Disclaimer – this plan is a highly individualized solution for our family, and not, regrettably, a plan that addresses the needs of the unemployed and nearly homeless in general. As such, if you are in our situation, it likely won’t provide the hope you anticipated. Frankly I doubt there are any one size fits all solutions to the growing problem of the long term unemployed, nor is there sufficient attention paid to the problem. You might not think this plan will work, or it might be something that you would never do yourself and we understand that. That said, this is our plan, and we hope you will follow along on our journey as the Box Car Kids move beyond the box!
In approximately two months (once school gets out) we shall say good-bye to friends and the blue Pacific Ocean and pack our belongings and head inland to the great Midwest. Of course it will actually be a lot more complicated, labor intensive and emotional than that! I left the Midwest some 30+ years ago after graduating from high school. A west-coaster originally who had moved to the Midwest as a small child, I applied only to California colleges and cheerfully headed west to the adventures awaiting me. Truthfully I had not intended on returning. I like the ocean air, gentle climate and open horizon. But, since the key to life is remaining flexible and open to change, and the effort I have expended to stay in California has not come to fruition, it looks like we are going ‘home’ to Indiana.
No, I haven’t gotten an offer of a paying position with benefits – and I’m not sure the job possibilities are significantly better but the unemployment rate is at 8.4% in Indiana versus California’s 10.9%. The main and most important reason for this move is that we still have family in Indiana, family who are willing to let us roost with them for a time. Since they live in the country we will be able to enjoy more outdoor space and even grow / raise some of our own food. So it’s not a commune but will have some aspects of co-housing. I will continue the job search (there is a university nearby), and continue my writing, editing, proofreading practice on the side (as well as the cat beds). We are planning on gardening, raising chickens and a small flock of either goats or sheep.
It will be an adjustment for all of us – my family will be surrounded by children for the first time and my children will be surrounded by green fields and woodland. My son, who is afraid of bugs, and my youngest daughter, who doesn’t like to be far from stores, may consider it less of an adventure once the novelty has worn off! The colder winters and hotter summers will take some getting used to as well.
One of our first challenges will be to create some sort of housing. We will stay briefly with my family but they are unable to accommodate five people for any length of time without significant disruption of their lives (which we will strive to avoid). So in order to make the arrangement work we will need to erect our own home. Hence the interest in unusual houses – log cabin kits, shipping containers and grain silos (they have an empty one), and such. We will be greatly constrained, as usual, by the cost of any potential home but are sincerely hoping we do not end up back in another trailer (even with the significantly increased outdoor area)!
These are the bare bones of our plan – it will evolve once it’s underway, depending on resources and opportunities. The initial steps involve the move – sorting, packing, and shipping our meager belongings, raising money (selling our trailer and holding a fundraiser yard sale), and making our way across the country. Once the route is planned out we hope to schedule some meet ups with friends and supporters along the way. Sort of a BCK Blog Tour!
Earthbag construction is one of the cheapest forms of housing out there: http://earthbagplans.wordpress.com/. Might be worth looking into even if only for something like root cellar.
good luck to you.
Aw – I’m excited for you! I hope the move back to be near family is a big boost to your support system and personal well-being. All of you deserve a fresh start!
I’ve always loved reading about straw bale construction – and tiny houses are definitely a hot trend these days. Best wishes as you work out your new living quarters.
Indiana Living Green looks like it’s right up your alley, too.
That straw bale eco center is one neat place! Maybe I could get some students to do a project for us!
Great news !Building a new life is so exciting !With my girls we live in a small country and we are happy , life is so different .
Best wishes and good luck for you and your family!
Christine from France
Add me to the many “friends” who wish you well. You have shared the ups and downs on your journey so far. I hope you will let us continue down the new road with you and your family. Godspeed!
Of course we will! I’m even thinking of our ‘spread’ as the BCK Farm! Our journey has been so much more enjoyable because of the support and friendship we’ve found through the blog. I am hoping we can meet some of you in person on our cross-country journey!
I think a move to be nearer family is a wonderful idea, as is the nice, slow trip itself which should make for a terrific experience for the children while on summer vacation. Have you looked into the schools in the part of Indiana you are going to? What about transferring health insurance for the kids from California? My understanding is that under Governor Daniels a lot of the rules have changed in Indiana over the past few years. Hope the trip and the new location are wonderful for you and your family!
We have looked into the schools – regretably they are not up to the caliber of those that we are leaving, and there is little/no diversity in them either. I’m mulling over homeschooling but probably will give the schools a chance initially so the kids won’t be entirely isolated. I haven’t looked into health insurance (but am trying to finish up a few dentist/doctor appointments before we leave). I won’t say that this is the perfect solution – but as I’ve discovered life rarely hands you perfect! We are looking forward to being close to family (it will be especially nice for my son as he’s growing up with all girls right now).
Good luck! You can add me to the list of those who have heard good things about straw-bale houses (I do think the straw is covered on both sides with something — sprayed-on concrete? — and that this would surely be important for fire safety and perhaps your kids’ health (allergies)).
