Thursday, October 22, 2026

October 22 - Fall Fog, Young Explorers and a Question of Retirement

October 22, 2026

Day 1,846 of the Adventure


We've been experiencing an "Indian Summer" of sorts here lately. After a blazing summer and a short burst of coolness, warmer temps have recently been keeping us company and giving us the opportunity to absorb the changing of the seasons. I've been pondering one question in particular lately at my early morning campfires. Am I just weird for choosing a life that requires a more primitive approach? Maybe I am. At an age where most of my peers are planning for and stepping into retirement, here I am splitting and stacking firewood for the upcoming winter. I'm going through my checklist of cold weather preps regarding getting equipment ready for either use or storage, depending on how things develop. I've heard that the forecast this year includes the potential for the strongest El Nino pattern we may ever have seen. A lot of times that means ice storms where we live. Losing power nowadays really doesn't mean that much to us. We seem to be able to generate much more than we use, even if we get persistent clouds for extended periods. The storage capacity of the batteries has been better than I initially had expected. As I compare this odd life I've chosen to the prospect of a normal retirement, I'm really not disappointed in it.  I've always felt that my regular life would look a lot like my retired life. So far, that seem to be playing out fairly accurately. 

Most of my friends are making plans for finding retirement hobbies, trips that have been set aside for years and learning new routines that revolve around a new-found freedom from the life of a job. In some ways, I guess that's true for me as well. The difference is that my most interesting "hobbies" are those that involve continuing to develop our acreage. Our grandkids have informed us that we do not have anywhere near enough hiking trails and golf cart trails yet. They are becoming very enthusiastic, fledgling explorers. They have also expressed concern over our firewood stack. Is there enough for the campfires they intend to participate in? Their concerns also include why we did not have a garden this year. Strange things for small children to worry about! Frankly, that's been one of my concerns as well. I've assured them that the break from gardening was only for this year while we tried to get our house construction moved forward. I suppose that even building the house could also be looked upon as one of my "retirement hobbies". 

True, there is more to do than we probably have retirement time to get done. That simple truth is a motive that keeps us getting up in the morning and getting with it. My instinctive tendencies to try to build a "prepared lifestyle" feed into this routine perfectly. The enjoyment I get from building all of this is indescribable. It's like I have a personal 50-acre adult sandbox. Entering the backwoods to carve out a trail, build a campsite, share those moments with grandkids brings a smile to my face. It doesn't happen nearly enough with them....... yet. I'm looking forward to having them become more active in the backwoods experience. They've been a little young for much of it so far, but they are getting to the age where their interest is definitely on the increase. The oldest one is informing us now of how we should "name" our trails. It's an indication that the roots of the outdoor life are beginning to take hold.......... That's a good sign!

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “We go and do the things that you're calling exploring and adventuring ... and for us, it's just regular life.” ― Gayle Kabloona

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Treasures of Life 3 - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

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Thursday, October 15, 2026

October 15 - Buy Land Build Systems

October 15, 2026

Day 1,842 of the Adventure


Much of the frustration that many of us face with current economic conditions is that of diminished control over our own destiny. Meaning that on every front, someone, whether it's a company, a person or a government, seems to be doing everything in their power to box us in to a greater dependence on them. That culture of dependence locks us into a contract of sorts where our basic necessities can only be provided by way of a "pay to play" system. This system covers everything from utilities, housing, entertainment, insurance, and more. To make matters worse, the movement has recently been expanding to paid subscription services for optional features. A few examples include monthly subscriptions for things like heated seats, hands free driving, remote start and locking features in our vehicles. Things like predictive maintenance modules added to our appliances. Even just basic streaming services from the dozens upon dozens of entertainment platforms at our fingertips. 

Our society is rapidly figuring out how to maximize its grip on our resources. It's something that happens a little at a time up until we are locked into it so deep that it takes a major effort and commitment to break free from. It's never much more than a few dollars hear and a few more there. Before we know it, we have a half dozen streaming services, another cluster of aps on our phones. a DoorDash account and more. To be clear about all of it. I guess I'm not opposed to any of those things that a user finds to be of value to them. What I see, and probably what I am also opposed to is when all of those little conveniences and services have accumulated to the point where they have dominated one's budget. The point where the essentials of food, housing, energy and other absolute necessities are no longer affordable. Then all of the conveniences have become nothing more than a cruel ball and chain in our lives. 

