Small? - a documentary about dry cabin life and alternative housing in Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the coldest cities in the country with winter temperatures frequently reaching -30F. Yet, thousands of people choose to live without many modern conveniences such as running water and indoor bathrooms in modest, non-traditional housing arrangements. Why?

[@michaelmccauslin3676]

I lived in a 52 million dollar home in Beverly Hills and it was the loneliest most depressing time of my life....I quit my job and let me ex have it all and now live in northern Idaho...I have never been so happy...I am building a country cabin..go hiking daily with my dogs...camping...outdoor photography...my life is so carefree...I made the right decision. Don't fall in the money trap....

[@beefree7114]

I am looking at moving to northern Idaho..where about are you? I am looking at somewhere further up from McCall but I need some advice if you have any!

[@LostCaper]

I worked myself into total burn out in Moncton, NewBrunswick. Went on disability and got hassled every week. I total them off took my pension. I have a tractor and cut firewood and do a bit of tractor work. Feel much better now that I simplified my work.

[@gaybama5957]

I'm sure your mother is glad u finally moved out too

[@Blessings.429]

Good for you, my children grew up and as the City got busier and busier, sirens,choppers, police chases. Yeah you get the picture, so I moved to a beachside small City which slowly got louder and louder. Now I live in a country town, it’s pretty peaceful out here🤗

[@BlueSky-qv7cd]

I did the cabin life in fairbanks Alaska in the 90s I built an overhead tank shower and heated the water with a wood stove, just because you live off grid doesn't mean you sacrifice hygiene.

[@billsmith2041]

I am 51, divorced, and live in a 1700 sq.ft house .I have 1 son at home(17)....we have 2 unused bedrooms, and a pool we never use. While I will stay here till he is off to college, I look upon these people with a level of envy, I cannot even describe, God bless those who follow their dreams.

[@TwoPartyIllusion]

my house burned down and im now stuck in a trailer while we rebuild at a much smaller sq foot...I'd be ok with that if I Didn't have two giant breed dogs!!let me know if you want to do a house trade sometime! :)

[@TheDtfamu89]

Wow.... I'd never heard of the concept of a dry cabin before. Interesting!

[@miguelidcomm]

Trystan Herriott's cabin was my favorite... I give him, and the rest of those home owners, credit for living they way they do. So much better for the environment! Plus, they're happy (that's the important thing). Hope I can follow their lead someday.

[@beefree7114]

More power to you all! I have lived in small places for 23 years in te states and abroad and it is the nicest way to live comfortably and not have the pressure of bank payments...I have been free of debt for 25 years and will never sign on the dotted line again! This is freedom!

[@Nota769]

I would love too and it’s a dream of mine but I have no experience in building so how can I? I can’t . How can anyone if they don’t know how???!!!

[@razorhawk9808]

Ironically you could probably afford to buy a house straight cash unlike vast majority of people.

[@phillipperobinson769]

Their use of intelligence and vocabulary in explaining these ideals is really inspiring. My wife and I own a 750 sqft house. We have been working to make it both architecturally beautiful and an urban homestead.

[@ConnorGibbsAK]

Exactly how I feel. The way they describe their lifestyle -especially the "Hippy" lady-, was extremely moving and inspiring. I've grown up in a spoiled family, I even got my first car when I was 6 because I put it on my Christmas list. I really want to try this lifestyle out, and when I get the chance to, see if its really worth it.

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

I am impatiently waiting for the end of Scottish winter to start building mine! We have a huge swathe of ex forestry and thousand of trees and have even got an earthmover JCB Caterpillar thingy that I'm terrified of. ..all we need to get around now is getting my sisters house (ex family home) off grid as even with wood burning stoves the electricity is crippling her. I think we can still get grants for solar panels in Scotland but I'm trying to convince her that wind and water power is also right outside her door (so much so that we lost over a thousand trees to 75mph plus winds last February. )She's stuck with the notion that off grid is only feasible for cabins but I'm not going to give up and keep sending her links to sites like this. She's got this notion that wind turbines only come in Industrial size but I am nothing if not persistent and am going up in two weeks to stand over her while she forcibly watches all the videos of off grid power. She's mean enough (Scottish eh!) to see reason when money saving is displayed in colour to her with the people saying how much you can save Lol! I always fancied Alaska but have all the wilderness we need now at home in Scotland.

