why would I do such a crazy thing like live in a tent in my backyard. Good question, but the only answer I have is that it just sounded good to me. I have been stuck in the 60's-70's flower child live-off-the-land mind set since... 1972. Just can't seem to shake it. I have gotten close a couple of times. Larry and I lived in a log cabin built from a kit for several years when our boys were young, but my inital design for that home was with a dirt floor and no electricity or indoor plumbing, but Larry vetoed that idea so we had all the modern conveniences including a microwave.
So every year or so, especially in the fall, I get the itch really bad to sky up and run away to the mountains. Larry pulls me back to earth and I give in and live in this century and do the ordinary things the ordinary way. But this year was a kind of turning point. I thought maybe if I can really try this roughing it thing then I would get it out of my system and quit harassing my hubby about needing to sell everything and go homestead in Alaska. So it seemed like a logical cure to just live in the backyard in a tent and only use the water from the faucet outside and cook on a wood fire and only go inside to use the restroom... I know that is not REALLY roughing it but I thought the neighbors might have a problem with me building an outhouse next to their hot tub. So the use of the indoor commode seemed a fair compromise. All clothes washing, kitchen clean up and bathing would have to be done with water from the faucet heated on the fire.
No electricity of any kind should be quite enough of a challenge.
So, I'm going to give it a whirl and see if this gets the urge out of my system once and for all... I'll keep you POSTED!
My Space
Inside my little tent
Planning & Preparing
I have spent the last 3 weeks planning and preparing for my outpost experiment.
The target date for beginning is October 1st, 2007
To prepare I have:
The target date for beginning is October 1st, 2007
To prepare I have:
- Learned to use only 2 gallons of water for bathing.
- Heated my bath and laundry water in pots on the stove (the electric stove for now)
- Washed all my laundry outdoors using a washtub and scrub board, the dried it all on a clothesline.
- Use only candles at night for preparing for bed and reading before sleep.
- Purchased equipment such as: flat irons for ironing clothes and a grill rack for cooking over an open fire
- Gathered all equipment that I already had and cleaned and prepared it for use.
- Began constructing my outdoor bath area
- Level area for tent.
I plan to use some borrowed outdoor canopy-type structures and some mosquito netting to fix up an area for food preparation, eating and relaxing.
I also need to improve my fire pit area.
Getting closer
As I get closer to the start date, the more nervous I get. Wondering if I can really pull it off.
I hate failing. I think I can do it. I'm pretty determined.
Besides, what's the big deal?
I hate failing. I think I can do it. I'm pretty determined.
Besides, what's the big deal?
This is the weekend
It's Friday night. I just finished making my outdoor chandelier using old metal fencing and wire and jars with candles. I moved my rocker to the back patio and think I will go ahead and sleep outside tonight. The moon is full and bright and the temperature is supposed to be around 62 degrees.
I have my bed all set in my tent with sheets and blankets. It stayed dry during the last rain so I hope I'll be OK if we get a real storm. My outdoor bath area is finished. I've used it a few times.
I've also cooked over my fire in the fire pit a couple of times and used it to heat my water for my bath this morning.
So I guess I'm pretty much ready.
I still need a few small items and I haven't moved my basic clothing items or my food items outside yet. I'll get all the done this weekend.
Monday is October 1st - the official start of the 2GKates Outpost Experiment.
I'll keep you posted. And hope to have photos up soon.
Kate
I have my bed all set in my tent with sheets and blankets. It stayed dry during the last rain so I hope I'll be OK if we get a real storm. My outdoor bath area is finished. I've used it a few times.
I've also cooked over my fire in the fire pit a couple of times and used it to heat my water for my bath this morning.
So I guess I'm pretty much ready.
I still need a few small items and I haven't moved my basic clothing items or my food items outside yet. I'll get all the done this weekend.
Monday is October 1st - the official start of the 2GKates Outpost Experiment.
I'll keep you posted. And hope to have photos up soon.
