I have held many jobs throughout my working years. My first official job was washing dishes at China Garden on Walton Way in Augusta, Ga. The pay was only $11 per weekday and I think $15 on Friday and Saturday. Starting at 5 pm until after 10 with no tax deductions averages to nearly the $3.35 minimum wage at the time was acceptable. For whatever reason, I was never called back from the numerous applications I filled out at the traditional fast food joints. A good friend of mine worked there and I was able to get my cousin and other friends hired on as well. We often laugh today about some of the experiences we had working there.

The significance of this job for this story is the reminder of how working for someone else has always been and will always be a hamster wheel. Entering the workforce some 40 years ago gives me the chance to reflect on the labor and taxes I have paid into the system and encourages me to get out as soon as possible. With the rising cost of food and life itself, I know that I can live without luxuries while maintaining a healthy and more satisfying quality of life.

I spent several summers in the country without indoor plumbing, cable television, and sleep in weekends. We washed clothes by hand and hung them on the line. Sharing bath water from a foot tub and going to the outhouse were normal and drawing water from a well is something few of my friends have experienced. While serving onboard Naval ships, the racks where we slept were smaller than a bunk in a jail. Six months or more at sea taught me to appreciate the small spaces while realizing the world was much bigger. My downsizing from a three story house of over 1800 square feet to a pop up camper of less than 100 square feet comes with challenges, but I made the choice to prepare for an earlier retirement and travel the world more as no home can compare to this beautiful planet.

My homesteading journey started in February of 2022 on a property of 12 acres with no electricity or running water. I was somewhat successful last summer experimenting with a small garden using raised beds, but bringing water to the site took time. Finishing graduate school and traveling the Summer of 2023 were the highest on my priority list, so no planting happened this year. Now that my primary home is being rented full time, I will spend more time at the beginning of 2024 preparing myself and the land for planting.

Below are a few YouTube links and posts about meal planning and building a tiny cabin.

It has been nearly a year or more since my last post! I was busy with graduate school, home renovations, and starting a farm. Graduate school started in January and everything else followed. While I did get the opportunities to camp on the farmland the days were long and the nights short. The spring semester was fairly easy due to the length of the term, but the summer session came quick and quicker. I made all A’s in the Spring, but struggled in the Summer with an A, B, and C.

Let’s talk about the starting of the farm now. I got a late start with planting because I worked at the Master’s during the first week of April when I should have been getting the soil ready, but I am new to this whole process. So during the months between May and July I was tilling, planting, renovating, schooling, and building a cabin; yes a tiny building.

These projects tested my will and I didn’t break. I only planted a few things to understand more about farming, but the ribbon cutting ceremony of Lily’s Garden was so special as we honored my dear mother. Here are some of the pictures of the flower garden and some harvested crops.

About two years ago was the first time that I actually looked at a kayak. The price of one was a bit overwhelming when browsing the price tags. Then I started reviewing sites on kayak fishing to justify a purchase that would serve more than one purpose.

So after going camping a few times, I said that there are more things to do in order to take advantage of nature; more than building a fire and making s’mores. And because most of my trips are solo, I pack quick meals rather than big time consuming ones.

I ordered a bike in June and it is still not here yet. There is no rush as I am still modifying my enclosed trailer to a camper conversion. Since school started back in August, the build has slowed down , but that is not a bad thing. More ideas come to mind and It has prevented me from having to redo something later.

So, my first kayak adventure was on the Savannah River with Two Dudes and a boat. They were super helpful and very welcoming. The tour was at night and we paddled to the SRP Park for the Augusta Green Jackets fireworks show. The experience was very relaxing and it sold me on purchasing my own kayak very soon.

Due to injuries to my knee and arthritis in my hip, my days of high impact sports like tennis and basketball are long behind me. I have also taken on disc golf as I always enjoyed frisbees as a youth.

So the next time I get in a kayak it will be one that I purchase. Here are a couple of videos from that fireworks on the Savannah River.

I have dropped it, slammed it in the door, left in on top of my Jeep and flat out just left it at home a few times. What’s the message here? My senses are telling me that I need detach from my phone and finish my camper build,

In the past couple of weeks , I have picked up a few photography gigs definitely help me fund the project. After a year or so debating with myself about staying with the cooler method or a portable fridge. I went down the middle of the rode in prices by purchasing one for around $400.

My plan is to spend 2-3 days using my own resources. Prior to this, I bought a portable power box.

Working on the camper last weekend was awesome. Due to the holiday weekend and potential rain, I will not get to work on it. However, the insulation process starts next.

Fun night in the camp with daughter and granddaughter.

I didn’t have the need for a large camper, so I started converting an enclosed trailer into a small camper.

Fun night in the camp with daughter and granddaughter.