[@melodyscamman244]

A past lesson I have learned: unless you want to get taxed off your property by the town, build the most in unfancy structure facing the road or trail. That also, to some extent, protects your privacy from nosy neighbors and the planning board. Paint or stain your structure to blend into the background of wilderness or woods if you can. For us artistic types, this is difficult. Trust me, do it. Be creative inside the structure. put alternative features behind the structure. Away from prying eyes. Make good use of fences at least six feet high, ten feet if you have wolves or what the uneducated think are aggressive animals. These fences also give you privacy. Put up a privacy notice and you might want to paint your fence posts the no trespassing purple color if you have animals inside. Do not put any danger signs up unless you never want insurance again in this lifetime. I put a note on the door for allergy sufferers saying I have several hairy sled dogs in the house and not to open the door and to call my phone instead. With those simple barriers in place, go knock yourself out being super energy efficient, creating a safe spot for your animals and yourself. Create your art in privacy. Live your life freely. Know the laws pertaining to you and your family and your pet's privacy. That said, give those outside your gate a way to contact you inside. Either a phone number or a bell to ring or a post office box if you really want to be prepared for company! So what happened to me? My house burned down in an ice storm in March, '89. It took me ten years to rebuild it. I made it really beautiful outside first. Big mistake. My property taxes went up by thousands of dollars a year and we had to rebuild inside pay check to pay check. By the time it was done, we could no longer afford our property taxes. My life's work rebuilding had to be left behind and we moved to a less expensive state and town, built a smaller house, into the side of the hill and passive solar/wood heat. But from the road, my lesson learned, shows as a small, plain, cheap ranch house with nothing fancy whatsoever. My taxes are a third of what they were on my previous property and I own more land and less house. My privacy level is better, too. But a touch of creativity made it out my door... my doorbell is a xylophone. :-)

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

really enjoyed this thank you.

[@Albisriede]

Great video. In a way, everybody should experience this sort of life-style. I remember the great sound the temporary visqueen windows made when it finally got too cold and the plastic was unable to gracefully stretch even a hair more, and they exploded, leaving a sunburst patters of fragments hanging from the frame. That's when you have to get out there and quickly staple-on a new sheet. What I always found fascinating is the use of rootcellars, possible where there is no permafrost. Sweetly enough, most stay at nearly the same temperature year-round, high 30s to low 40s. Speaking of saving money on appliances, this is one you can dig yourself.

[@BryanRitchie-Gonebush]

I really enjoyed the general thrust of the documentary and envy (but am glad for) the freedom that folk have in Alaska to build structures according to purpose rather than code. Sue and I get round the building code in New Zealand by living in a converted furniture truck (have been living in it for 3 years) and now enjoy a freedom we never thought possible. Less stuff means more life. Thanks for great information.

[@1tomanyguns]

love grows best in little houses

[@dashjeffreys6998]

More Americans need to embrace this school of thought. Hard work, education all fine and dandy. But people become such assholes once they get that, along with the 'McMansion'. Simplify our lives and we'd be much happier.

[@aprilmurphy4164]

Of the rich, I never could understand why one or two people ever needed the space of a mansion. I totally get living small and cutting expenses. My family and I live in a 1300 SQFt. home and have a hard time making ends meet. More power to these people who step out of the box.

[@SasquatchBobby]

To each their own my friend! Don't live up to the old saying of Uneducated, Low-Informational, Judgemental, Narrow-Minded, Biased, Ignorant Liberals: LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER!

[@johnarizona3820]

Perhaps it is a physical manifestation of the grand emptiness they feel within?

