Tag Archives: rural living

Episode-529- Finding that Rural Piece of Land

I have gotten quite a few emails lately about exactly how to find an affordable piece of land out in the country for everything from a homestead, retirement place, BOL or just as an investment.  I figured we could talk about that a bit today from a modern survivalist view point.

SPECIAL NOTE – Today’s show is LONG over 90 minutes long in fact.  I have had a lot of requests to comment on various areas of the US by region, I do that from about 19 minutes to about 48 minutes on today’s show.  If this isn’t your cup of tea, and it might not be for some, simply skip ahead.  It is part of what made the show so long and it will still leave you with a full show if you skip ahead of it.  I have had so many requests though for this critique, I decided to do it.  Please don’t be offended if I get something wrong about an area you love in today’s show, just tell me your view (respectfully please) in the comments below.

Join me today as we discuss…

  • The rise of two ways of living, urban and rural and the decline of suburbia
  • Why should you choose a rural form of living anyway
  • The lie of retirement and deferred gratification
  • Getting out vs. bugging out in TEOTWAWKI
  • Where to look, a few areas and my thoughts on them
    • PA to New England
    • FL, GA, AL, LA
    • TN, KY, WV and Western VA
    • WI, MN, MI
    • MO, AR
    • TX
    • NM, AZ, NV
    • ID, MT, WY, UT
    • WA, OR
  • Questions to ask yourself
    • What do I most love to do?
    • What type of people do I like to be with?
    • What health needs do I have now, will I have later on?
    • What can I actually afford, how can I afford more?
    • Who will I leave behind, how far behind is to far?
    • Why do I want to do this?
    • Will this really make me happy?
  • Steps to making it happen
    • Never stop window shopping
    • Save like a psychopathic miser
    • Create a secondary income stream (even a tiny one)
    • Take a vacation to an area you think you want to live in
    • Define your vision (couples find a common one)
    • Be willing to compromise, 85% is a B and a B is damn good!
    • Ask yourself “how can I make it happen” at least three times a day
  • Places to look
    • United Country
    • Realtor.com
    • Tax Offices in chosen areas
    • Papers in chosen areas (tiny papers are online now)
    • Find a good real estate agent (once you are ready to act)
  • Consider a transitional move (especially for telecommuters/entrepreneurs)
    • Keep your home
    • Rent dirt cheap and live there a while
    • Explore the community (date before you marry)
    • House hunt while you truly have real time to look things over
  • What to remember first and foremost
    • If other people are living there, you can too
    • If the people living there are not rich you don’t need to be either
    • Nothing will ever be perfect
    • Focus on “living” vs. “stuff”

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-519- Making the Move to the Country

Yesterday’s show ended with an awesome story by a man who’s father moved his family to the city while staying on the farm 100 years ago.  He told us how that move required sacrifice but embraced a coming change and how his fathers efforts improved the quality of life for the entire family.  He postulated that perhaps now it is time for a similar move but this time back to rural America.  I have not stopped think about this since I read his letter so today we examine the move back to the country, what it offers and the sacrifices it might require.

Join me today ask I discuss…

  • Leaving small town USA for adventure and the real benefits it offered me
  • What living back in a small town while working a high paying  job taught me
  • The current trends with cities and why you might really want to get out now
  • The reality of real estate pricing and its current trend
  • Community life vs. isolationism in the country
  • How much land is enough
  • What are the sacrifices
  • How can you pull it off before you are “old”
  • Why it may be better for your kids to grow up in the country
  • The country life will be best for the highly self sufficient
  • Establish beach heads of freedom and land protection
  • It can be done, the question is only how bad do you want it

Additional Resources for Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

Episode-311- Things to Consider When Buying Rural Land

Well I still have country living on the brain after our recent trip to our BOL and soon to be primary residence in Arkansas.  I have also gotten a tremendous number of requests lately to evaluate property listings as potential BOLs, retreats and homesteads.  It is honestly almost impossible to really know a property from just a listing, they are simply starting points.  So I decided to do this show with some general things to consider when making such a personal decision such as purchasing land or a  home.

Tune is Today as I Discuss…

  • Remote is a relative term
  • Water, got it, don’t got it, what’s it gonna cost
  • The advantages of unimproved and unincorporated land
  • Service from a government comes at a cost, which is more valuable to you freedom or “services”
  • Who is going with you, you can’t be happy if your family is miserable
  • Gates, the simple solution to BS excuses like “I was lost, not trespassing”
  • The value of good neighbors
  • Talk to neighbors BEFORE you buy
  • Pick a community you fit into, don’t try to change one

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show

Episode-310- Listener Questions for 11-04-09

So today we are back to another round of great questions from our listeners.  We have questions today on everything from compost, to politics, to kudzu, to books, to silver and more.

Tune in Today to Hear…

  • Could we ever go to a “flat tax”, why and why not?
  • Should you kill Kudzu on your land, eat it or feed it to livestock?
  • Can you compost in very cold weather?
  • Is a Survival Podcast book coming?
  • What are my three must have books for TSHTF?
  • Thoughts on small town vs. rural vs. remote living?
  • Using solar yard lights during a back up, anything to look our for?
  • Snails in the garden, good for dinner?
  • When is a old rifle to old to fire anymore?
  • On silver coins, pre 64s, bullion like eagles or commemorative coins, what to buy and why?

Resources for today’s show…

To receive a 5% discount on all orders from Western Botanicals just mention the code “survival” when calling in your order or mention the code in the comments section when you place your order online.  Remember Member Support Brigade Members get a 10% discount code and many other benefits.

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show

Episode-309- 10 Thoughts on Rural Living

OK folks I am back from the Arkansas Bug Out Location from our mini vacation.  It was great as always and Dorothy and I really had a great opportunity to learn, think and plan for our very near future.  So today I thought I would share what we experienced with you.

Additionally the house keeping segment was a bit long today but for two reasons.

1. I wanted to give you a bit more data on the Members Support Brigade.  Specificly some of the benefits which now include…

  • Several e-publications by James T. Stevens
  • 10% off of everything at Ron Hoods site
  • A free lifetime membership to Safe Castle’s discount club
  • 10% off all purchases from Western Botanicals
  • Premium videos available only to members

2. I wanted to let you know that James Stevens new book, “Making the Best of Basics” is available until midnight tonight at the pre launch price of only 29.95 with a free audio CD.  At midnight the price goes up 5 bucks and no more free CD.   This offer expired last night but since I was late letting everyone know and yesterday’s show was pre recorded I talked to James and got a 1 day extension.  Please note this is not a “marketing tactic”, I just wanted to get you guys one last chance to get the free CD and lower price if you are interested in a copy of the book.  You can get thhe book at this link – Making the Best of Basics

The main topic of today’s show is the advantages of country living so tune in today to hear my thoughts on…

  • In the country you are surrounded by teachers
  • The “freedom to walk” and what that really means
  • How people are different and the same
  • Why in the country words like silence and noise have new meanings
  • Why we seem to be naturally content with less stuff in the country vs the city
  • Why we feel less exposed to danger in rural life
  • How recreational activities like shooting don’t attract the police
  • Improvements in mental and physical health when you live in the country
  • Why country living isn’t for everyone and how some people
  • How all of these things are actually directly tied to prepping and self suffiency
  • Why preppers value their lives more then the average Joe
  • Why most people just don’t understand the quest for self suffiency

Resources for today’s show…

To receive a 5% discount on all orders from Western Botanicals just mention the code “survival” when calling in your order or mention the code in the comments section when you place your order online.  Remember Member Support Brigade Members get a 10% discount code and many other benefits.

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show