I also met some new people, like Donna and Ron who saw my Facebook post and asked about writing an article on my lifestyle, and Jonathan and Joe who saw my Craigslist ad and sent me emails. Jonathan was very encouraging and said he would pass the word to his friends. But it was Joe's email that got me thinking.
Joe lives in a rural area about 3 hours from me. He owns an 86-acre farm. Sometime ago, Joe let a friend setup a camper on his property for occasional overnight stays during hunting season. An anonymous neighbor complained about the camper to the county who sent investigators. Joe was informed that he was in violation of various county ordinances and was forced to stop using the camper.
I also heard from my old friend, Elizabeth, who I'd met on my previous land search back in 2011. She had also shared with me some of her experiences with nosy neighbors and county authorities.
By now, I was starting to get angry! How could the county restrict someone from tent camping on private property? I did some research. From what I can tell, there are three areas of concern that people wanting to live my lifestyle should be aware of:
- Health codes. Especially in the area of water and sewer
- Fire codes. Such as fire-retardant materials, indoor use of propane, wood stove installation, and so on
- Occupancy and zoning. Limitations on "camping", and the definition of "campgrounds" (this is where Joe got into trouble)
I was pretty angry about the whole situation until my friend, Elizabeth, finally talked some sense into me. "Oh, my. Looks like you have swapped priorities and choose contentiousness over enjoying life in your tent. I feel bad for you!", she said. That really got to me. Of course, she was right. I was getting all worked-up just thinking about the authorities ending my peaceful lifestyle. So worked-up, in fact, that I had already ended my peaceful lifestyle without a single visit from the county!
So my current strategy is to lay low and be a good neighbor. And maybe invest in some camouflage.
hey david. quick question .im soon gonna do exactly what your doing im 46 and recently divorced. me and my 18 yr old son rented an and as soon as he moves out im on it! ive been looking at tents from "davis tents" out of Denver, they look like quality tents. im definitely getting the water/mildew treatment but wanted to know if the fire treatment would be worth the money I mean would they be that flammable without it? what kind of tent did you get and what treatments? haha I read about your experience with the propane heater got me thinking....ive been thinking about this a couple years now and have slowly cut the ball and chain..i have no debt and I wanna get totally of grid. I did buy 5 acres so im itching. I really envy you, it seems like such a burden will be released off of my shoulders once im out there was it that way for you? well I hope u don't mind the questions im sure you are rich with a wealth of knowledge about tent living and im green Maybe I can pop in from time to time without bothering you too much?. ive had your blog saved in my favorites for awhile but just getting around to reading .,,just hearing your experiences leaves me with a yearning in my gut to be free.... take care my friend ...KK
ReplyDeleteHi KK! Good to hear from you!
DeleteI have a 12' x 14' Wilderness tent that I bought over the internet from http://www.walltentshop.com/. I did a little research and found that the Wilderness was a good value. I'm very happy with it! I got all the treatments, including fire. I'm not really sure if it's worth the extra money or not, but it gives me a little more peace of mind so it's worth it to me. I have a *lot* of fire going on at my place (wood stove, propane cook stove and heater, candles, oil lamps) so anything I can do to reduce risk is worth it to me. I also have a fire extinguisher and smoke/carbon monoxide detector, which I *highly* recommend. The CO detector goes off a few times a year, usually with I have a lot of things lit up at once, so that's real important to me. And the smoke detector has tripped in the middle of the night before when the wood stove was burping smoke.
You're instincts are probably right that you'll love this lifestyle! I know I do! I've never felt so free, and stress-free. It's a very satisfying way to live, although it can be challenging, too. Not as comfortable as living in a house, but *much* more satisfying, at least to me.
Good luck on your journey, and keep me posted!
Dave
I was gonna build a deck for tent and am getting the angles with tent so I can get the metal conduit and frame the inside ..would you recommend just framing inside with 2x4's as this will be on my land and a permanent structure. I was looking at the 12x18 tent do you think it will be roomy enough?.are you able to stand up straight in yours? ..kk
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend a deck. And maybe put it up on a few masonry blocks to keep it off the ground. When I was first setting up, I really debated whether I needed a deck, but let me tell you, I'm *so* glad I built it! It's nice and level and easy to clean, and I put down some rugs so it's a lot warmer in the winter than bare earth. It also keeps the rain out...I'm high-and dry! And I ran the canvas walls just a little past the top of the deck and fastened them to the sides using firring strips. That *really* helped cut down on air-infiltration (and mice!)
DeleteNot sure about metal conduit vs. 2x4s. I used metal and am happy with that.
If you go with a 12x18 wall tent you should have enough room. As I said, mine is 12x14 and I have just enough room for a wood stove, bed, small kitchen, small bathroom, and closet. I'd suggest laying out a floor plan (including wood stove and offsets if you plan to use one) and see what you think.
My tent has 5' walls on the eaves side, and 8' ceiling in the center. It's very roomy and comfortable, and yes I can stand up everywhere except right next to the short walls. But even there I can get within a foot or so before my head hits the sloping ceiling.
great info....did you use treated lumber for your deck? not sure if I wanna be exposed to those chemicals beneath me but it sure would last a lot longer.. what ta you think? also I was thinking on building an inground storm cellar of sorts and build deck over top with access door in floor. ever since that tornado tore thru hear in 2011 ive got a new respect for nature. you ever have any close calls? and what about ligthtning is it an issue at all ?im in north Georgia btw but I originaly lived in your neck of the woods Abingdon,va
DeleteNo, I didn't use treated lumber, nor would I. I placed my deck up on a few masonry blocks, that way it's off the ground, and level, too.
DeleteStorm cellar sound like a great idea! I haven't had any close calls yet, but maybe I've been lucky! I've always said that it will be either wind or fire that gets me someday. Haven't worried about lightening, either, but again, maybe I've been lucky. I try to setup in a low spot so as to avoid most of the wind, but I've been through some pretty good Winter storms nonetheless. Exciting!