While I’m not desperate to move out of Hereford, I think I can probably do better if I move on to pastures new this year (2020).
What I mean by do better is that I’ll probably connect with more people, be more creative, have a more balanced life in terms of doing more physical work, still have time to do sufficient intellectual work, still have time to meditate and soft-meditate, save myself some money and hence be able to quit my current very part time teaching job if I do any of the following:
Sell all my stuff, rent out my house and then….
- Move to a full-on eco-village and set up my own land-based project (VAN)
- Rent a house somewhere really cheep and just do intellectual work (move abroad no van)
- Do a long-term ‘workaway’ and live in a van, yurt caravan or hut in exchange for basic work
- Buy a van, don’t base myself anywhere and just drift…
In all cases I will still be doing the following:
- Doing at least two days work a week maintaining my blog/ steeming on!
- Meditating and soft-meditating
- Running 3-4 times a week, even if I’m doing a lot more physical work.
Below I just muse over some of the pros and cons of each of the above options!
Moving to an eco-village
This is my preferred option - it's what I've wanted to do since the early 1990s after all! I see the ecovillages.io as a real opportunity here, but in case the seed-project in Portugal doesn't take off (possibly because of fire regulations preventing building) I've started looking around for other projects.
The only one to date which takes my fancy is Permagricole (warning, links to FeckBook) near Bordeaux in France. It's a 100 acre site and they've put out an advert on Diggers and Dreamers for people to come join them...
I'm also considering moving to Tipi Valley.
As far as I can tell from what I know about these places, it's basically a matter of turn up, hang out, do a bit of work, see if you get on and then, probably after some kind of trial period, you move over there. Both of these seem to allow for a lot of personal space, yet within community, and very very low housing costs. A van conversion would help with comfort in both cases, which is something I might do IF I get a definite long-term invite to either.
I've actually emailed both of these places, who knows what responses I'll get if any, but don't ask, don't get!
One thing I really do need to research is eco-vills in other countries and continents. India maybe?!?
Rent a house somewhere really cheep and just do intellectual work (move abroad no van)
This is something I could do... having got back from Thailand and reflected on my experience, I could go back there and live and work for relatively cheap, somewhere around $800 a month in Chang Mai. I'd probably head up north if I went back, and I guess I could check out Malaysia and Vietnam without breaking my budget either.
The downside here is that I'd need to pay rent, for some kind of co-working space, and meals out, which would be a bit more expensive than growing my own food. I'd also be paying for socialising and I'd end up caught in the coffee-trap again.
Do a long-term ‘workaway’ and live in a van, yurt caravan or hut in exchange for basic work
I've put this third in order of preference, because although financially it's very similar to number one, I'm fundamentally against the idea of being someone's eco-peasant. I don't mind working to build up land on a communal project I'm part of, and being given the freedom to develop my own projects, but just helping some rich person with land build their eco-house, no thanks.
Having said that I did see an advert, again on Diggers and Dreamers offering a caravan in exchange for gardening and help with projects, literally 5 miles away from where I used to live in Surrey. I sent a message, as I'm intrigued, and I do feel connected to the South East, so we will see!
Buy a van, don’t base myself anywhere and just drift…
I really do fancy doing a van conversion, but I've got to be honest, the thought of just living in a van and travelling place to place doesn't appeal to me - I want to be rooted and building/ growing - living in a van in a place would be totally different.
Final thoughts I’m not desperate to move on!
I can afford to do any one of the above, but I only really WANT to do option one above, this would be an escape to, all the rest are really a matter of escaping from my life here in Hereford, which isn’t that bad, albeit economically marginal!
I don’t so much want to escape from my life here, rather than escape to somewhere that gives me the capacity to be a bit more creative, in an ecological sense of the word.
Interested to see where you go next.
I came across another eco-village on Steem, this one in Denmark - not sure though if they are looking for members...
Ah yes I know of it, hard to tell, I'll have to ask, but Denmark's a bit too cold and windy for more liking!
Yes Portugal or Thailand have more appealing climates.
Well I just got a very positive sounding email from the woman in France, which seems very promising!
Good luck. France would be my choice. I’d love to visit you on one of my long bike tours through this marvellous country.
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Well if I make the move, I'll keep you posted, probably quite literally, and you're more than welcome.
I haven't seen that Partiko sign for a while!
Zut alors, c'est bien (sorry that's all I can remember from my school French)
Zut Alors!
That's like saying 'Gor Blimey' - a bit 19th century.
I'd have to brush up myself. Haven't spoken a word since the GCSE. I did get an A in that, but I don't really think that means very much!
40+years ago since I last did any French...
I lived and worked in a small van for 8 years. I loved it. Had one night a week on average in a 'real' bed but totally lived on the road . Then I'd spend about 3 months ish wandering abroad.
Waking up on Christmas morning, freezing your bollocks off in a layby or industrial estate isn't everyone's cup of tea though!
Strange that now, I really miss it! Happy days.
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Crikey 8 years is a good effort!
I don't actually mind the idea of sleeping in laybys or industrial estates! I've always thought they'd be safe options for park ups.
They should remove that plastic blue chair.
It is made out of bottle caps and twine. :)
You are right - it doesn't fit.
Fair point, I hadn't even noticed that, I just wanted a quick picture for the post!
No need to do anything other than what you want. So option one it is. :D
Hey cheers!
I thought I was overthinking this!
Have a
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let me know when you have made up your mind (even though it sounds like you already have just need to hitch up your balls)
When you know and its going to be France we would defo stop by for a visit
Assuming it happens, which I hope it will, I certainly shall!
By that time I'll be living off my @nextcolony earnings, everything else will be for
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Good luck on achieving your dream. I like the idea of a lot of these schemes, but I've gone a bit soft from the easy life and the family may not buy into it.
My easy life is a bit too easy, I can't imagine going on like this for another 40 years!
I need a change!
And I just got a very positive sounding email from the woman in France, which seems very promising!
Nothing against an easy life, and if I had a family I'd happily stay put!
Good luck in your search. I've thought often of renting a room in exchange for help with yard, but that sounds too much like the rich yard-slave scenario ;) Soon I'll be trying to figure out what/where I'd like to go too.
I know what you mean, living on communal/ non owned land, building and working on that for no gain is fine by me, working to build someone's eco-office which they will then be the sole enjoyer of, no thanks.
I remember on my Permaculture course 10 of us rocking up this detached house in Lewes, a very pricey green town near Brighton and designing the garden for this wealthy couple. I just kept thinking 'fair shares..'?
I think the greatest difficulty of communal living is figuring fair shares. Even when parents share children (what greater shared interest) it's not always a guarantee they'll be able to work a communal living situation for years. Though aren't we supposed to live with others, the best way to grow ourselves~
All the best in finding a great place!
I lived in a Minnie Winnie for about 3 years, slow travelling US, Mexico, Guatamala, Belize and Honduras. Mainly stationary in Mexico.
Now I'm settled in Bulgaria. Lots of super cheap property nearby. Who knows, perhaps a steem-village will form around me :-)
NamasteCome visit: http://atmanna.com
I checked out your web site, you've got a great thing going on over there for sure!
I have looked at Bulgaria and have seen plenty cheep properties, but France/ Portugal/ Spain - I just feel those regions more!
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