Kate
Week 1 Summary
Overall things have gone pretty well. The weather has been a bit of a challenge. The first few days were not bad - mid 80 degree weather and dry. Then it got to be 90- 94 degrees, breaking heat records for the area. Some nights were a little warm for outdoor sleeping but I managed.
The mosquitos and flys have been pretty bad, also, which makes for a challenge fixing food in the evening.
Here area few things I learned this week:
1. Evening meals must be started early in order to prevent eating and cleaning up in the dark. (Candles don't give a lot of good light)
2. Cleaning a whole raw chicken with no sink or disposal is really icky.
3. Never turn down a dinner invitation from friends. (A free meal!)
4. Heat morning bath water early (before 7:00 a.m.) and put the fire out so the smoke doesn't smell up the whole neighborhood every morning.
5. Don't invite guests over for 8:00 a.m breakfast on a weekday morning. You could be late to work.
6. Wear exercise clothes to bike to work in and take work clothes in a backpack to change into, otherwise you arrive in to work in sweaty work clothes.
7. Put bread dough in a round pan nested inside dutch oven (rather than directly in bottom of dutch oven) to bake a round loaf or rolls.
8.Cold baths in 94 degree weather are not too bad.
Next week look for insights on how to cook in the pouring down rain... and dealing with lonliness when no one wants to eat outside with you.
The mosquitos and flys have been pretty bad, also, which makes for a challenge fixing food in the evening.
Here area few things I learned this week:
1. Evening meals must be started early in order to prevent eating and cleaning up in the dark. (Candles don't give a lot of good light)
2. Cleaning a whole raw chicken with no sink or disposal is really icky.
3. Never turn down a dinner invitation from friends. (A free meal!)
4. Heat morning bath water early (before 7:00 a.m.) and put the fire out so the smoke doesn't smell up the whole neighborhood every morning.
5. Don't invite guests over for 8:00 a.m breakfast on a weekday morning. You could be late to work.
6. Wear exercise clothes to bike to work in and take work clothes in a backpack to change into, otherwise you arrive in to work in sweaty work clothes.
7. Put bread dough in a round pan nested inside dutch oven (rather than directly in bottom of dutch oven) to bake a round loaf or rolls.
8.Cold baths in 94 degree weather are not too bad.
Next week look for insights on how to cook in the pouring down rain... and dealing with lonliness when no one wants to eat outside with you.
The weather has finally changed and it was a little nippy last night and this morning.
Two blankets made sleeping comfortable. The morning bath was a little chilly. By the time I was dressed and ready for work my hands were really cold. But, I just put them on the barely warm wood stove and warmed them up. I spent the evening last night wrapped in a blanket in my rocker reading by candle light till 9:00. Then put on my slate blue colored Vera Wang P.J.s and climbed under my blankets in my little tent and read some more by flashlight. I felt a little like an oxymoron. I'm enjoying a book right now about a woman shepherd in New England. Her life sounds a lot harder and colder than mine, so I am inspired to squelch any complaints.
I'm looking forward to a weekend of laundry and retrieving my firewood supply from the local Lowe's. They give me their scrap dryer wood and Larry and I cut it into stove size pieces with the chainsaw. Then I will need to split quite a bit into kindling sizes since I have picked the yard clean of any twigs and pinecones.
I think I will invite some friends over for Saturday night as per the suggestion of an anonymous comment. It will pass the evening. Maybe a big pot of chili would make a good menu to offer. We'll see.
Two blankets made sleeping comfortable. The morning bath was a little chilly. By the time I was dressed and ready for work my hands were really cold. But, I just put them on the barely warm wood stove and warmed them up. I spent the evening last night wrapped in a blanket in my rocker reading by candle light till 9:00. Then put on my slate blue colored Vera Wang P.J.s and climbed under my blankets in my little tent and read some more by flashlight. I felt a little like an oxymoron. I'm enjoying a book right now about a woman shepherd in New England. Her life sounds a lot harder and colder than mine, so I am inspired to squelch any complaints.
