and as we have our own supply of wood, we prefer a wood burner for free heating!
We had also thought about a gypsy caravan but it's quite small, esp for the price.
So, we're thinking about buying 2x HGV trailers and building two of these! They will slot together, one being the kitchen/dining/living room, the other being a shower room, a seperate WC and 3 bedrooms (yes, 3 beds is possible, as the trailers will be 3x14m lol).
We will also have enough left over to build a stable block - which as horse owners we are allowed to do in our fields (each field if we please!), with water and electricity connections. The stable block will be 2 stables and a tack room, the tack room will have a shower room and WC, and also will have plumbing for a washing machine, and electric to charge appliances
Will will create an area in each field, where the trailers will blend in with the surrounding nature/landscape. We will also invest in wind and solar, and also rain water recycling. It will be a back to basics, self sufficient type of lifestyle, which I feel will benefit our children.
Is this absolute madness, and a stupid way to be mortage free? What would you think of people living like this? How would you feel if your children went to school with other children living like this?
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