The biggest problem is that the true essentials of life are mostly made up of things we have very little control over. Things like rent or mortgage payments, electricity, water and perhaps gas utility costs, insurance, food and transportation. Most of these things are not optional. That's the bad news. The better news is that some of them do allow us some flexibility in our bondage to them. Food, housing, energy and transportation are all contingent upon the power of the connection we have to them. The overall cost of our food, for example, can be higher or lower depending on our personal practices. We can choose to begin a discipline of growing and preserving what we can. We can buy ingredient-based foods verses pre-packaged meals. We can choose to forego delivery services and simply return to the weekly or monthly shopping list. Regarding housing, we can choose to move towards more efficient, smaller footprint housing. Perhaps choosing housing in less expensive areas or regions. We can begin a program to reduce energy consumption by researching and adopting alternative power generation. All of these options can be instrumental in establishing freedom from outside sources and systems. It all falls under the umbrella of self-contained systems. The ultimate power that we can achieve is one of self-reliance from outside systems entirely.  Is that even possible? I know that it absolutely is for some of the friends in my circle. Have my systems been built out far enough yet to break free of the government and corporate systems I'm connected into? Again, not yet but they are certainly getting closer by the day, week or month. 

Buy Land and Build Systems has become my personal battle-cry and I won't be satisfied until I've achieved the maximum level of independence from the systems of dependency on others. 

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”
― Anonymous

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Treasures of Life 3 - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

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October 4 - Our 5th Anniversary of Starting an Off-Grid Journey

October 4, 2026

Day 1,831 of the Adventure


Last Tuesday, we reached a significant milestone at The Campfire Trail. It was our 5th anniversary of purchasing the property. I suppose that the driving force behind this decision isn't a single thought as much as an accumulation of events. All of which point to the idea of gaining more control over the direction of life. Or perhaps, the "outcome" of life. The constant scramble to keep up with the costs of life was probably enough of a reason. The direction of "modern life" was probably more of the catalyst. The term "simple" has long left our vocabularies. It feels like nearly everything requires a "paid subscription" anymore from entertainment to features being built into our appliances, phones and even vehicles. The ability to work on or fix anything is becoming a thing of the past. To add to that, the lifespan of significant purchases has reached such a low that I'm beginning to search out older, more reliable forms of everything to replace the modern anything. What is the answer to all of it? For us, the answer is, simplify. 

Does that mean "simple" in all respects. No, not necessarily. Because simple does not always equate to easy, and "easy" is probably the line in the sand for many of us. In life, almost everything has elements of hardship. Like the old saying goes, "You must choose your 'hard'". I'm of the age that the outcomes of life dictate the amount of effort I wish to invest. For example, I like a good coffee, but am I willing to exchange a significant amount of my time for the ability to purchase a $7 gourmet coffee in a coffee shop? Not much anymore. A good black coffee with a shot of rich cream while sitting by a campfire in the woods provides all of the delectable experience I could want or need. I'm completely ready to exchange the simplicity of the high-tech electronics in my vehicles for the simplicity of the good old-fashion analog control systems of a vintage automobile. I know that would be a stretch for many, but I can tune, maintain and drive them without digital diagnostic tools and a PhD in electronic schematics. Not to mention the proprietary technology that is ever increasingly making that completely impossible. 

Okay, the rant is over. I've reached the point of tolerance in all of that to just want my own systems that I know and trust. All of that has alternatives from mainstream life and I'm increasingly "all in" for it. We are now five years into the building of these lower-tech, yet reliable systems. The genesis of them, at times, is challenging, but the reliability, simplicity and comfort that they provide is priceless. My new mantra of life is "Buy Land and Build Systems". Systems that are beneficial and serve our personal interests. Not systems designed to squeeze every ounce of freedom and finance out of us. 

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” ― Bernard M. Baruch

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail

Our Books
Treasures of Life - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Treasures of Life 3 - Daily Devotionals by Shelley
Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin
Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin

Please Consider Subscribing to our newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.
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