I'm looking forward to a weekend of laundry and retrieving my firewood supply from the local Lowe's. They give me their scrap dryer wood and Larry and I cut it into stove size pieces with the chainsaw. Then I will need to split quite a bit into kindling sizes since I have picked the yard clean of any twigs and pinecones.
I think I will invite some friends over for Saturday night as per the suggestion of an anonymous comment. It will pass the evening. Maybe a big pot of chili would make a good menu to offer. We'll see.
Day 15 and counting Well, the weekend was a swirl of activity and emotion.Friday night after work, my husband took me out for dinner. Afterwards we got into a discussion that culminated in my near desertion of my outpost. But after some thorough consideration of my motives I continued on my quest.I actually got a lot accomplished this weekend and had a little fun, too.Larry took me downtown to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning with a stop at a little restaurant for some great breakfast. (A waffle piled with fresh fruit, granola, maple syrup and whipped cream. YUM! I bought some pottery at the Farmer's Market. (I'm a sucker for pottery). Then we went to Lowes and got more firewood scraps, a rain cover for my stovepipe, and flowers for my front yard. By the end of the weekend, I had gotten my firewood can filled, weeded and planted my whole front flower beds, put my stove cap on, washed my laundry and painted my washtable.I am having high points and not so high points in the whole experience. Haven't hit bottom yet.Some high points:* doing my laundry on Sunday morning while my husband sits in the rocker near me reading.* reading by candle light in the evening* actually achieving delicious baked rolls in the dutch oven.* the beautiful new french blue paint on my little wash table that Larry made for me.* the last bit of warm water in the 2 gallon bucket poured over my head at the end of a chilly outdoor bath.Some low points:*evenings when no one in the family wants to sit outside with me*spilling half the red beans & rice inside the wood stove*rainy evenings*too much salt in the bakeover pizza*flat tire on my bicycle - half way to work* wondering "What is the point in this whole experiment?"I'll let you know a condensed understanding of that last question as it get's clearer in my mind.I'm at work now and have to go create beautiful wedding programs, inviations and stationery.Later from Kate
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Comments to the "Outpost"
Seems this blog is not as user friendly as I assumed. I've never had a blog before so I didn't know how to choose. I am going to give some simple (I hope) instructions on commenting so I can get more great comments from you all.
Beneath any of my posts at the bottom right corner is a tiny word "comments". Click on it and it will open a screen with previous comments (if any have been made about that particular post) will be posted on the left column and then a place on the right column where you can enter a comment. You also have to type in the swirly looking nonsensical word in the "code" box to post your comment. That keeps automated email things from posting - you have to be a real person able to read and type to post a comment. Then you click on "publish" and it will send it to a mailbox where I have to read it first and make sure it is OK to be published on the blog.
Hope that is all "simple" enought. Try it (even one of my ADD friends was able to do it - I'm sure you can, too.)
Kate
Beneath any of my posts at the bottom right corner is a tiny word "comments". Click on it and it will open a screen with previous comments (if any have been made about that particular post) will be posted on the left column and then a place on the right column where you can enter a comment. You also have to type in the swirly looking nonsensical word in the "code" box to post your comment. That keeps automated email things from posting - you have to be a real person able to read and type to post a comment. Then you click on "publish" and it will send it to a mailbox where I have to read it first and make sure it is OK to be published on the blog.
Hope that is all "simple" enought. Try it (even one of my ADD friends was able to do it - I'm sure you can, too.)
Kate
Raining Cats and Dogs ... possums, armadillos, raccoons ...etc.
It's week 3 and I've been tested with 2 very rainy nights. Monday it rained hard and steady from about 6:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. My tent was dry and my tarp covered patio was fairly dry. The rain would pool up on top of the tarp and occasionally run off over the edges in waterfalls that splashed mightly on the concrete sending drops out in a 6 foot radius. I had to prop my feet up on a chair to keep them dry, but I managed. Dinner in the parlor stove on rainy nights is a challenge. There is no inside grate to put food on and the one eye on top is too far above the flame to really heat much at a high temperature. It's OK for warming bath water but to actually boil something would take a raging fire in the stove for a good while. So, Monday night I burned the foil-wrapped packets of meat and vegetables that I put inside the stove on a grate I fashioned out of a grilling basket minus the handle. I did realize my mistake (too close to a too hot flame - duh!!!) and think I can correct it. The menus for cooking on the parlor stove are limited by the cooking area. I do much better on the open fire.
