💾 Archived View for caseyrichins.online › logs › 2012-01-30_Living-space.gmi captured on 2023-09-28 at 16:14:21. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2023-01-29)
➡️ Next capture (2023-12-28)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Published: 2012/01/30
Taken from my http site prior to decomm 2022/03/01
I’m currently in the midst of contemplating a new living space or dwelling. We as humans are creatures that consume way more than we need to. I want to use only what I need and no more. Since I don’t know where I’ll be in the next few years, I am trying to think of where and how I would like to live in the coming years. I know that I don’t want to go into debt trying to secure a permanent dwelling space.
Currently being in debt has helped me see that consumerism harms individuals when you give in the urge to spend and consume more than you need. I used to spend a lot of money on custom-built computers that would allow me to utilize high-resolution gaming graphics, these days however I don’t game much anymore and I find that I don’t need the type of computers I once did.
There was a time when I used to play World of Warcraft, Unreal Tournament, Counterstrike, Rainbow Six, and an array of other First Person shooter games. Any more these days I tend to lean toward simple minimalist computer setups, no gaming and am a proponent of the minimalist mindset. Data storage is accomplished with a very large external USB disk drive. While it could be argued that it’s not really minimalist I tend to lean toward triple monitor setups and these days you don’t have to spend a large sum of money to be able to get a graphics card that will handle such a setup unless gaming is your goal.
I’m currently leaning towards 4 types of dwelling spaces. A platform canvas tent, a truck camper, a tiny house or a teardrop trailer. The cheapskate in me is leaning towards the platform canvas tent in a very remote wilderness area on land that I’ve purchased. The canvas tent can be purchased for around $5,000 while the other dwelling spaces start at $18,000 and up.
When I think if what is needed for a living space I come to the realization that my current living space is simply too large. All that is needed is a bed to sleep on and a place for my computer. 12 square (144 sq. feet) would be adequate living space I think. I’m quite fond of design Innermost House even with its lack of electricity. To be able to utilize my computer and maintain an internet connection however, be it solar or grid-connected power, electricity is a necessity.
I’m torn between being completely off-grid or grid-connected. I know that I don’t think I want to do half connected. And by half connected, I’m talking having a few appliances that don’t use electricity but instead utilize gas or propane. It comes down to how likely do I think that the world is going to end in my lifetime. Sure I want to prepare for natural devastators but a complete collapse of civilization or loss of electrical grid due to EMP of some sort while worrisome it’s just not fiscally sound. To prepare for either of those two scenarios would require me to go back into or further into debt than I already am at this point. I would rather reach the end of my life owing no debts and having no worries of being able to look back to see a life fulfilled without anguish.
Getting back to the concept of being in a dwelling that is all-electric, fully connected to the grid or a dwelling that is completely off-grid without any electricity what so ever I have to look at my goals and my fears in life. If I were to choose the off-grid life, I wouldn’t have to worry if society were to collapse or an EMP took out the electrical grid because I wouldn’t be dependent upon either. However, to achieve this life means that at some point I would leave my job and society behind since I can’t maintain a job that requires me to live close to society if my goal is to live far in the wilderness away from society. Does that mean I reject society? No, I simply subscribe to Henry David Thoreau’s concept of society. In his cabin, he had three chairs, one for solitude, two for friendship and three for society.
On the other hand of having a dwelling that is fully grid-connected and all-electric, I can maintain a financially stable job and enjoy the income it provides to allow me to maintain life within society. My reasons for all-electric allows me to have a home where I don’t have to worry about fires, carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide poisoning, or how to vent fumes from my dwelling space. If I’m worried about a loss of electrical power, that is where backup generators powered by propane or diesel come into play and would allow me to maintain comfort while grid power is restored. Furthermore, living in a dwelling space that is very small allows me to maintain a very small electrical footprint. Timer devices allow for the reduction of electrical waste during periods where the dwelling is not occupied.
Of the 4 dwelling types that I’ve listed only the tiny house and the platform canvas tent allow for complete off-grid living space and still allow the ability to keep warm in the winter without the need for electricity. The teardrop trailer and truck camper requires finding a place to park and being semi-mobile it’s assumed I will not purchase land. However, there is a concern in using these dwelling spaces that there is the potential for fire and nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide depending on how the dwelling is heated. Only two dwelling types offer complete mobility with the canvas tent and tiny house offering semi-mobile living depending on how they are built.
The second concern with these 4 dwelling types is the use of a bathroom. The teardrop trailer and the canvas tent require special arraignments that must be made to provide a bathroom area. This bathroom area would need to be separated from the living space is most likely outdoors. This could make for some chilly trips in the winter. If choosing either of these two dwellings an incinerating toilet would be the best option.
I’ve yet to decide if I want a mobile lifestyle or an anchored lifestyle. The determining factor in this will depend on how the years play out. It will also hinge on whether I live alone or not. While the idea of traveling holds appeal to me I think I would enjoy a more sentry and semi-stationary lifestyle. It would be nice to be able to move when the urge arises but still allow me to stay put in one place for some time. I also need to be close to the mountains where the weather is often cooler than in other areas.
Any dwelling I choose is going to take time to procure since I will most likely end up living in my truck for a time until money can be saved to purchase what is needed.
Only by abandoning a pursuit to a fiscally dependent life of luxury can humans truly know happiness and contentment. Since one is not trying to keep up with society and those around them, one can find contentment in everyday life.