At first I was afraid, I was petrified: Survival and joy in an off-grid cabin (Datil, NM)

Sometime recently, I newly knew that life could be cozy and comfortable, and not just survival. That's when I started loading Spud up with cozy and comfortable things I had found along the way. It also changed the way I looked at what I already had. 

You know how, when you move into a new place, you don't feel at-home until you do "that thing"? We all have that thing, and sometimes we just stumble upon it by accidentally doing it, and then feeling comfortable. I learned a while ago that books are that thing for me.

Before: that naked hearth made me cold just looking at it.

After: that thing

Of course, even before there's that thing, there's THAT thing. The first thing I realized experientially was that I needed a bed. Now, my bed has a curtain-friend. Good for afternoon naps without sun in my eyes, and fully-lit nights when the moon is an invader.

Uncovered windows at night undo me. Nevermind that anyone standing on my deck and looking in would need to have brought provisions, a bedroll, night-vision glasses, a strong stomach, and a GPS. Now they can just stay home, thanks to curtains.

I was going to wait until I had cleaned up, but we only have so many years.

It got cold here a few nights ago. Thank goodness that's over!

My head.

Flickers are beautiful, inquisitive, and relentless. I call this one "Opportunity," because he just keeps knocking.

There was a Hallowe'en festival in town, and Betty and I attended. 

Amigita being as scary as she ever gets. She's a service dog.

Somehow I walked out the door and up a mountain. I know, it confused me, too. Just when I thought I knew who I was.

Spud Ranch

Horse Mountain? When the locals argue, I simply refuse to learn until they come to consensus. 

When a half is really a quarter, and vice versa.

I got out my old Magellan GPS, and discovered that the cabin is right at 7800'; I had previously gotten the notion it was 7500', but no. This sparked some friendly competition between myself and everyone else in the neighborhood, now that we all know I'm above them. Mostly they've been good sports, even with my attitude of altitude.

Two books that changed my life, for real.

I just read goin' RV Boondocking's post about why he's doing what he's doing, and I just wanted to give that cowboy a smooch.  Bravo, mister, and an extra what he said.

A different perspective:  Chris and Cherie's take on the nomadic lifestyle, where they explain that minimalism is not their goal.  Minimalism, for them, is a means to an end - living in a mobile small space.  I get that.  For me, minimalism is more than a means, and this thing we're doing/about to do fits into a simple lifestyle that already feels good, just stagnant where we are.  I want to be pushed to take simplicity further, and this is doing that.  How simple must my life become before I am faced with my real self?  Cover the mirrors!  I want to see places, things, and myself more clearly.



In an earlier quest to become crazy rich without working much, I stumbled upon Your Money or Your Life.

It's written to guide you into self-sustaining wealth, whatever. That part was interesting and a bit inspirational, but the real bang happens before you get to treasury bills and wealth charts ZZzzz.  Somehow these people make you understand the real connection between your money and your LIFE.  How much of your life you're giving away in order to purchase this lunch out, or that magazine.  How many hours of irretrievable time you're offering in order to purchase a new car, or the required wardrobe for your career.  Are you making as much money as you think? And, would you need to buy so many new things if you weren't so stressed out and worn thin by your job? This was also the book that introduced me to the concept of voluntary simplicity. Before that, I only knew it as laziness, aimlessness, and lack of ambition.








When I read Choosing Simplicity, I knew these were my peeps.









Have their been books, movies, or other defining moments for you?

Reading: free and up.

I don't have a Kindle or Nook yet, and I'm not convinced I'm going to get one.   I did, however, get this free Kindle application for my laptop, and also this free Nook app.   Barnes & Noble also offers a LendMe option that allows users to lend books from their collections for two weeks.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble both offer a selection of free classics, as well as a rotating stock of modern works.  Project Gutenberg is the most well-known of non-commercial free ebook resources.

Google ebookstore offers an on-the-spot reading experience instead of a download, but requires Internet, which is not always available in the wilds.  I just added A Tale of Two Cities (free) to my booklist (it was the best of choices, it was the worst of choices), and Google held onto it for me.

How do you manage your reading in tight quarters?