Last night (Wednesday) we had thunderstorms with high winds, lots of lightening and tornado watches. I only knew of the tornado watch when Larry informed me of it after the fact when I woke this morning. During the night at about 11:00 p.m. I did wake and begin to take stock of how appealing my tent might be to a bolt of lightening and decided that most of my rig was fiberglass and nylon so not much of a target. I did begin wonder if my beautiful tall aluminum stove pipe would be in jeapordy. But my tent, stovepipe and I all survived the storm and my tent stayed dry and I slept "most" of the night. I did wake a little grouchy and my husband realized he'd better give me clearance for a bit.
I think week three is grinding on me a bit. I realize that I have already answered my question of "Can I do it?" with a "Yes!", but now I must continue on to determine the answer to the question "Would I want to live like this - and to what degree?" I'm sure there are other questions that I did not have in the beginning that will come to me as I proceed and those will be probably more important than the first two. So I gotta keep goin' and experience everything in it's fullness.
(Or I could chunk it all now and sleep on sheets that don't feel moist and see things more than just dimly after dark, and eat a meal that isn't tinged with woodsmoke, and snuggle on the couch with my hubby and watch an episode of "Heros" or "House", and not face the daily anxiety of wondering if the neighbor lady will creep over to my fence and try to figure out what the heck are those strange watery sounds coming from the other side of her fence in the mornings (it's the 2 G bath)
No, I think I'll keep going.
Later friends,
Kate
Last night (Wednesday) we had thunderstorms with high winds, lots of lightening and tornado watches. I only knew of the tornado watch when Larry informed me of it after the fact when I woke this morning. During the night at about 11:00 p.m. I did wake and begin to take stock of how appealing my tent might be to a bolt of lightening and decided that most of my rig was fiberglass and nylon so not much of a target. I did begin wonder if my beautiful tall aluminum stove pipe would be in jeapordy. But my tent, stovepipe and I all survived the storm and my tent stayed dry and I slept "most" of the night. I did wake a little grouchy and my husband realized he'd better give me clearance for a bit.
I think week three is grinding on me a bit. I realize that I have already answered my question of "Can I do it?" with a "Yes!", but now I must continue on to determine the answer to the question "Would I want to live like this - and to what degree?" I'm sure there are other questions that I did not have in the beginning that will come to me as I proceed and those will be probably more important than the first two. So I gotta keep goin' and experience everything in it's fullness.
(Or I could chunk it all now and sleep on sheets that don't feel moist and see things more than just dimly after dark, and eat a meal that isn't tinged with woodsmoke, and snuggle on the couch with my hubby and watch an episode of "Heros" or "House", and not face the daily anxiety of wondering if the neighbor lady will creep over to my fence and try to figure out what the heck are those strange watery sounds coming from the other side of her fence in the mornings (it's the 2 G bath)
No, I think I'll keep going.
Later friends,
Kate
Starting Week 4!
I really can't believe it has been 3 weeks and this is starting the 4th. I've learned several important things so far and I'm sure more to come. (New Photos this week)
But first let me update you on last week and this weekend.
*I had a friend over on Friday night and that was fun. We sat on the patio in front of the wood stove and talked and laughed for hours. Sounds boring I know, but to me it was a high point.
*A sweet friend at work, after reading my blog and hearing that chocolate was my cure all for any discouragments in life, brought me a whole Halloween basket full of chocolates to the office. Yee Haw! (Oops, now my fitness trainer husband will know about my indulgences at work.) *This weekend was productive but calm and I enjoyed it a lot. I even took a nap on Saturday afternoon in my rocker.
*We have family coming to vistit mid-week and I'm looking forward to that.
*I cooked a successful dinner of beef stew and corn fritters on the fire last night and got an atta girl from Larry. All-in-all a good week.