I lived in a single-wide for 3 years, and while that was just me and some pets (and thus it was vastly spacious), it was, in fact, a 3-bedroom unit — so they must exist. I’d guess mine dated to the early 1970s. Heat was expensive, and cooling non-existent (no a/c), but overall it was a nice, and affordable, place to live.
I’ve recently put in a square-foot garden of the sort outlined in this website: http://frugaldad.com/2008/03/03/how-to-build-a-square-foot-garden/ , and while it’s early yet, I can tell you that plants are actually growing, a first at our home (we have bad soil, deer, and poor sunlight). I did use the soil mixture Frugal Dad skipped (the one recommended in the book, which is what I used — I’d pass it along, but I borrowed it from a friend who wants it back and who has had very good results with the method). I can update as summer goes along, but speaking as someone who enjoys fresh veggies but not gardening, I can (so far) recommend it as involving little labor and what appear to be promising results.
Neat idea! And thanks for the link to Frugal Dad as that looks like a good blog to follow as well. We had raised garden beds in Colorado and did fairly well with our garden there. For other small space gardens I’ve seen some neat projects on the Homesteading/Survivalist facebook page – like shoe bags or gutters filled with dirt and hung on fences to grow herbs! I’m not sure how we will do initially as we will focus on getting a home of some sort (yes, straw bales are stuccoed or plastered on both sides) and make repairs to an old barn and get fences and a chicken coop set up. Unless there is a fall crop we can grow we may have to wait till next year to plant a garden
I am so excited and happy for your family. I’ve been reading your blog for yours, going through my own unemployment issues (went back to college at 42, graduated in 2008 with my BA just as the economy hit the skids), have worked here and then since, but landed a great freelancing gig (I work at home) from a woman I met at a bagel place last year. In short–I feel your pain, and I don’t have kids, just cats.
I’ve bought stuff through your Amazon link, and sent money over the years, and it made me happy to do so. People, strangers, have helped me when I most needed it. I hope I can help again before you leave town.
I think this is a fabulous decision. I feel that great things are in your future.
My best wishes and supportive thoughts to you and your family–you’ve done so well with what you have. I am in awe.
Jules
Thank you! We have been blessed with supportive readers and friends who have made this journey easier with their encouragement!
I know money is a huge consideration, but I think if you could get into a regular mobile home rather than an RV, it could be a huge improvement.
My cousin lives in a mobile home. It’s very nice. It’s just like a regular house. She has 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. The kitchen has counter space, and normal appliances. Of course there are larger mobile homes available. Some in her area are much larger.
I agree – a regular mobile home would be a step up for sure! We have not seen many that have 3 or more bedrooms, but have seen several older (some needing TLC) 2 bedroom homes and I’ve been mulling over whether we could buy 2 and put them together in some fashion (T-shape, L-shape) and use one kitchen as a farm/mud room, goat milk/cheese room and the other for regular cooking. We could do 4 bedrooms if there was a larger master bedroom that 2 girls could share. It will be heaven to have more than one bathroom, that’s for sure!
Does the Amazon link on your page provide you with commission or is it just for your wish list?
Ah – the link to our wishlist does not provide commission, but if you click through any other amazon.com link on my blog and purchase an item we get a commission about 2 months after the item ships (you all did a great job of clicking through while Christmas shopping!).
Just to clarify, you don’t need to purchase the item in the link, just use the link to get to Amazon and then you can purchase anything (or lots of anythings) and BCK will get a commission.
This is so exciting. I’m so happy you have a new possibility in a new place. I hope it brings success and much happiness and security!
How about a yurt? I think they are pretty easy to put up anyway, and can be reasonably sizeable. I want bees, too!
I looked at yurts – they are a bit pricey ($13k for a 30-ft yurt at Yurts of America) and to tell you the truth we are all (especially my teen and I) ready for some private space! Although not my first choice it looks like a used mobile home (or 2) might be the most inexpensive way to go. We are also looking at log cabin kits, and shipping containers! I’d love to go off grid to some extent (solar) to help with utility bills.
Nice thing about two mobile homes is that as the kids grow up (incredible how fast the past 15 years went by, and yours will be adults in 4-10 years) you can repurpose one and live in the other, or sell one, then the other and move into senior citizen housing. (YOU may not feel ready for senior housing, but it is sounding better and better to me!) Or let college kids/young adults feel like they are living on their own in one, while you and the littles have the other.
AWESOME ! I have no doubt you can do this! Best Wishes
I am so excited for you. Best of luck!
This sounds very exciting…I’m so glad you will be near family…it will be great for all of you!
From warm weather to fridgid cold,, yikes, maybe I will send some warm and toasty sleeping bags,, lol
sounds like the positive thing is working in your favor
That is both exciting and scary but I for one am cheering you on.
I have chickens and a garden on a surbaban-sized plot. I learned a lot of what I know from http://www.rootsimple.com . I read both their books and they have a ton of ideas and information.