[@mrmrdean1]

What a great way to live. so peaceful and natural. also not trapped into the system of debt and misery that governments have us all trapped in.

[@nicolassosolic3655]

zoinx4444 Kill all the Hippies,Eco warrior bullshit and stuff...lol We can't go back,i wouldn't like to live back like during the middle ages,roman times,the far west cowboys etc because ultra-violence,rape etc was just a day to day common thing and i prefer women with nice and smooth legs and without any hairy armpit!!! Bunch of idealistic little dreamer... Hello from France :)

[@nicolassosolic3655]

Glad that you agree Sir Gary,me too i used to dream during my 20' about the new age thing and shit but not anymore... Hi from France :)

[@donnthesovereigncitizen1577]

zoinx4444 that's the only way to be happy, off grid and debt free, to hell with the rat race!

[@gutlessband5825]

Awesome vid. Really like this sort of stuff. Would like to see more. Keep it up.

[@johnsmith-vc8dw]

"Being told what would makes you happy and what actually makes you happy" is a profound thought and statement.

[@PatrickBaptist]

Good documentary other than the volume going up and down,.....

[@o-i-c-udisolve8352]

To me, it doesn't matter where, what, how the life is being live, it is all about " ARE YOU HAPPY". I'm convince every choice we make in life is all about being happy.

[@shirleyharrison2580]

(Old post I know) BUT:" Are you Happy " caught my eye/ attention. My husband died 3 yrs ago, age 70. We'd lived in a house on a private lake for over 20 yrs, 2 lakefront lots, a 3 bedroom, full basement, beautiful view. I lived there 2 years after he died, it was too expensive for just me, only one check to pay high utilities & taxes 2 times a year. It became like a prison for me. I WASN'T happy there anymore, not by myself. I sold it & bought a small 2 bedroom mobile home in a court, very small yard, a boy takes care of it for $10.00, my utilities & taxes are SO much cheaper. I bought a car,(old one died) bough a few new things for the house & put the rest in a savings account. NOW ..I'm happy. I don't have to worry about buying my meds, doctor bills, ect. Few people have ask me if I miss the other house & if I'm happy. I DON'T miss the other house, it was keeping me broke & YES ! I'm HAPPY..I truly am. I'll be 68 before long & I'd rather have meds, food & a place I can take care of, I couldn't go to the dock anymore & fish. Being happy is better than being in a pretty house with a beautiful view. I grew to hate it & couldn't wait to get away from it.

[@melodyscamman244]

There is a lot of chatter about the sled dogs. I have six sled dogs, some I rescued, myself. I have had dogs for over 50 years and I am not uninformed. Mine a big Malamute mix animals and several have alpha personalities. The weather is brutal here. I do not chain my sled dogs. For cheap money, used six foot high chain link pens are available. Generally, sled dogs will pick a mate. Mated sled dogs do well penned together but with properly insulated dog houses. Bring them in at night if it is bad weather. Create the cranky ones. All of mine come in at 10 PM. They go out at 6 AM, weather permitting. You guys could crate your dogs in a bus or other structure with a wood stove on very cold nights. Or you could bring them inside with you and stack the crates by the door in case of fire. I do and if you love your working dogs, you could do this too. For those who have no sled dogs and don't understand what I mean, I will be blunt and tell you that they have a pack mentality similar to wolves. They want to run and they will fight over food.

[@AliasEight]

Juneau (Alaska) Folk Festival folks right here!

[@nata3467]

This videos very helpful as I try to decide if I want running water with in my cabin I'm going back to the idea of having a well on site to bring water up and rain water reclamation

[@dianerota]

I was also surprised to see people still collecting books and taking up valuable space with book shelves.

[@ashleycasey2093]

The bus-hippie reminds me of Juno :O

[@dianerota]

In a small space, try a portable kitchen. Wash items with a basin and camping shower bag on a hook. Store it away when it's not in use.