It is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. I'll have leftover beef stew for dinner and hunker down in my tent with a book. The new one I'm reading is about a 50 year old woman who is a bee keeper and lives alone in a cabin in the Ozarks of Missouri. It's OK but too much detail about spiders and snakes that I'd rather not read about before I go to sleep in my tent - if ya know what I mean.
I have had 3 offers by friends to come over and bring food to me and sit around my fire. I must come across as destitute. No... they are just loving, generous people who want to observe this inigma in action - I tried to tell them It's really pretty boring. The most excitment I get is when the wind gusts up and tries to flap my outpost bath canvas screen while I'm enjoying my 2 gallon bath on the morning that the garbage men are hauling garbage from my curb about 50 feet away. WOOHOO!
But first let me update you on last week and this weekend.
*I had a friend over on Friday night and that was fun. We sat on the patio in front of the wood stove and talked and laughed for hours. Sounds boring I know, but to me it was a high point.
*A sweet friend at work, after reading my blog and hearing that chocolate was my cure all for any discouragments in life, brought me a whole Halloween basket full of chocolates to the office. Yee Haw! (Oops, now my fitness trainer husband will know about my indulgences at work.) *This weekend was productive but calm and I enjoyed it a lot. I even took a nap on Saturday afternoon in my rocker.
*We have family coming to vistit mid-week and I'm looking forward to that.
*I cooked a successful dinner of beef stew and corn fritters on the fire last night and got an atta girl from Larry. All-in-all a good week.
It is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. I'll have leftover beef stew for dinner and hunker down in my tent with a book. The new one I'm reading is about a 50 year old woman who is a bee keeper and lives alone in a cabin in the Ozarks of Missouri. It's OK but too much detail about spiders and snakes that I'd rather not read about before I go to sleep in my tent - if ya know what I mean.
I have had 3 offers by friends to come over and bring food to me and sit around my fire. I must come across as destitute. No... they are just loving, generous people who want to observe this inigma in action - I tried to tell them It's really pretty boring. The most excitment I get is when the wind gusts up and tries to flap my outpost bath canvas screen while I'm enjoying my 2 gallon bath on the morning that the garbage men are hauling garbage from my curb about 50 feet away. WOOHOO!
Rain, Rain and More RAIN!
Well, it had to come and I knew it would eventually. We've got 3 days of steady rain forecast.
I've already started to compromise. I let Larry bring me to work this morning. I was not feeling well and I couldn't face a 2.5 mile bike ride or walk in the pouring rain. I'm not looking forward to this evening under my tarp with the rain pouring off the edges every now and then, either. I also am not looking forward to the bath under the tarp tomorrow, while trying to maintain some degree of privacy and not freezing my buns off. It is only supposed to be a high temp of 63 or 64 the next couple of days and that means bath time in the morning will be even cooler. Oh well, I asked for it. I could see myself being perfectly comfortable with a bath in the corner of a warm little cabin next to the warm wood stove. Nevertheless, my substitute is under the tarp on the patio - I'm going to have to get creative on the privacy thing. I've got some ideas.... I'll let you know what I come up with.
Meanwhile, there's leftover stew for dinner tonight. The rest of the family will have to fend for themselves. I've got a couple of good books that I haven't started yet, so I should be fine.
I was sitting there on the patio last night under the tarp in the rain and my husband and son would pass by the floor to ceiling windows separating my patio from the sunroom and knock on the glass and stare at me as if I was an exhibit in the zoo. I suppose I asked for that, too.
They don't really intend to insult me - but crazy women doing crazy things run the risk of being made fun of. That's something that I'm learning through all this: If your'e going to live in a way that is unusual, you must not care about the opinions of others. You have to be led by your own heart and the music of life in your own head - that needs to be enough - you can't require more.