Also your new home should have a county agricultural extension office. They will answer specific questions and also hold classes.
Lastly for chickens there are a lot of hobby groups out there with good info. Maybe even 4H for the kids. Lean on them for advice… I know I for one like to gush about my chickens
Sounds like a wonderful adventure. I’m hoping you will be able to find a job (with benefits!) when you get there. It’s got to be easier there since you have family there and hopefully a network of friends. Sometimes it just takes knowing someone who’s been there a while and knows when someone is quitting. That’s how I got my job in the small town where we live. Many blessings to you and your children as you travel and settle in your new home!
Michelle
How will the cat take the long road trip? Maybe some tranquilizers from the vet? If you pass through the Minneapolis area, please contact me.
We hope to fly the cat out – either ahead of us or leave her with a friend to ship once we have arrived.
oh, can you believe it, I am jealous of you! I am not in a position to downsize and make a run to the country but you know that’s where my heart is
Check out the likes and groups on my FB page, I am on all sorts of lists for like-minded homesteaders. I second the recommendation for Cold Antler Farm (blog and FB group), and just about all the “urban homesteader” groups. While you aren’t going to be urban, the REAL homesteaders can be a daunting bunch: living off the grid, slaughtering your own beef, drilling your own well… Yes to chickens and veggies and goats – sheep will give you more wool but I don’t think they are as friendly as goats, and I adore chevre so that where I would look. Though check out Chickens in the Road (also blog and FB group), she tells some awesome sheep and cow (!) stories. And bees! I want bees so badly! I have a bunch of links on my Pinterest page too (look under Barnheart, a phrase coined by the Cold Antler Farm author, and the name of her book I think too). Oh, I am so excited for you. Yes, it will be some hard work, but I think it will be just wonderful for you and for the kids. Can’t wait to hear more!
It’s funny but about 2 or 3 years ago when Borders went out of business I was browsing all the half priced books and for some crazy reason snapped up 3 books on beekeeping even though at the time I had no place for such a hobby or intention of trying it! I found the books again while I was clearing out our storage unit last month! I will check out all your suggestions- thanks!
I’m not sure that here would be on your route, but if it happens to be, I volunteer my place for a couple days and yummy food. Fingers crossed for you and yours- it sounds like a wonderful adventure, and better than what you’ve been dealing with.
Thank you! We aren’t going to make a beeline for Indiana (although keeping bees once we get there is a real possibility). Adventures are not had by traveling fast and furious to your destination. So we will wander a bit, stopping by the Grand Canyon, and going more northerly than direct so that I can hook up with an old friend in Wisconsin before we reach our destination. I’m not sure when/if we will ever have another chance for such an ambitious road trip as a family so we will make the most of it!
We know the owner of a straw bale house here in SB if you are considering that and want to talk to a person who has owned one for several years. My first house was a trailer that someone added rooms onto, and it worked fine. This could work and even be fun! (It was the elevation that was bad for your son before, right? Not the cold? ) Bugs…he’ll get over it…many of my growing years were in a very small town (pop. 200) and bugs were part of the recreation.
Yes, his heart/lung condition is not ameniable to spending long periods at a higher elevation – and with a new VSD (diagnosed last summer) I wouldn’t move anywhere that would compromise his ability to grow and thrive. And, um… I’m not sure I want to know what sort of recreation involves bugs! LOL!
Catching lightning bugs in jars on summer nights!!
Yes, Maryl has it right. Catching bugs in a jar. Making bug houses, snail ranches. Pouring water in one end of a tarantula hole and getting flat to the ground so you can see them pop at out the other end. Observing ant hills, especially after a rain or flood. (They come out holding larva, like rescuing babies.) Kid life was much less structured and supervised. We also made “forts” in the tall grasses or under grape arbors.
That sounds like a great plan! For the homesteading part of things, check out http://www.cheapvegetablegardener.com/ (ignore any virus warnings – their site has some weird glitch that triggers a false-positive on some virus scanners). Also, a good place to connect with gardeners is http://www.myfolia.com – you might even be able to find out about opportunities to get cheap/free veggie seeds. There’s a really cool blogger in NY state who is doing some stuff with homesteading at http://www.coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com.
Thanks! I’m building up a list of resources to help us in this next chapter – glad to add to the list!
Congratulations! Given your location, a strawbale house could make a lot of sense. Good luck!
I am excited as well! This is great news! I am looking forward to hearing about your further adventures.
Congratulations! This sounds very exciting – though I shivered when you mentioned the possibility of living in a grainery through a mid-West winter. Old-timey homesteaders have certainly done that even further north, but I’ve heard a LOT of stories of how hard it was to keep warm in the winter. Try to find ways to insulate it, (straw bales?) if you end up in that situation. Also, if it is one of the very tall ones, try to find ways to lower the ceiling so that you are not heating space you’re not using.
Good luck! I’m very excited for you!