The Perfect Prepper House? (Part-1)

perfect-prepper-house

Guest article, by ‘NRP’…

Hi y-all, after a few interesting and thought provoking comments on Ken’s Blog I had an urge (crazy me) to write a short series of articles on what I thought the “Perfect Prepper House” would be. Now I know there are literally hundreds of web-sites out there that will show you anywhere from a Doomsday Prepper underground concrete bunker-style “home” to multi-million dollar custom island homes, to the most elaborate “bunkers” actually built in nuclear silos, imagine that. This series of articles is not about that, and I will make efforts to stay clear of the craziness of “over the top” type of structures and homes/lives they portray.

If time allows and I don’t get booed off the Blog with this, I want to offer a series of 5 articles starting with this and moving through a few ideas I deem necessary for a non-crazed realistic Prepper home.


 

First a small introduction, I have been in the construction industry for well over 40 years, I’m a 4th generation “construction-dude”, and currently am working at a very successful company as Senior Estimator and Project Manager. I have personally/physically built my own homes (4 in total) over the past few decades and am now considering a 5th somewhere in “BFE” as it has been said. I also have been a “prepper” as far back as I can remember, even though it was not called that. I fully consider Prepping as a life-style and to be honest I would not have it any other way. I want to say that I’m not worried about a lot of what some fear mongering Blogs portray. As someone a LOT smarter than I once said, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself”, if you prepare, then that’s all you can really do.

Emotions, Ups and Downs; Yes you’ll be so dang excited about building a house/home you won’t sleep for weeks on end, THEN about 1 month into construction you’ll start saying “What the H#ll were we thinking?” I have seen it over and over again. Again, not to worry as long as you realize it WILL happen. And seriously I have seen way too many Divorces because of a home being built, NOT good; most importantly, plan, plan, plan and realize the “end game” you’re looking for in your new home.

Ok, on to the Nuts and Bolts.

 

Location

First, Location, Location, Location. Yes I said it 3 times; location is one of the most important things in building your home. There are a LOT of things to take into consideration in choosing “where”. Are you retired, are you healthy, do you need to be close to a town/schools/hospital/… Do you need others to be close around for social/emergencies/home-help/… Or do you want/need to be 200 miles from the nearest light source? Do you want to be in the mountains, desert, wetlands, 10 feet of snow, and so on. Do you need to continue to work? Are you able to work the land (farming)? Do you feel you need to repel 500 Zombies? Can you relocate 2000 miles to pursue your “home”, do you have children you need to consider, other family?

Finding the “perfect location” is all a matter of choice, my “location” may/probably would not be yours. Take time; look around, other states/countries. I know that my own search will take years, so at the age of 62, I’m already looking for that “retirement place”. Everyone wants that “perfect hunk of dirt” it IS out there, it may take you time to find it, but when you do, you will know.

 

Utilities

Next, Utilities; now I’m going to have a lot of feedback on this, but my feeling is if you can hook to “power”, then do so. Solar is GREAT, do not misunderstand my thinking, and so is the idea of “I’m off-grid”, but I like the idea of having virtually unlimited power in my home (think 300-400 Amp service, big shop/garage, ‘guy thing’). I will be installing a Solar Battery-backup Grid-Tied System in my home. Why? Because I can “sell” the power back at 80% of what I pay for it, basically meaning I would have free use of the “Company’s” availability. And the fact if/when the grid goes down, ohhhhh well, I have my system in place.

I also feel the same with Water, if I can hook to a municipality great, again I will have a well/storage backup that will last a long time, if needed.

Sewer; Not where I plan on going, a Septic System is cheap to install.

Internet, Radios, Phone, TV, that’s all wireless or satellite now. I do like the idea of having a good Ham System set up for those “after days”.

Lastly, Propane I love the long life of Propane, I hate buying it, but again this is a “home” not a 200’ underground bunker beneath Cheyenne Mountain. Make sure your thinking includes wood-stoves in your plans; I will go more into that in a later article.