Staying afloat-I hope,
Kate
I've already started to compromise. I let Larry bring me to work this morning. I was not feeling well and I couldn't face a 2.5 mile bike ride or walk in the pouring rain. I'm not looking forward to this evening under my tarp with the rain pouring off the edges every now and then, either. I also am not looking forward to the bath under the tarp tomorrow, while trying to maintain some degree of privacy and not freezing my buns off. It is only supposed to be a high temp of 63 or 64 the next couple of days and that means bath time in the morning will be even cooler. Oh well, I asked for it. I could see myself being perfectly comfortable with a bath in the corner of a warm little cabin next to the warm wood stove. Nevertheless, my substitute is under the tarp on the patio - I'm going to have to get creative on the privacy thing. I've got some ideas.... I'll let you know what I come up with.
Meanwhile, there's leftover stew for dinner tonight. The rest of the family will have to fend for themselves. I've got a couple of good books that I haven't started yet, so I should be fine.
I was sitting there on the patio last night under the tarp in the rain and my husband and son would pass by the floor to ceiling windows separating my patio from the sunroom and knock on the glass and stare at me as if I was an exhibit in the zoo. I suppose I asked for that, too.
They don't really intend to insult me - but crazy women doing crazy things run the risk of being made fun of. That's something that I'm learning through all this: If your'e going to live in a way that is unusual, you must not care about the opinions of others. You have to be led by your own heart and the music of life in your own head - that needs to be enough - you can't require more.
Staying afloat-I hope,
Kate
Sick and Tired....
It started in the afternoon.... I was feeling a bit tired and draggy. By dinner time I was fearing that I was heading for trouble. By bedtime I was sure of it.... I was ill. I thought I would give it some time and see if I could shake it but, by 10:00 p.m. I was in a lot of pain and had a fever and chills. I knew I was going to need antibiotics. I gave in and came inside. I started myself on some meds that we had for emergencies and climbed into my own bed inside the house, under blankets and very near the bathroom facilities.
I felt defeated in a way. I rationalized that there is a difference in rising to meet a personal challenge and completely losing your marbles. I began to think - how I could have equipped myself properly to stay outdoors in such a situation. I realized I lacked adequate shelter and bathroom facilites in realistically close proxcimity to my shelter.
Nevertheless, as I lay shivering and in pain under my blankets in my own real bed, I was very thankful for a dry home, a warm dry bed and a master bathroom only 4 feet from my bedside.
I felt somewhat better the next day, but allowed myself to take an indoor bath (it was still raining outdoors) and to accept a ride to work from my hubby. I worked all day and was tired again at 5:00. I let Larry pick up dinner at the local eatery and I luxuiated all evening curled up on the real leather couch, under warm blankets in my lovely family room and slept for a second night in my bed indoors.
This morning I woke and had my coffee inside at my kitchen table while watching the news on TV. I looked around me and figured, this is it, I've given up. I've learned all I needed to from my outdoor experiment and I don't need to finish out the month. "Twenty -two Days in a Tent" sounds better for a book title than "Thirty-one Days in a Tent" does anyway. So, I went out to retrieve my granola for breakfast from my outpost kitchen and to my surprise found there on the outdoor kitchen counter, a bucket full of bags of chocolates (thankfully all preserved in plastic wrapping) The chocolate fairy had been there. I was moved by the kindness and thoughfulness of a friend who went out of their way to encourage me. I stood there in the drizzling rain and looked around at my wet and soggy backyard outpost and then looked into the windows of my warm lovely home and contemplated what to do. Go back inside - or return to the Outpost. It only took a few minutes to come to a decision. I grabbed some newspaper and the few sticks of dry kindling and started a fire in the wood stove to heat bathwater. It was about 47 degrees out and I could see my breath in the air. I thought to myself, "This is gonna be a chilly 2gallon bath" and it was! But, I managed. I had my granola outdoors, took my antibiotics and got dressed for work. I'm back in the saddle again .... fueled by chocolate and the love and encouragment of friends.
I got here to work this morningn and my boss told me she had cooked my dinner to bring to me tonight. Others are showing me love and support in lots of ways. How can I give up now?