[@dianerota]

You need to split your wood in the spring and let it dry out during the summer. We built a wood shed with lower grade lumber for about $50. It holds ten cords. Wet wood does not produce adequate heat. If it's wet, place it near the wood stove to dry it out prior to burning it.

[@erikadowdy686]

"We grow to the size of our cage" - is SOO true! The less waste the better. Humans produce ALOT of waste.

[@dianerota]

For spaciousness, store everything away. Clutter creates a claustrophobic atmosphere. Rotate a few decorations to change your interior scene.

[@solobushman]

Soon I'll be one of you. Great video and very true.

[@junbug1029]

I gratefully moved to Las Vegas after living in Fairbanks for 13 years.

[@ashleycasey2093]

+junbug1029 was it that bad?

[@graciouspie]

hehe

[@junbug1029]

The first 2 years weren't bad, but every year after became worse.

[@ashleycasey2093]

+junbug1029 why?

[@whateverittakes1673]

+Ashley Casey My guess is it's colder than hell 2/3 of the time. You are either cut out for that or not.

[@RaJo6697]

Love it.

[@LostCaper]

I think most people are missing the point. North America is suppose to be free and for anybody to tell you that you cannot live in a tiny home it undermines our basic rights to freedom. It is up to every generation to look after our freedom so that our children can enjoy the freedom as well. I grew up in a small town hunting and fishing with my mother and friends and working with my father in the woods. I though the city and computer job would be awesome so that is the route i took. I spent 30 years doing a job I hated in a corrupt office and let me tell you that is very sad. Stressed out and peeved off everyday I kept going at it for 30 years until it finally almost ruined me mentally. I took early retirement and with my tractor I blow a bit of snow, cut firewood, make trails for the ATV club and live as simple as I can. Personally it is still not simple enough but I am looking at buying some acreage and putting a small simple cabin there. For anybody to tell you not to live like this perhaps they should take a look at their own life and really and truthfully examine just how happy they are. They might just be in for a very big surprised. If you like you can visit me on my youtube channel namely "lost caper" and see how I live my life. I certainly urge everyone to seek out what really makes them happy and go for it. Thanks Ray

[@EoinDelaney]

what a great short film it say it all really no need for an over the top house just find one that fits

[@jeffalaskan8725]

This was great to see people perfectly happy living in a small space out in the woods, away from the chaos and danger of living in the city. I wish I could do what they're doing. They also have less to worry about when collapse eventually comes to American society.

[@bannlaughlin3544]

your audio did not come through, wished I could hear what you said. thanks for trying guys.

[@liviubardel7292]

the real cold has not come yet. nobody apreciate oil until oil realy runs out. there is no such thing as off grid if you do not grow your own food.

[@WizzRacing]

Funny my grand parents did it for 80 years. You bartered for things you didn't have in exchange for labor and experience. Besides whom can't grow a garden? You can do that without large plots of land. And solar power is free once installed for years of use. As for fuel, it's called moonshine!

[@leanninak742]

Where does it say that unless you grow your own food, you aren't 'off grid'? Think before you type. The pioneers grew their food AND went to the trading posts and forts to get supplies INCLUDING FOOD. No one can do it all by themselves.

[@Thamikaroxy]

LeAnn InAK You don't have to. But trading and bartering with neighbors is infinitely more sustainable than relying on a goods store.

[@leanninak742]

Indeed. We try to barter before we buy new

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Frank Anderson NOBODY grows salt, they gather it.....having 6,640 miles of coastline, I am sure the people of Alaska smart enough to do a google search will figure out how to gather all the salt they need if they choose not to just buy.....seeing as how it is cheaper to buy...

[@sauwanlam4984]

What a Beauty view

[@dianerota]

I've gotten very used to my Nexus, a handheld computer. I was surprised to see people still sitting at their desks with their laptops. With a handheld, you can work anywhere minus the furniture.

[@isabelsilva9369]

i use to live in alaska in fair banks too its really pretty their with the northern lights and the snow to i Live their for about almost 3 years i moved away from it now i move closer to my family and friends.