 

 
Lastly for this segment, please check all of the Laws concerning construction, talk to the Building Dept., talk to the local EPA of local hazards (land-fills, underground water regulations and so forth), find the local sheriff and check on Gun Laws (and other laws) and ask him on his views. Go to the local Church, talk to neighbors and check on food-bank usage (ideas on number of homeless or poor in the area). Find out where the local airport is and their air patterns (a 747 flying overhead is quite the distraction). Also visit the proposed site/land a LOT of times during your visit, walk the land, get a feel for the soil, trust your “gut” and how you feel when there. Honestly, if you don’t get that “warm fuzzy” feeling when you visit the land, move on.

The next few articles will be more concerning the actual design and needs you may want in your/my home. Please feel free to comment, all ideas are welcome.

Thank you for your time.
-NRP

 
Perfect Prepper House Part-1
Perfect Prepper House Part-2
Perfect Prepper House Part-3
Perfect Prepper House Part-4
Perfect Prepper House Part-5

56 Comments

  1. Hi NRP. The only thing I will disagree with you on is the water. I don’t like municipal water supplies as they put things like chlorine and fluoride in the water. Also they can be contaminated quicker than your own well water. Anyone looking to kill millions of people might look at poisoning the water. If you don’t control it, you have no control.

    1. @ Peanut Gallery

      I totally understand your disagreement on the “water” issue. Concentrated Chlorine and Fluoride are of themselves poisonous, and can be extremely harmful to people and livestock. Secondly, again I totally agree with the fact that terrorists can contaminate large and small bodies of water with deadly effects (Think about the EPA-terrorist contaminating the Animas River a couple of months ago).

      I would consider there are a lot of other areas that use water other than drinking, cooking or bathing. One that comes to mind is the cooling process during Brewing or washing the car. I will also, in a later article address the issue of water “in the home”. As far as CL and F- I’m not in the position to argue one way or another about the dangers or lack of “it in the water”. I do know that the chlorine will “vape-off” in a very short time (think minutes) when exposed to air, such as in a stock tank or in a swimming-pool/hot-tub.

      NRP

      1. I have to say, about chlorine in the water, that hundreds of millions of lives have been saved by chlorinated water. Dysentery, cholera, parasites, you name it, are way worse than a little chlorine smell. Careful what you ask for…
        Blessings.

  2. I love to read your experiences and comments, NRP. I already found my place, probably something you might like. I found a home that fits me, and not too many who like to live in this area populated by wolves and bears with cold winters. Being a naturalist and survivalist, I looked for years in 44 states what would be my ideal place and came back to my childhood summer place up north near my grandparents cabin within the National Forest and thousands of lakes. I stayed a length of time or lived in or near the deserts, in the western mountains, down south in the swamps, out east in the mountains, the southern mountains, on the plains, and high plains. I didn’t make it to Alaska, but I might have stayed if I had.

    In every state I looked, I always considered where I would be comfortable with renewable resources in food, water, clothing, shelter, and natural energy for heat and far away from large populations but close enough to a hospital, say 30 minutes. I figured in the most independent place I can be and studied history how indigenous people and early settlers managed to thrive in the area without modern conveniences which led me to my home.

    A test came when I had to cut expenses and put my skills to actions. I succeeded for a few years until my financial crisis was over. I do need improvements like solar so I will be reading your input in your next article :-)

    1. @ Stardust
      Your “test” is a great testimonial to the exact thing most Preppers are trying to accomplish. Make’s one ponder what you would have done without the preps and skills you had set in place????
      NRP

      1. BTW, That would not be “me” who learned many survival skills while growing up and being part of who I am for over 60 years. I “volunteer” test myself these days, always learning new things and ways. The one without skills or knowledge however, that would be someone else and they could have lost everything.

