IrishAyes
IrishAyes's JournalWell, I'm as well known by my enemies as by my friends
And I know which one you are. You have zero credibility with me. Thanks for your input anyway. If no one attacks, I'm not doing enough.
Well, in more civilized parts of the country
I would indeed need a permit - but not here. Permit is pretty much a commie plot to most of these people. The very few you do need are free and pretty much unrestricted. For instance, if I had the $ I could build a house from the ground up w/o a single permit. I'd have to pay to connect to the power supply and sewage system, but that's not the same as a permit. There are very few rules of any kind. They did pass an ordinance that new electrical boxes had to be inside but that's about it. If I wanted to build a tarpaper shack or live in a tent, they couldn't stop me. They count on social pressure for the little conformity they're willing to tolerate. I won't ever need to worry about losing my home to back taxes either, because they're a whopping $180 a year and won't go up unless I increase the square footage, no matter what improvements I'm able to make to the present structure. And although I'd be eligible for a historical structure status from outside authorities, I don't intend to apply.
When I get too riled up about something, I fantasize revenge by plotting to paint the exterior of the house authentic painted-lady style, with at least 5 different bright clashing colors. That'd teach any mean neighbors to mess with me - they'd really hate it. But I only hold those thoughts long enough to calm down. One of these days, though....
Thank you very much
Every bit of information helps. And I don't intend to give up until I find what I need.
Actually, late last night I stumbled upon a Gates-contest prize winner for a solar type toilet that also captures methane to use as a power source. I haven't yet tried to find out if it ever went into production and if it did, sticker shock might kill me.
Since the humanure subject comes up so often in this sort of quest, I'd like to let everyone know that some alleged authorities - for what it's worth - urge composting our own waste for 2 years instead of one to insure safety before it's used on food plants.
The regular solar composting toilets you mentioned would not be create a problem with permits since you need those for so very little around here. But I would still be very discreet and use the Amish to install one because they wouldn't go ratting me out in the first place. Maybe I grouse a little too often about many of the adults around here, but believe me the 'regular folks' mostly resent and hate the Amish and Mennonites almost worse than many do myself. But I respect and admire those Amish and Mennonites a great deal, and they're as socially accomodating to me as their culture allows.
It's a lovely wish and plan you have there.
However, I did not have the time or even quite enough $ to do that. My Arizona ranch was off grid and banks wouldn't lend on it as a result, plus an ungodly distance from the nearest fire station, so even before the housing bubble burst I had to wait for a decent cash buyer. When one finally appeared, I had to let him close escrow within 30 days, so I had to move fast and I didn't intend to move twice. Fortunately this house came up for auction in a suitable area, and so this is where I landed. Tiny and shrinking as the town is, it's the county seat although it's so small it doesn't even appear on many maps! There's an excellent and expanding county hospital and a grocery store though you couldn't call it a supermarket in your wildest dreams. A few other bodegas - not very many. But most other things I need can be grown at home or ordered on the internet. Well, the county library's here but you could fit most of it inside my house - once again less of a problem in the electronic age.
And you're not hijacking anything. I appreciate your input and wish you the very best. Like I said, I'd have gone back to Calais ME but it just wasn't feasible for me.
Thanks
As to rural or not, a lot depends on perspective. I visited quarter acre horse 'farms' in Connecticut. A hardcore urban dweller might find that spacious, whereas I came close to marrying a man who felt a bit crowded on less than 1K acres. I myself prefer living in heavily wooded mountainous areas out of sight or sound of other 'steads. But I'm too old for that now. Couldn't afford to retire back to L.A. or NYC if I wanted to. So this suits as well as my pocketbook allowed. My first choice would've been back in Calais, ME, the closest to heaven on earth anywhere. But it's too expensive for me to live well there now. So here I am, where I snagged a classic fixer at auction for $14,500. Because it's 100 years old, the taxes are only $180 a year.
Be careful about aspirin, though.
If it gets too old, the chemical composition can alter to the point of being poisonous.
I only discovered this group recently but look forward to learning even more frugal ways. Not wasting is being kind to Mother Earth. It also increases our chances of living a long and healthy life. If I'd ever had the money to drink and smoke and do all sorts of other things, I'd have croaked years ago. It isn't that I don't like spending $; I LOVE it. But I hate wasting a penny. The more I avoid wasting, the more I can spend on useful, needed durable goods. Before retirement I couldn't keep a garden because sometimes I worked 2 jobs. If I only had one job, I was busy looking for a second. But now I can grow a good many of my own fruits and veggies, especially important since GMOs have arrived. I gave up my big van years ago because of the expense of maintaining it, and now I want an ELF so bad it hurts. Seems like it's always something.
I've asked this question in other threads with no success
But hope maybe someone here will know where I can find a practical, economical way to build a solar powered incinerator toilet (Incinolets cost in the thousands), mostly for disaster preparedness. I spent days searching the internet w/o any luck. I'm well versed in composting toilets but want something that would be easier for a little old lady to maintain if that's what I am when and if I need it. I no longer live in the outback but retired to a tiny MidWest town with very few restrictions, I guess partly because most lots are a quarter acre. To many from more congested areas that qualifies as 'country' from what I hear.
Thanks for the link. Interesting read.
I have some experience with off-grid living and compost toilets. This remote county has very few zoning laws, and I rather imagine the authorities would look the other way in case a major disaster struck, so long as a person was discreet and reasonable. The town lots average 1/4 acre, so it's not as if we're stacked to the rafters. My first choice would still be a dome, but I like yurts well enough. They really make wonderful summer cabins or lakeside cabanas, etc.
You know what rubs them worst?
Knowing that we love him and not them. That simple. Green-eyed monsters.
Reminds me of that picture of President Obama where he looks stern and the caption below reads something like, "Be quiet. Adults are talking." Gotta love that one.
Well, it's serious stuff!
Thanks for the link.
When I buy produce at a seasonal farmers market on the town square, I only deal with those I know don't use GMO's of any kind. Organic's best, but I'd rather have sprayed stuff than GMO, which you can't get rid of in any way.
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHome country: US
Current location: retired to MidWest
Member since: Mon Feb 18, 2013, 10:15 PM
Number of posts: 6,151