[@bobgillis827]

Good on ya !

[@amymoxley1165]

Audio isn't working. I have everything to full & no voices.

[@revolutionary736]

OKAY WILL DO!!!!

[@LostCaper]

A journey to a better life. I started out on the right path which was a simple, honest life. I was logging with my father and trout fishing, canoeing, outdoor adventuring with my mother and friends. I was surround by trusted friends and family. All was great until I got side tracked for 30 years with a stressful career in information systems with all the corruption that a big office has to offer. Retired and putting the last 30 years behind me, I embark on a journey to a better life where a peace of mind rules. It's not easy to simplify your life. I will have to let go of many things including useless material stuff that I can no longer afford. Perhaps the hardest thing is ridding the lingering mindset of the corrupted, abusive, negative office life hangover. I wish you all good luck and I believe you are all young smart people. I wouldn't wish my job burn out and then looking back at how stupid I was do relentlessly go to a job that I hate for 30 years so I could have material things. You are much better of living simple with little expenses. You see once your into debt and material things it's hard just to get out. I am on that mission now and it's a hard sell to other family members to get rid of everything and live simple and have a freedom of mind. Your on the right track.

[@unebonnevie]

How expensive are groceries, especially produces? Are people allowed to hunt for foods?

[@Deducklo]

Good staff

[@TheManglerPolishDeathMetal]

exellent

[@josieg219]

I really love your film. I like the details you go into describing what it's like to live in a dry cabin. Over the past year, I've been seriously thinking of moving to Alaska, near Fairbanks, and to build a dry cabin. I do have a couple of questions. Do you each own the land you built your cabins on or is it some kind of communal land that you all share? The only thing holding me back from moving to Alaska is money. To get enough to pack up my stuff and travel to Alaska, renting trailer, etc, and being able to buy the land. I would like to get a piece of land where I can use the trees on the property to build my cabin. But after seeing this film, the thought of a yurt intrigues me. Haven't decided on that part yet. Also, what about mail service. Do you get assigned an address and get mail service, or to you need a P.O. Box? Thanks so much for sharing yourselves with all of us.

[@Ocenteno70]

Before you make those kind of decisions, try moving up here and rent a cabin for a year. If that's still what you want, then continue your dream. Dry cabin living isn't for everyone. Going to the outhouse in pitch dark in -40 and not getting trampled by a moose is an experience. You buy your own land; you can get a mailbox for your cabin, but depending on where you settle, it's not front door service. Many cabin dwellers have P.O. boxes and come into town every once in a while to check their mail. This video doesn't do a very good job about describing some of the hardships of cabin living like loneliness and isolation, hygiene and hauling trash daily, and extreme winters.

[@alaskabruce5681]

+Oscar Centeno You use the outhouse in the dark at -40?!? Where's your honey bucket??? : )

[@deniseswift3170]

Welcome to the 70's.

[@baltofanforever]

Neat lifestyle

[@anneace2462]

None of the you have families so you can live in a tiny space or a bus.This is not for everyone. Hey if this is the way you want to live .Let no man stand in your way.Very entertaining to watch. For me Living in the tropics ,My kids in college,They can bring home their friends, when ever,out in the back yard,they have cook out.yard is big enough it has trees a pond a small vegetable garden. Living in bone cold weather done that ,have 2 of my children born during the winter.No regrets.Enjoy it while it last. My best wishes to you all .

[@YLuke-or5cq]

The sound quality is not the best. I would have like to have been able to hear what was being said.

[@alvaroandradeberroa6559]

good

[@susansmith493]

Live and let live. These folks pontificate as much, if not more, than the Mcmansion folks. Just live the way you want without disparaging others for not choosing the same. Why is this such a difficult concept for ppl?

[@Tunerguy23]

pretty much just to Breath you have to Pay to Live by how Society thinks and wants you to live by there Standards if i could i would so move to Alaska and build a small house and not have to worry about paying off a stupid mortgage or paying for Electric..