    2. Fantastic, Stardust your journey very similar to mine, I am over 65 and a youngish type, had the opportunity in my careers to live in 17 states all over the country, found Good, bad, and ugly about each one. Built four homestead/retreat types and renovated others learning to look at ALL the Positives and Negatives, including two things that really have my attention. The first one is the location in relation to Nuclear power plants, in case of grid down situation in subsequent contamination, the second one is the tax structure for the property itself. Enjoyed my living in some of the Southwestern states, NM, Tx, Co, AZ, NV.. and as a retired person on a shaky social Security and company plan both could disappear shortly I have found refuge in Northern Nevada, with property taxes amounting to a couple hundred dollars a year on a small but very comfortable 3 bedroom home with a shop/garage/storage bunker. In other states like Colorado and Texas the population and taxes have gone through the roof. I decide several times to vote with my feet and watch them in the rear view mirror. Bottom line, we all as human beings have a learning process, the opinions in this articles are “spot on” and in some cases mirror my own learning process. NRP, good going you have a very valid direction in your writeups also. Bless you all and Ken, for this site. John, in Northern outback Nevada

      1. @ Icecathook
        Interesting you mentioned NV taxes, I was actually having a conversation last night with a friend and he also mentioned the same, Property Tax is very minimal. Something to think about.
        NRP

        1. NRP Nevada offers much more then low taxes, I want to point out that is Northern Nevada, as compared to Southern Nevada including Vegas which is a next door neighbor To L A in California, and my concern that any nuclear reactors from those Southern California plants (4) might/will blanket Vegas and that area. I am in a very small town of less than 200, we have no services except fire/ambulance. But the positives are a constant planning for obtaining anything from fuel to food from a nearby 20K population city (80 miles away). Myself living here has been the absolute best way to experience prepping as you do it on a daily basis to be prepared. The families here stock their own needs and also share items with others as needed. We have a joint shuttle vehicle to make shopping excursions to Reno or Carson City 150 miles away. Almost all the residents are over 50 and enjoy the isolation plus the remote vistas and lack of crime. About 20% are Mormons and they are natural preppers and are very helpful to those who want to learn. It is a self imposed style of living, and I would have it no other way.

        2. I was trying to point out nuclear fallout from a grid down failure from those 4 Cal power plants would with prevailing wind patterns blanket larege areas in southern Nevada.

        3. @ icecathook
          Sounds like a place to look into, I am seriously looking for a more secluded area, don’t get me wrong, I’m well set where I am, but, always looking for that greener grass :-) Retirement is looking better everyday.
          NRP

      2. My taxes are very low too if you homestead (live) here. My taxes were $197 for 4+ acres, 3 bed. home on a tree plantation surrounded by national forests and lakes.

        I always asked myself when finding a survival location:
        What does the property offer when store bought food is gone?
        Are there constant renewable sources of clean water?
        What does it have for wild foods to sustain you without decimating food source populations? (protein, carbs, vitamins, fats)
        Does it have natural building materials and energy sources like wood?
        Can a large garden be raised?
        Prone to natural disasters as earthquakes, droughts, hurricanes, volcanos, tornados, floods?
        Far enough away from riots, Nuke plants and silo targets, large populations, pollution, and large concentrations of crime?
        Close enough for hospitals and stores?
        Are there productive farms nearby?

        I asked myself these questions when I found my location. Only one I am concerned is a Yellowstone eruption which the diluted cloud/ash is projected to move south of me, but the aftermath of such catastrophe has made me make room in my garage and under my crawl space for more prep storage due to colder seasons for years. If anyone finds a few of these problems on the land they found, it is best to look elsewhere or prepare for them.

    3. Hi Stardust – any chance you might tell us what part of the country you’re in?

  3. You’re right on target regarding location. And it’s interesting that an ideal ‘location’ is various and different for lots of people. A very important common denominator though would be low population density. Small town, but with a hospital not ‘too’ far away… (the older you get, the more you think about that one)

  4. Small town; 50,000-100,000 (I know some won’t think that is small). Good schools, hospital and clinics. Good access; highways, trains, air AND close to wild/forest/BLM/park lands. Good home values for the money (I want to live in a nice home not a trailer park). Good utilities; water, electric and natural gas. None of this screams survivalism but my feeling is that our two biggest threats are economic collapse (where I certainly want to live closer to good resources) and armageddon (which means there is no predictably safe place). If we have nuclear war I’m gonna die living in my small town and you are gonna die living in your mountain/desert/forest bunker. If we have economic collapse I’m gonna live as comfortably as I can given the conditions. In the meantime I’m simply going to live my life and travel as much as I can and enjoy my comfortable home when I can’t travel.

