Intro
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:23 pm
Hi.
I go by Zoggy. I am a single man, a bit of a hippy, fast approaching 40 and at an interesting point in my life. I own 16 acres in the Oregon Coast range, near Birkenfeld, on the Nehalem River. I have been thinking of building a truck house off and on for years, and now find myself in the position to do so, almost out of necessity. I wandered onto this site several years ago (I think, at least before the forum...) and just stumbled back into it.
See, I bought my little homestead about a year and a half ago, after looking for some property to settle down on. Not being as far sighted as I should be, I didn't think about a) a job, b) living in a flood plane, or c) a job. During the last year and a half I learned as to why property is so cheap (no jobs) and found out that during the floods my 16 acres becomes 10 or less acres. During this falls ('07) flood (second 100 year flood in a little over a decade,) I would say I had about an acre and a half. My cabin was well into the middle of the Nehalem, although from the stilts the last family built it up on after the flood of '96 it was spared any real damage. Still... Now I know which acre to build my blacksmith and machine shop on. Lost my vehicle and firewood in the flood, so I am staying with my folks in Portland.
There are more jobs here at least, especially with people with metals experience, so I have been looking for a job in town. Once I get one (should be soon, interviews have been going well,) I am going to buy a rig I can get back to the hills with. I can bicycle around town, but it's 75 miles to the homestead, and my Huffy (and my huffing) aren't quite up to the commute. A small house truck (or house bus) would allow me to make the run once a week or there abouts, and I could camp within bike distance from work in between. I don't have livestock, so I can be away from my hollow for extended periods of time.
I remembered my old dreams of having a small house truck to travel and live in. With flooding on the homestead, I would like to be able to take off and leave in short notice. I'm not really ready to move the old cabin, (or build a new one,) and it's too big for my tastes anyways. If I can get a fully working blacksmith shop together, being able to run my art and tools to farmers markets and craft fairs would be nice. Already setting up a small shop here in town, but I have way more room out in the valley.
Still in the planning stages, but after reading the forums for the last several hours I would hope that I can pick your collective brains when things do get moving. Mostly, I'm just saying hi, introducing myself, and then I will jump in when I get more of a grip as to how things work around here. Going to read more for a bit, as I am a horrible insomniac and I really don't feel like sleeping right now.
So, Hi! Catch you soon. Zoggy.
I go by Zoggy. I am a single man, a bit of a hippy, fast approaching 40 and at an interesting point in my life. I own 16 acres in the Oregon Coast range, near Birkenfeld, on the Nehalem River. I have been thinking of building a truck house off and on for years, and now find myself in the position to do so, almost out of necessity. I wandered onto this site several years ago (I think, at least before the forum...) and just stumbled back into it.
See, I bought my little homestead about a year and a half ago, after looking for some property to settle down on. Not being as far sighted as I should be, I didn't think about a) a job, b) living in a flood plane, or c) a job. During the last year and a half I learned as to why property is so cheap (no jobs) and found out that during the floods my 16 acres becomes 10 or less acres. During this falls ('07) flood (second 100 year flood in a little over a decade,) I would say I had about an acre and a half. My cabin was well into the middle of the Nehalem, although from the stilts the last family built it up on after the flood of '96 it was spared any real damage. Still... Now I know which acre to build my blacksmith and machine shop on. Lost my vehicle and firewood in the flood, so I am staying with my folks in Portland.
There are more jobs here at least, especially with people with metals experience, so I have been looking for a job in town. Once I get one (should be soon, interviews have been going well,) I am going to buy a rig I can get back to the hills with. I can bicycle around town, but it's 75 miles to the homestead, and my Huffy (and my huffing) aren't quite up to the commute. A small house truck (or house bus) would allow me to make the run once a week or there abouts, and I could camp within bike distance from work in between. I don't have livestock, so I can be away from my hollow for extended periods of time.
I remembered my old dreams of having a small house truck to travel and live in. With flooding on the homestead, I would like to be able to take off and leave in short notice. I'm not really ready to move the old cabin, (or build a new one,) and it's too big for my tastes anyways. If I can get a fully working blacksmith shop together, being able to run my art and tools to farmers markets and craft fairs would be nice. Already setting up a small shop here in town, but I have way more room out in the valley.
Still in the planning stages, but after reading the forums for the last several hours I would hope that I can pick your collective brains when things do get moving. Mostly, I'm just saying hi, introducing myself, and then I will jump in when I get more of a grip as to how things work around here. Going to read more for a bit, as I am a horrible insomniac and I really don't feel like sleeping right now.
So, Hi! Catch you soon. Zoggy.