[@YUNGDEXERSWAGGA]

No you wouldn't have to worry about a mortgage or electricity but you WOULD have to worry about paying for other essentials.

[@bobgillis827]

Congrads for getting off the hamster wheel mortgage existence.

[@jennyminny5113]

id like to be there.

[@14Truthfulls]

U know, u can actually make in home solar energy dish. And u will have basically free electricity, look the vids up on youtube. There are many ways.. peace out. from Virginia :)

[@liviubardel7292]

yes.but how about solar food ?

[@danielmurray04]

looks like it would clear your head, get you back to "you".

[@dianerota]

It's easier to haul water in a backpack.

[@WhyNot-zr5kl]

If you like living in this fashion, good for you. It was interesting, but the cold in the bus? Um, no.

[@alaskabruce5681]

+sheltered That struck me as 'posing', simply because a good woodstove would bake you right out of there. Very easy to insulate and heat a bus.

[@vioipos]

Why the dogs are on chains out on freezing cold?

[@dgester]

This documentary is making want to smoke a joint and listen to earth tones atmospheric music....and I literally do none of that stuff. like ever.

[@TVTruther]

The big problem with this idealism is that many cannot take the cold..if your going to live like this and think your going to wave your arms and say look at me and get all this attention..your in for a rude awakening....

[@JaCoBsAdOw]

Please answer this question. Is it, then possible to live in a cabin without buying the land?

[@JaCoBsAdOw]

I am 16 years old and I would love to move to Alaska when Im older

[@oliverdammann323]

just like anywhere else: you can rent one or buy land and build one. There are hundreds if not several thousand cabins that are rented out.

[@JaCoBsAdOw]

is it expensive to rent small cabin?

[@oliverdammann323]

Jakub Sadowski Up here rent is fairly high, so it is an affordable way to live in Fairbanks, but compared to other places it is not necessarily extremely cheap for what you get. Most cabins run $500 a month. Average $100 in heating fuel throughout the year + about $50 in electricity.

[@kslamme]

Oliver Dammann Sounds about right :)

[@lubovladi]

I wonder if Russians living in Siberia could use your approach of how to make their lives happier?

[@TheManglerPolishDeathMetal]

Elena Vladi they are happy there

[@lubovladi]

Filip musiatowicz right)) if vodka keeps you warm))

[@TheManglerPolishDeathMetal]

its cold there but therfore a lot of warm in peoples hearts, they dont have much but they dont know much of modern shit and they happy kozz of it i think

[@WallyKnorr]

+Elena Vladi I am a Russian living in northern Canada, and this approach works fine for me, last 6 month I spent in a cabin up North, and quality of life was just wonderful.

[@STPjoejeep]

cool, i'd like to do it but my wife says no way hahaha. We have two little boys, def need enuf room to accomodate 4 people and have a smidgen of privacy

[@W4ABN]

my wife says the same when I even mentioned living on a sailboat. She prefers the McMansion's.

[@RETIREMESOON]

Government thinks that it is their best interest for us to live in big Suburbans homes.NOW,......why do I blame the Government....?...WELL,....in school and on TV they push these themes. My wife and I plan to drop out with a small pension and live small and have a big life.

[@diannaskare7829]

lol wow you folks are young enough! I've lived a life of camping and doing some of what your doing but Living in a dry cabin wouldn't work for me small yes but outhouse and packing water again......no thanks!!! 😏

[@emilypayne437]

what bothers me is if the dogs are chained they can't save themselves from any prays its just cruelty

[@TheRealDoctorBonkus]

If they weren't chained they would be cruel to each other. This is a work animal and not a pet.