    1. @ GoneWithTheWind
      I agree at 50-100K is not a large city when compared to 1-10 million. I am now about 30 miles outside a 40K town and it seems about right, good access to medical, food supplies, and so on but far enough out to be independent.
      We are on the same page as far as “comfort” I’m NOT a Survivalist by any means, I am a Prepper. To me there is a world of difference. Also, please don’t misunderstand I will defend myself if needed, can survive without if needed, and will have “safety” issues addresses in the home, but a I have no intentions of living 200 feet underground in a concrete box/Bunker.
      NRP
      PS; I love to travel also, Next Stop Thailand for 3 weeks.

  5. NRP, this will be so helpful for folks and it’s great of you to contribute this info. This sounds like your slant will be owners acting as their own Gen Contractors, right?

    One issue we found when we did an addition ourselves was that the design was approved by a friend architect based on current building codes, our illustrious County inspector said that the addition did not “pass code”. When we inquired why the inspection was going to fail, we learned that the County did not have the current code books. DUH!

    An area of caution for anyone buying land is to learn what the land is actually zoned for and what those zoning definitions mean for the County/Burrough/Municipality.

    1. @ Lynn

      “This sounds like your slant will be owners acting as their own Gen Contractors, right?” All depending on the skills; But yes, I act as my own “contractor” because I have done this all of my life. I see no reason that a “non-construction-person” cannot build/contract out their own home. BUT and there is that infamous “but” it WOULD be a slight challenge for sure. If one contract’s out their home to be built remember you will pay between 10%-25% of the construction cost to the contractor for his services. If you do “build it yourself” find a friendly “old-fart” like me, I help a lot of folks build, no charge, well maybe a six-pack (NO Bud-light or Coors please) at times hehehe

      Ahhhhh yes the great Inspectors, I just LOVE then soooo much, HAHAHAHA Exactly as you pointed out; they do NOT know everything. If you have a problem with them, make them “prove it” in writing, and not just “what they think”. I have a long history with inspectors as you can tell LOLOL

      You are correct, check your “zoning laws” sorry I missed noting that, Thank You.

      NRP

      1. First, Luvya NRP! But, I have to defend my local building inspectors. A few years ago, I hired a contractor who tried to cut corners. I knew what he was up to and tried to call him on it. He wouldn’t listen to me and insisted that what he was doing was “up to code”. I called the local building inspector who came out and handed him his “up to code” crap on a silver platter. He forced the contractor to bring his work up to code and correct all his mistakes. Without the inspectors, I would’ve been in court trying to get my money back for a falling down piece of crap building for years.

        Follow your instincts, and if something doesn’t look right, ask for help. Don’t just trust the guy doing the work. AND don’t pay them for work that isn’t finished. Many contractors look to get paid ahead of time to cover the debt from previous jobs. Do not pay until the job is done, and done correctly. If a contractor needs payment up front to take the job, they’re probably already in trouble.

        1. @ Beach’n
          Please allow me to clarify my statement “I have a long history with inspectors as you can tell” I have a great respect for the unthankful job of the Building Inspector, and I always try to have a good repose with whom I need to work with. Over the many years I have been on both sides of the sword with the Building Department and usually there is an understanding of misunderstanding. And as you have pointed out there are a LOT and I do mean a LOT of untrustworthy contractors out there.

          NEVER NEVER pay a contractor for work that is not completed and inspected, chances you WILL lose your funds or at minimum be put on the “back burner”. Always have a solid contract spelling out payment schedule and completion dates, with penalty’s for late performance. I will go into choosing a contractor and contracts in the next segment.

          NRP

      2. In Ontario Canada we have what is called unorganized townships, that is where I bought several acres. There is no zoning at all, no mayor, no counsel, no bylaws. You want it you build it, a preppers dream, still have property taxes but no Gov. intervention to contend with.

