Whether out of concern or curiosity, many people have expressed an interest in our peculiar lifestyle, so I’ve compiled a list of answers to the questions we’re most frequently asked:
Where exactly are you?
Our adventures eventually led us to the south-eastern shores of Newfoundland. We’re in a fairly isolated, rural region. Our property is accessible (just barely) by vehicle in the summer via a 1000 foot, very steep, dirt road masquerading as a driveway. It is accessible only by snowmobile or on foot during the winter months. The nearest real town is some forty-five minutes away, though there are small settlements scattered about here and there.
What do you do there?
Well, we’re trying to build our dream lifestyle and enjoy the adventure while we’re about it. Our recently acquired Internet connection allows us to pursue freelance work online, which is a good thing, as the everyday neccessities of living still command a considerable portion of the day. Right now, our time is divided between building our client base and doing what needs to be done in the survival department. Both are time consuming, so it’s a balancing act.
How much property do you own?
We have two acres so far, although we hope someday to be able to purchase the surrounding 17 or so acres. Of our two, only the first ¼ is cleared. Another ¼ is bog—great for mice and moose, not so great for anything else. The remainder is heavily wooded in a mixture of hard and softwood—mostly softwood.
What do you do for electricity?
We aren’t on the grid, but we do have a small gas generator—enough to power our computers. Gas is pretty dear here, so we conserve by doing most of our cooking on the woodstove. The house isn’t wired yet, so we have temporary lighting that we move from room to room for illumination. Needless to say, we have no refrigeration, so we’re not able to keep perishable foods on hand or offer anyone a decent cup of tea.
Our future plans include a windmill so that we can be self-sufficient up here. We’ve no desire to pay electricity bills, and would feel much better if we could reduce our carbon footprint to the smallest possible point. The whole idea is to be very green.
What about water?
Since there’s no running water here yet, we haul it in, which can be a challenge in the winter. The first year we hauled every drop of it by toboggan, and when it’s covered in hip-deep snow, getting up over that hill with hundreds of pounds of water in tow is no picnic. Last year we melted snow and filtered it through a hand pump. It worked okay, but it took hours just to pump enough drinking water. This year we’re ready to invest in a bigger filtration system–one that is gravity fed.
Have you finished your house?
No, we haven’t. Aside from building a little shed to hold the generator and gardening tools, so far we’ve doubled the size of the 12 x 24 hunting cabin that was already on the land. We’ve also added on a little office space and managed to get the structure housewrapped (making it look like a birthday gift), but the building’s nowhere near finished. There’s still not a lot of space to move around.
The interior decor is just as interesting. The walls are studs with one inch of styrofoam insulation in between and covered with plastic. The artwork hanging here and there adds to the striking visual effect.
Do you have a toilet?
Ok, so people don’t actually ask us this, but I can tell you’re thinking it. Yes, we have one of those waterless, environmentally friendly, composting toilets. They look a little odd, but they work very well, and it sure beats doing like the bears. It gets a bit chilly in the winter here for that.
Why are you doing this?
We’re doing this to get out of the rat race and into the thick of nature, where what matters is being and feeling alive; to live a healthier, self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle far from the madding crowd; to leave behind unreasonable expectations and the false god of conspicuous consumption; to test our own limits, make our own rules and to live the adventure.