[@iak706]

I had a friend who had the view that chains are cruel and her dog was picked up several times by animal control 10 miles from her house in Fairbanks proper until finally the dog was killed by a car. She could have done something other than a chain, but she thought confinement was cruel. She had failed the dog. For about 10 years i ran sled dogs for hauling supplies and transportation into the vast road less areas of Alaska. They lived on houses which they willingly returned to on their own every day. They also got to do what they loved the most and that is run about 200 miles a week as a team of which i was a member. Never had any predatory animals come around probably because they are not interested in coming around a yard with the smell of 8+ dogs that start barking immediately at anything that is alive and not normally present. They have their own lives to keep after all. On the other hand several years ago there were some single pet dogs people had let out of their houses that got snatched up by wolves. Angry pet owners were calling for mass execution of the wolves by the national guard. Many people in Fairbanks, including some dog mushers, suggested those people should move back down south. Generally dog mushers are going to be significantly more in tune with the needs of their dogs than any pet owner, it is just the nature of what is happening. Most of what you do while driving the dog sled is watch each team member to see any slight change in behavior so any problem can be addressed immediately to prevent injuries. And when the dogs need help pulling your are running and pushing the sled. I spent more time with dogs than humans during much of this time. They were very important to me for companionship and as a work crew. The team was one big eyes and ears and you paid close attention. I camped at -30F with them regularly. The dogs ate and got taken care of in anyway needed before i took care of myself. The last thing you want in a work team is an unhappy crew. When they got older they lived in the house till the end of their lives. One got bone cancer in his hind leg at around 10 years. He died right in front of me. Earlier that day and for months he had gone on mile long walks on three legs having no problem keeping up with and in some cases surpassing the other dogs. I had a dog that was loose run off and get into a porcupine, she stood there letting me pull the quills out with pliers and no anesthetic. I still have one 14 year old dog from the original team and he lives the life of a prince now. There are cruel people in the world no doubt, but when one considers how i started this comment, chains don't necessarily mean that an owner has failed the dog.

[@honeyowen3163]

i've been watching lots of off the grid videos not all the way through. i'm wondering how you manage to dispose of your human waste?

[@brianodental1634]

+honey owen outhouse

[@rolandedrummer9723]

I can't set up my drums in any of those places so nope.

[@lightningbolt794]

There are some great cabins on my page

[@JAchica11]

Interesting. Privileged Americans want to live like disadvantaged people in the Third World, while those of us from poor countries want to live the big American lifestyle. Such role reversal. Smh.

[@Marcuslobenstein]

+JAchica11 How is this in anyway a comparison? living more simple but with stable money/safety / car / petrol is 100 times better than 3rd world.

[@Snowpony-sq4hu]

Marcus Lobenstein ...bunch of libtards.....pseudo academia moving to Alaska. Hippies that have watched too much reality tv bullshit. Ruining Alaska...

[@redsavior4923]

Yes. Very interesting.

[@donnthesovereigncitizen1577]

JAchica11 until you see the bills that com with a house in the city,

[@jigglywigglyjello1276]

This has crossed my mind many times😃

[@WenceslaoRamerezmorales]

I left Alaska went back to the lower 48 then had to live with out power for 3 months with out power do to high power bill I learn I want to go back to Alaska I had to pay $2900.00 someone has opened up a account in my name I had to pay that off

[@revolutionary736]

I MEAN KNOW ANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE DOING THIS!!!

[@KKKKAAAARRRRYYYYNN]

REVOLUTIONARY Search for Tiny House Nation Season 3 Episode 2 . She's not in Alaska. She's somewhere near L.A.

[@samella35]

+REVOLUTIONARY There are many. Actually, our grandparents lived this way, and now other's are doing it, making it "cool." But this is not strange for me, as I was exposed to it at an early age in South Carolina. Peaceful existence.

[@anthonyjames5483]

SOUND LIKE YOU BEEN SMOKING TO MUCH WEED.

[@ashleycasey2093]

Most black people I know put themselves into boxes and refuse to try anything that's "not black". However, I have indeed been following someone's blog who does indeed live in a tiny house, and is indeed black with locs. Her blog is called " 'Little Anarchies' -- One black woman's journey to Off-grid, tiny house, living"

[@mypronounismaster4450]

Damn, I'm still looking for a place where I can build my nuclear power plant.