  6. I must ask!! How did you come to choose this picture for the lead into this topic. It’s location might be isolated, but far from being ideal: All access and regress is exposed unless one has tunneled under and has a submarine. No hiding from aerial view, subject to tropical storms and winds would eliminate the structure completely, Appears to not have any options of grid power. It has the potential for unlimited source of protein from fishing. Only guessing but it would seem not to need much of a heat source except for cooking.

    1. @ Being Watched
      The photo is a “internet grab”, it was meant to show the type of “multi-million dollar custom island homes” I would NOT build. There is NO way in heck I would ever be caught on a place like that. Talk about a “target”, sheeeesh
      NRP

      1. You just confirmed that most of us are on the same play book for our future!
        It seems everyday we get a new confirmation that we’re doing right by preparing for the worst to happen. We can only hope for more time to prepare. With that said, to the new preppers, sacrifice and do whatever it takes to prepare as quickly as possible because supplies are constantly going up in price and soon will not be available at any price.

        Research, make lists, store properly, have a plan A and B and practice using equipment and supplies ASAP having family members on board and involved is important. Be physically fit, have good transportation, communication equip, shelter, heat sources, food, water/sources of filtration, self defense tools that include hand combat utilizing unconventional weapons.

        Time is a commodity that we may be running out of soon!!!

  7. And thank you as well for your submissions – this should be interesting. Always nice to see how the “Other Half” lives. :^)

    There are so many considerations on what makes the perfect place to spend the rest of your life when civilization disappears.

  8. Enjoy your posts NRP, Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have found my place and have learned years ago to trust my instincts and even more, my God for wisdom and guidance. I feel very fortunate to have purchased my grandparents small farm to raise my family. I have a wife that has been simply awesome with regard to our journey. She home-schools our children and has bought into my way of thinking, which runs contrary to the rest of the flock. We both feel blessed our paths crossed. I knew when we completely re-constructed the farm house that together, it would be a real test. She passed with flying colors, as we were on the same page with regard to most all decisions.

    We live in a two and 1/2 story cut stone house with standing seam metal roof. We heat with wood, have two dug wells, farm animals and wonderful deep soils for gardening. Large outbuilding, and two small guest houses. (Think “quarantine” house)

    We have sacrificed much to get to where we are now. No vacations for 6 years, no cable, pre-owned cars and clothes, etc. We just got internet for the first time last month. We are very close to being debt-free which has been the goal of our sacrifice.

    Looking forward to the upcoming articles.

    1. @ Timberplot
      Thank you for the comment, you’re the exact example of what I’m trying to relay. It’s sounds like you “made it” :-) :-) :-)

      As you probably know, it’s NOT easy, and it’s a LOT LOT LOT of hard work, but I have found many times when I drive or walk to my home, the overwhelming thoughts come to mind —- “I/We built this Home” — this is so much more than just a house it is My/Our “Home-Sweet-Home”.

      NRP

  9. Every article I have seen automatically excludes Florida, due to the large, growing population. After careful consideration ( Very careful consideration), several years ago, coming from the Northeast, I settled in the Florida Keys. Yes, that’s right, the Florida Keys. Very easy to completely shut off all traffic from the mainland. Arriving by boat – very risky, if the locals don’t want you to land. No lack of fresh water, to those who know how to get it. No lack of fresh food (healthy sea food). Year round Citrus. Very long growing season. No need for heating. And direct access to all points South, if the need arises. (Of course, if you live here you have a boat.) Local, adequate medical facilities. The list of positives goes on and on. And, the cleanest, freshest air, due to the prevailing winds heading north.
    What’s not to like?

    1. You have the same problem I do its call HURRICANE. But where ever you live there is something that can come and wipe you out.

    2. @ DeepSouth
      I have been to the Key’s, Loved it, I totally understand your living there. As Hogdog said we ALL have concerns as to the SHTF coming from anything and everything. Heck a rock could fall from the sky (asteroid) and toast us all. Point being no matter where we decide to build our “Home” we make/build it to what “we” want, not what someone else thinks. These articles are just my ideas, and certainly welcome ALL others.
      So to your comment, I would not exclude Florida, I probably would exclude LA, NYC, maybe even Chicago though HAHAHAHA (boy am I going to hear it now) :-)
      NRP

    3. Hey Deepsouth,

      Yes there is a growing population but most that come down and move into the already established cities.