Thank you all....Love, Kate
I felt defeated in a way. I rationalized that there is a difference in rising to meet a personal challenge and completely losing your marbles. I began to think - how I could have equipped myself properly to stay outdoors in such a situation. I realized I lacked adequate shelter and bathroom facilites in realistically close proxcimity to my shelter.
Nevertheless, as I lay shivering and in pain under my blankets in my own real bed, I was very thankful for a dry home, a warm dry bed and a master bathroom only 4 feet from my bedside.
I felt somewhat better the next day, but allowed myself to take an indoor bath (it was still raining outdoors) and to accept a ride to work from my hubby. I worked all day and was tired again at 5:00. I let Larry pick up dinner at the local eatery and I luxuiated all evening curled up on the real leather couch, under warm blankets in my lovely family room and slept for a second night in my bed indoors.
This morning I woke and had my coffee inside at my kitchen table while watching the news on TV. I looked around me and figured, this is it, I've given up. I've learned all I needed to from my outdoor experiment and I don't need to finish out the month. "Twenty -two Days in a Tent" sounds better for a book title than "Thirty-one Days in a Tent" does anyway. So, I went out to retrieve my granola for breakfast from my outpost kitchen and to my surprise found there on the outdoor kitchen counter, a bucket full of bags of chocolates (thankfully all preserved in plastic wrapping) The chocolate fairy had been there. I was moved by the kindness and thoughfulness of a friend who went out of their way to encourage me. I stood there in the drizzling rain and looked around at my wet and soggy backyard outpost and then looked into the windows of my warm lovely home and contemplated what to do. Go back inside - or return to the Outpost. It only took a few minutes to come to a decision. I grabbed some newspaper and the few sticks of dry kindling and started a fire in the wood stove to heat bathwater. It was about 47 degrees out and I could see my breath in the air. I thought to myself, "This is gonna be a chilly 2gallon bath" and it was! But, I managed. I had my granola outdoors, took my antibiotics and got dressed for work. I'm back in the saddle again .... fueled by chocolate and the love and encouragment of friends.
I got here to work this morningn and my boss told me she had cooked my dinner to bring to me tonight. Others are showing me love and support in lots of ways. How can I give up now?
Thank you all....Love, Kate
It Was a Wild Ride
I was fueled by love and chocolate yesterday to continue my "wild ride" of the outpost experiment. But the 3rd night of cold rainy weather dampened my spirits and I headed home after work with dread of going out to my windy, cold, wet paito to sit and wait till I had the courage to make a dash to my damp tent to try to get warm enough to go to sleep. I thought about it a little and said, NO WAY! It's finished....Kate's Outpost is over.
I believe I have learned what I needed to know...
*I could do it if I wanted to with the right shelter and equipment.
*I have most of the skills I would need to live OTG (off the grid)
*The romance of the life-style has been realistically contained in my mind
*I'm not going to run away to live in the mountains any time soon
*I hate lots of cold rainy weather, so Seattle will not be one of my pick cities for future retirement.
* I have a great husband
*I have some really supportive and loving friends and family
*We take most of what we have for granted
*I'll be much more aware of what I consume, waste ...throw away
*I should always explore my dreams rather than stifling them
So, I'm signing off... Thanks again to all of you who have cheered me on. I'm a little disapointed that I did not make the full month goal but I'm satisfied with what I accomplished.
Dream on everybody,
KATE
I believe I have learned what I needed to know...
*I could do it if I wanted to with the right shelter and equipment.
*I have most of the skills I would need to live OTG (off the grid)
*The romance of the life-style has been realistically contained in my mind
*I'm not going to run away to live in the mountains any time soon
*I hate lots of cold rainy weather, so Seattle will not be one of my pick cities for future retirement.
* I have a great husband
*I have some really supportive and loving friends and family
*We take most of what we have for granted
*I'll be much more aware of what I consume, waste ...throw away
*I should always explore my dreams rather than stifling them
So, I'm signing off... Thanks again to all of you who have cheered me on. I'm a little disapointed that I did not make the full month goal but I'm satisfied with what I accomplished.
Dream on everybody,
KATE
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