[@danielmurray04]

when I talk about things like this to people, TV seems to be something to the top of the list, which is pretty disturbing. You don't have to believe this man made al gore climate change utter BS, to see the value of living this way, close to nature and with a low profile impact of nature.

[@alexandraharris3659]

you can live sustainably without living in a bus.

[@borrachoblanco]

Alexandra Harris beats letting it rot

[@twowheelsclubseals]

You can also live sustainably in a bus, she seems to like it lmao

[@theempath508]

Not any way to keep a dog!

[@coryboyd7958]

I HATE PEOPLE WHO CHAIN THEIR DOGS OUTSIDE!!!!

[@jigglywigglyjello1276]

Alaska One lol

[@revolutionary736]

DO ANYBODY NO ANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOING THIS!!!!!

[@python357magnum100]

In 85 years the human population will more than double to 15 BILLION ! Imagine if as much political & media attention was paid to the root cause, instead that climate change nonsense ! What IF in 100 years the avg. global temp. goes up 2 degrees, the population will have more than doubled to 15 BILLION ! So what should we really be focused on ?

[@siriusleigh24]

Permission to build a powerplant... pff I'm out

[@stevemazz3121]

This is funny.... my little house is much more beautiful than your 5000 square foot luxury home.... OH, and can I park in your yard cause really i am homeless.

[@meteoroliver1583]

Thank you! I am glad you liked it. I hope you will gather the resources to experience this life for yourself. Most people up here that are building their own cabins buy their own land. Land near Fairbanks is tremendously cheap. You can get a nice enough property in commuting distance for $20k. If you want real cheap you can find much cheaper in North Pole for instance. The cheapest and fastest is a yurt, which we decided on since it goes quick to set up. You can also build a small cabin pretty quick. Mail works like any other parts of the country.

[@josieg219]

Is it ok to live in an RV there? I'm thinking of buying an RV or towable camper to travel to Alaska, park it on the piece of land I buy and then maybe live in it until I decide what to build. Probably a yurt. Are their restrictions on the size of the house/cabin that can be built? I read somewhere that legally, only a 100 sq foot cabin can be built without a building permit. I should know by October whether or not I'll have the money to move. Then with packing and selling my place here, I'm thinking maybe the beginning of summer next year. Don't think I want to move there in the dead of winter. I feel myself drawn to Alaska. I hope I can make it all work out. Thanks again for all the info you've provided.

[@meteoroliver1583]

Josie G It is not a good idea to live in an RV in Alaska over winter. It may be possible in the very south, but with the cold we get up here they do not have enough insulation and the condensation will be a problem. However you could move up in the spring and have the summer to move into something more suitable for winter conditions. You can also consider moving up with a yurt in your truck bed and put it up quick when you get here.

[@meteoroliver1583]

Josie G This will depend on the building codes in the area where you are. In the Fairbanks Northstar Borough it is basically unrestricted use outside the city where there practically are no restrictions. This may not be the case on borough land outside Anchorage for instance.

[@josieg219]

meteoroliver I plan on buying land around Fairbanks where I can build what I want. That's one thing that drew me to Alaska. I don't think any other state has areas that have unrestricted building codes. I'll check out Fairbanks Northstar Borough. I would like to plan on moving up there in the spring. That way whatever I plan on building, can be done during the summer. Still trying to decide between a yurt or a cabin. I was looking at yurts from California, where I live, to see if I can buy one here to bring it up with me. But they are so expensive here. Around $15,000. Not counting the interior items I need. Are they that expensive there in Alaska? If I build a cabin, I can use the trees from my land and it won't be as expensive. Only the cost of hiring someone to hep me. Plus the cost of interior items. Still doing research and figuring my finances. Thanks for all the information you've given me.

[@W4ABN]

Josie G For unrestricted land, I believe there are very few places in remote areas of Texas, Montana, and maybe in the NE like Maine, New Hampshire areas. While I really don't like the cold, Alaska does have some nice views that come with all that natural beauty.