Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm not sure what you mean by living in the woods, but I used to live on a property with woods on both sides and a large field in back. I had to go through the woods to get to my aunt's house. I always wished our house was deep in there instead of in the open part.

Also, you'd get cold and Hungry. Bummer, right?


I'd rather own a large parcel of varied landscapes, and build a small community.

well i wasnt specific i just meant in the woods i can be either camping or a cottage.
but whats the longest any of you have ever camped at one time?

We camped three weeks at a time when we were growing up. We've lived in the country for the past 17 years, and there was nothing here but pasture when we came. Once you accept the fact that nature would just as soon kill you as not, you figure it out.

There's a reason why the whole history of human evolution is a struggle to get away from nature, dude.

It's a fun place to visit, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to live there.

Living in the country is not for everyone, true. "Country" varies so much! If you're seriously considering doing this someday, learn/do everything that you can to be independent of what's around you where you are first. Grow and preserve your own food, learn how to provide for your needs, wherever you are, prepare yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. Maybe you could get to know some farmers---that's kind of a "halfway" life, out in the country, but tied to the cities somewhat by markets. Strangely (to me, anyway), it's the solitude that seems to be the hardest for people, and that's the biggest plus for me!

You don't have to leave everything behind you. Just find out what you really don't think you can live without, and make provision for that. Need electricity? Small solar power can keep your basic stuff going, provided you have a sunny location. No sun? Just have to figure it out. Living out away from a city is really more about who you are than where you are. I wouldn't advocate going alone, ever, too much can happen that you need human help with. We know our neighbors, although we can't see them, and we all check on each other periodically. As much as I enjoy being alone, it's good to know that help is not too far away if I need it!

"City" is a great place to visit, for me. I just don't want to live there.

Don't kid yourself that it's any better to die at nature's hand than at man's. Dying from exposure or hunger or from bleeding to death is still dying, and dying slowly and alone wouldn't be too pleasant, to me. Either way, this part of the adventure would be over. Who knows what the next day would have brought? Maybe I just don't want to miss anything! 3nodding

Kegan, when you live out where there's nothing, at least at first, EVERYONE'S life involves some civil engineering!

The most basic question to ask yourself is "Why do I want to live in the woods?" You know, the old "Am I running away from something, or am I running to something?" question. The answer to that will help you go where you're supposed to be.

And chickens are great.