      If you take a drive through the center of the state or the panhandle area you will find thousands of acres that are not developed and have limited neighbors.

      That being said if you want to live 3 or 4 hrs away from a large city you’re right you can’t find that location. That’s just because Florida is so skinny you can drive across the state in 3 hrs or so.

      Personally I would not chose the Keys but everybody is different and I respect that.

      Adapt and overcome.

      1. Only FL has a Disney world, CA I believe has a Disney Land.

        Ok Thox I took the bait set the hook. Lol. What’s your point. No pun intended.

        Adapt and Overcome.

        1. Just lightheartedly looking for positive attributes of life in Florida. I have been to Disneyworld in Florida and would like to go again, but for me Florida is a place to visit, not live. It is too hot.

        2. Yes it does get alittle hot down here. The humidity is the real killer. FL has its positives and negatives.

          IMO Disney is way overrated. Overly priced and just not worth it. Our son has been once and we will probably never go again. Lot’s of other good parks that are more reasonable and fun.

          Adapt and Overcome.

        3. With the highest elevation in the state (312 ft) being little more than a small hill, I’d need more interesting landscape. And yes the humidity, too much for me.

          Off topic: There is a small army of undercover security guards all over Disneyworld, men and women alike and fairly easy to spot. It is expensive, but still I’d go back. People come from all over the world to see it, just like Mall of America. My cousins lived across the street from the mall for years and never set foot in the place.

    4. Mosquito’s…Gators..and I’m glad you and most people like it, (this why there is no perfect location).. I do not like large bodies of water. I like seafood, but am concerned about events that occur, damaged oceans, and all in, and touching it.

      1. Yes mosquitoes are a pain but the gators dont bother me. Leave them alone and they usually leave you alone. If not then you have some really good dinner. LOL.

        Agree that no location is perfect. Just make due with the best you have.

        Adapt and Overcome.

  10. As for The Keys after a Hurricane, you just do what the natives have done here forever: You clean up, and go on!

  11. This is the reason I make this site my first to visit every night. Its thought provoking.

    Me personally, if it were a total end of the world scenario, I’d make a small island my place to call home. But cash has killed that dream. I truly will continue to look in the New England area. Tons of possibilities. Mixture of seasons and wild game to hunt for, if food becomes an issue.

  12. Good article NRP,

    You are dead on about location. We have been looking to buy a house for about 6 months and where we want to go is our biggest hurdle. We are looking for something more rural and that gives us limited possibilities. We aren’t looking to build a house even though we have thought about it. There are other factors that make buying land and building on it more of a hurdle with the banks,etc. If we just wanted to buy a new home we could find tons in the city. No thanks!!

    Making yourself the general contractor is the only way to go. My BIL build his sons 3000 Sq ft house himself and for about half the price (maybe more). He is like you, been building houses, etc for many years and can do it all himself. I think he did have the trusses pre-built because it was about the same if he did it.

    I look forward to the rest of the series.

    Adapt and Overcome.

  13. The one thing about having a nuke silo as one’s bugout location…. Is that you hope that the Russians and Chinese have removed it from their target list….

  14. NRP hits it right on by starting with location. Location was the biggest reason I wanted the house we are currently in. We are 20 minutes from a city of 100,000. Ten minutes to a town of 10,000, and don’t have a neighbor for almost a mile. The property is easy to defend with natural barriers and choke points. I would have preferred even further from the populated areas, but our family is from the county we live in. Besides, if SHTF, both the town and city could be cut off from our area by controlling a few bridges. The few people who do live in our area attend the same church and are related to my wife in some way or another.

    Ken recently had an article about what those new to prepping need to focus on. At the top of my list was a primary residence in the middle of no where. We prepare for lots of things, and most disasters will not require the secluded home. However, should there be an EMP, collapse, or some other major incident, a homestead in the middle of no where will likely save your life. What good is that year’s worth of food and that solar set up if those in your housing addition kill you for it? For more on this, I would highly recommend the Going Home series by A. American. The importance of location is a major part of the series.

