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I want to move my family to a small town in Northern Idaho, (Sandpoint) be as self sufficient as possible, and have a small home with an acre to call our own. Nothing special.....
Except I need to work so therefore even though I dont want to I am forced to live near a large city (coeur d alene) and have a life that none of the people in my family want...
I dont get it... how the heck do people live in small towns that are not commutable to anywhere else? Im sure not everyone is either independently wealthy or retired.
Even if I found a job in Sandpoint, got a decent home with an acre of land to farm, what happens if I lose that job, the business closes or I get fired? Just nuts to think about sorry..
who knew being self sufficient and trying to disappear from the hustle and bustle was so darn expensive?
what am I missing? how is it possible people can live in Sandpoint, Id or any small town for that matter? Makes no sense unless everyone has millions...
Anybody can always lose their job, so adding that into the equation is just self-defeating.
Save, save, save. And figure out some kind of online business your family can run. Ebay, Etsy, etc. Buy a very modest place, and live extremely frugally, and as you say you intend to, grow your own food for the most part. And you hustle for extra money with side jobs. Unless you're someone who has a bunch of money to start with.
One small town I lived in was 30 miles up the Columbia River into WA state. Not close to any major city - Portland, OR is about 2 1/2 hours away. The main employers are the Forest Service, and various logging companies. Work is seasonal. People collect unemployment during the winter, and hustle for other work, mainly, under the table. My ex for instance, has a business where he will eradicate moles and gophers from people's fields. He also plows people's driveways. Chops and sells firewood. Raises beef or lambs for himself and to sell.
I ended up with my own 2 acres, and I bought the two acres and lived in a trailer on it. I raised pigs every summer, one for me, others to sell. I also worked part-time at the local restaurant.
I can tell you that one business that will always have work, is being a well-driller. If you've ever needed one, you know you have to wait in line. If there's any way you could afford to invest in a well-drilling outfit, you'd have plenty work.
Basically, you live very frugally, and you hustle. And many people buy their land first, and build their own place or buy a mobile home if they can afford financing.
You can also expect the locals to be skeptical of you at first, and you want to be sure you don't step on any toes as far as who you may end up competing with for firewood for sale, etc., etc. Small towns are tricky when it comes to being accepted. You won't be anonymous there. Personally, I hated small town living. Felt like I was living in a fish bowl. I prefer a town big enough that I can go to the store without everyone knowing what I'm buying. Brrrrrrr.
You can do it. I have a friend who lives in a small town in idaho and he runs a business that is what many do in his case he does car part manufacturing using a lathe etc. does just fine. Frugality is important. That acre may come in handy perhaps with a good shop. I recently lived in a small town with long commutes to decent cities for work and really only had a few options all factories I didnt like it but for the family to make a go of it I took the job-3rd shift hard work and dangerous but pay was decent and I could walk to work and knew all my neighbors as a result of being coworkers
I want to move my family to a small town in Northern Idaho, (Sandpoint) be as self sufficient as possible, and have a small home with an acre to call our own. Nothing special.....
Except I need to work so therefore even though I dont want to I am forced to live near a large city (coeur d alene) and have a life that none of the people in my family want...
I dont get it... how the heck do people live in small towns that are not commutable to anywhere else? Im sure not everyone is either independently wealthy or retired.
Even if I found a job in Sandpoint, got a decent home with an acre of land to farm, what happens if I lose that job, the business closes or I get fired? Just nuts to think about sorry..
who knew being self sufficient and trying to disappear from the hustle and bustle was so darn expensive?
what am I missing? how is it possible people can live in Sandpoint, Id or any small town for that matter? Makes no sense unless everyone has millions...
Good heavens, Coeur d'Alene is only 45,000 people. It's hardly the big city! Couldn't you do the "off the grid" thing 30 miles outside of town and be happy?
Good heavens, Coeur d'Alene is only 45,000 people. It's hardly the big city! Couldn't you do the "off the grid" thing 30 miles outside of town and be happy?
agreed except we wanted to live in Sandpoint, not CDA and can't figure out how to make it work as there are only a 3 jobs TOTAL in my industry in/around Sandpoint..LOL
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