And Another Thing..

[itzwicks]

I've been inspired by the HGTV show My First Place one time too many. Time to buckle down and get serious about getting a homestead much closer to Lawton/Fort Sill. As I get older, those 40-minute-plus commutes really wear a guy down. And gas prices will only get more obscene with the passage of time

Comments

[itzwicks]

I'm shooting the moon this year. I'm taking a solo holiday in two weeks, and will FINALLY see the gang at NOLA at QuarterCon in November. Beyond that, barring any family emergencies back in New York, I am going frugal.

HGTV RULES!

[sharonthenurse]

I'm excited for you! I still fantasize about having my own place- just me and the dog. I went straight from my parent's home at 18 to marriage. Although I've always had a house, (except for a few months in a townhouse between houses) I always wished for my own place that no one else messes up, my own rules, ya know... A beach house preferably...

Your description of the end result sounds perfect.

Re: HGTV RULES!

[itzwicks]

Absolutely. I think that one of the things driving my train is the idea of true self determination. I've never really had it when I lived in government quarters for all of those years in the military, and before that, I certainly didn't have it at my parent's place.

I'm way overdue for a change. ;-)

[violettfem]

Best of luck to you.

I am in a position where I'm forced to become extra frugal myself regarding a new living situation.

It'll be worth it!

[itzwicks]

Thanks for the moral support. I hope your efforts to be thrifty and flexible work out as well. The end goal is indeed worth it.

[moropus]

That's how we got our homestead. We got 3 acres and a 1600 sq ft. house with a porch that goes all the way across the front of the house. I drove the same truck until it was 15, and he drove cars that cost $500. We set up a huge savings program. I actually mended clothes. We turned the heat down until it was so cold we had to wear a couple sweaters in the house. We turned off some of the upstairs radiators. We had no cable. OK, we kept the internet. Whip up the whole family and get them into a frenzy. This sounds really stupid, but I re-used sandwich bags. There's a buttload of webpages on stuff like that.

[itzwicks]

I don't think that I'd ever re-use sandwich bags myself, but everything else you mentioned is spot on. Driving the truck for a decade and a half sounds right to moi, and I hope to replicate everything you did in spades.

By the way, did you ever get the cable back? I'm thinking that the ONLY reason to keep it these days are for HGTV, FNC, TWC, and occasionally the Discovery and History channels. Everything else is mostly fluff.

[jenbooks]

We haven't had cable tv for a few years now. We don't miss it at all. When a show gets good enough buzz with word-of-mouth, we'll rent or buy the dvds.

I watch TV once a year: The Superbowl, and whatever series they promote to the slot right after it.

Of course, we can't live without the internets.

[itzwicks]

We haven't had cable tv for a few years now. We don't miss it at all.

Wow. Just wow. If it wasn't for the aforementioned channels, I wouldn't miss satellite programming either. But a guy has to maintain something for quality of life, though that might change with the passage of time.

Of course, we can't live without the internets.

That includes moi aussi, sis! ;-)

[anonymous]

I have absolute faith in your ability to achieve your goals. Go for it!

[itzwicks]

Thanks! Indeed I shall.. :D