  15. @NRP….. BFE is mountain terrain in South Central Colorado. 300+ sunny days/year. four seasons and very few people. closest town is about 9k…..real town shopping is 140 miles and has 108k people. Delightful they are that far away.

    We bought a turbo Bobcat for ranch work and plowing the snow (not that often but some amazing dumpers in spring. I have only missed one day of work in 11 years to weather!

    We are on a well (680 feet deep) not much chance of ground leach contamination. 9 gallons/minute, fresh and clean and cold.

    We are on a septic system with infiltrators since leaching is slim to none!

    As I said in a previous note, we installed 12 volt solar electric but also tied into the grid for full co-op service. we get money back each year.

    We have a wood burning furnace, uses about 4-6 cords per year….but we also installed propane for when we are off the mountain (prolonged) which is rare because we have livestock and pets. Propane uses about 200 gallons per year, but we BAKE our own breads and cook a lot, as well our dryer and hot water too is gas. Very affordable.

    Since the house is built of steel, and the entire front of the house is SOUTH, we have a passive solar effect which keeps the front half of the house very comfortable with no heat most of the winter. North and North east corners of the house are cooler, so the furnace room is back there and heats the area quickly, then forced to front of house, where we also have the kitchen and one of the living rooms with fire places.

    2400 square feet all on one level, and fully ADA compliant (for our old age…I am your age now, and still a spring chicken). We have an “interior room” that is fully equipped with cooking, washing, heating and no windows for the true nuclear SHTF event. Can be fully contained for many days if need be. We are also prepared to deal with a nuclear event (medically) if we have to, though would not invite such a sad event.

    We chose this site because we could afford to pay cash for the land, and cash and carry the home and barns. Taxes are low…but that also means no services…which we believe is a benefit not an encumbrance. Would take the local Sheriff at least an hour to get here (and I am on a VIP list! LOL)

    As I said before…my husband and I built this place ourselves (we had help on the monolithic pour of concrete, and some help hanging the red iron….but have done all the rest. We are VERY happy with the results!

    Keep prepping folks…the best natural lifestyle…becomes easier and easier with the years.

    1. @ Pioneer Woman
      Sounds like you have a very very nice “set-up”. So-Central CO, sounds like the Trinidad/Alamosa area, if so that’s a fantastic area to “get away”. I’m thinking right across the border in NM. somewhere around Raton but well away from Taos.
      I am also one for building ADA, for the most part. No Steps is a great thing to have. Kinda makes it hard for a Basement and Root cellar, but there are ways. Think Dumb-Waiter/Single-Person elevator. I plan on touching on a lot of that in upcoming segments
      NRP

  16. NRP: an admirable project, this article, good job. If you’re going to be your own general contractor, are you responsible for determining the timing of when the excavator shows up, the concrete pour, the lumber delivery, the carpenters, electricians, plumbers, drywall…. how do you coordinate all these various operations without pulling your hair out or killing someone?

  17. An ambitious task NRP and well thought out. I have only one input that comes to mind regarding location: Away from the flood zone and low-laying ground.

    In my old state of California, I once saw an ambitious developer build homes in the middle of a dry creek channel. It was 3 years before they had trouble with flooding. Nature will find way if not this year then in the future years. Those homes went the way of water damage and foreclosure in the years since I left.

    1. Seems there is a Biblical quote somewhere about not building your foundation on sand.

  18. I just discovered this site and am VERY impressed! I look forward to reading and learning, and the other parts to this series. I am also impressed at the quality of commenters!! They also are providing thoughtful info. I was getting bored with other sites and deleted several. Thanks again!!

    1. @ mountaingypsy
      Welcome, Ken runs a GREAT Blog here, I am always amazed at what good information flows back and forth. You will not be disappointed at the variety of different articles that happen to pop into Kens brain :-)

      Also we do have a “Rant-O-Meter” that at times depicts a GREAT Rant by someone-anyone. Please feel free to comment, but please try to keep the comments as-per article, FYI Saturday is “open forum”. If you do have something off context, please post it that previous Saturdays Article.
      NRP

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