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trollbridge
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 05:08pm
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Many, many things-but above all else it certainly has made me practice patience the most  I'm still learning and am getting better, but it is enough to drive me crazy!!! Patience getting the cabin done, patience between trips, patience saving $ for supplies...AHHHH---too much patience!!!!
Anyone else????
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 05:15pm
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Accepting the fact that it will take us a long time and a lot more money to have the cabin comfortable enough for us to spend our retirement years.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 06:43pm
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I saved up enought money to build mine 4 times over. I wasnt sure how much is was going to cost, so was just being overly cautious. I didnt want to run out part way. Got the shell done in about 3 months (2 trips) and overall, just a smidge over a year to completion. I had so much extra $$$ left over, splurged on custome cabinets etc.
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 09:08pm
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I'm up at my place right now, and I brought all the wiring and speakers to install my new radio, but forgot the damn radio on my work bench at home.
lists are good. Do check them twice :D
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 10:27pm
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I guess we all have different costs. And want different things. And we knew that the money we had set aside was not enough to finish our log home. It was enough for the shell. But it is a vast improvement over the 25 years of tent camping. I guess we could have built a small cabin out of plywood and it would be done but alas that was not the dream.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 10:41pm
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Organization! Exhaustive lists derived from a clearly thought out and detailed plan. Then following the plan and using the lists as materials are set aside in that part of the garage used to collect the goods before loading the truck / trailer for the trip to the mountains. I was not always successful in doing all that; I remember a 90 minute round trip to the nearest source for a pound of longer roofing nails....
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nicalisa
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# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 11:04pm
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that we can do anything we set our mind to.
that time there with the family is more valuable than money or gold.
that i am lucky enough to share this dream with the love of my life.
that everything takes twice as long and is enjoyed 10xs as much.
that i love this life.
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groingo
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# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 12:32am
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I give up, just gonna sit down and watch some South Park so I can get re-inspired for another day!
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 09:41am
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Build lessons:
- Plan, Research, Plan
- Over communicate ideas and expectations
- Expect it to take longer and cost more...I thought I'd be the exception
- Don't compromise too much, phasing the project is better
- Often I am better off doing it myself (ourselves). We hired folks to help us get things done quicker or better and it didn't usually work out.
Cabin lessons:
- Life should be simple
- The cabin makes everything more enjoyable
- Plan only for meals, water and clothes
- The Land has so much to teach
- Explore, reflect and let the moment control me
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 09:44am
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Oh and when you do hire folks. Get a lein waiver when they are done and you pay them. You won't know if they hired subs or paid suppliers.
I'm too trusting!
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Rifraf
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# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 10:04am - Edited by: Rifraf
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-Nothing is ever as cheap as you first calculated
-Nothing gets done as quickly as you first thought
-Measure twice, then measure twice more. Using the right amount of material can save lots of money
-Oversized conduit is MUCH better than undersized conduit for power supply lines. You can pop a blood vessel forcing lines through small conduit.
-simple life, is not so simple. but it is rewarding
-I can be more proud of a 15,000 dollar home I finished than a 150,000 home the bank "lent" me.
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wakeslayer
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# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 03:21pm
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Quoting: nicalisa that we can do anything we set our mind to. that time there with the family is more valuable than money or gold. that i am lucky enough to share this dream with the love of my life. that everything takes twice as long and is enjoyed 10xs as much. that i love this life.
Awesome, nicalisa !!
I love this life!
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rayyy
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# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 05:37pm
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I have to agree with Mountain Don,Think through every square inch of your cabin.Design it on paper.Get it all planned out befor you even start.Location,orientation on your land,how much sun exposure,wind direction,driveway axcess,Water supply,heating source,electric needs.Take your time in thinking it all out.2 years from now,5 years from now,10 years???Planning is the most important step.Buying materials and things that you plan on incorperating into your cabin ahead of time is great.I had a whole room full of stuff that I bought long befor the cabin even existed.The generator,light fixtures,batteries,solar system,windmill,light bulbs(12 volt)water pump,hot water heater,,,even my bathtub and wood stove were purchased long befor the cabin.Having a plan and sticking to it really pay's off!
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 5 Oct 2012 08:14am
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The original post was more a question of what you have learned or are learning:
Lessons my cabin has taught me
I was interested in seeing what things you learned, in this process, about yourself, cabin life or building...
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 5 Oct 2012 08:21am
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Another thing I learned about myself, whether a fault of mine or contractors, is that the clear picture in my mind doesn't always come out of my head when I am explaining or drawing things out. I felt like I had to be onsite to release the workers and around to make sure they got done without skipping steps...so maybe I am a bit of a control freak too!
I have learned a lot about myself...some just confirming what I thought was true.
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 5 Oct 2012 12:56pm
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Quoting: TheCabinCalls I was interested in seeing what things you learned, in this process, about yourself, cabin life or building..
I think we all have learned a lot about ourselves and have seen much personal growth, whether learning perseverance or how to become more organized. Building a "home away from home" is not for everyone...especially if you are doing a good deal of the work yourselves!
I can relate to most every lesson mentioned and I know there are many more- like knowing when to step back and take a needed break or learning what tool is the correct one for the job-or what will work in a pinch-and what should just not be attempted.
Planning is HUGE...as is having all the materials ready so that you can at least get dried in...that's were the $$$$ comes in. We had our whole cabin sitting in our garage before we ever hauled the first piece of lumber up. The interior we had much of, but are still buying/scouting for materials as we work to finish.
I know I said patience has been a challenge for me and believe me...that is no lie! But it has also got us some great "finds", some "unique" ideas, and overall the cabin we envisioned in our heads. It has been worth the extra time to us to get something different-to allow our creativity to flow and to have a goal that we both are working on together. That makes it really special for me. The fact that Mr. Troll is up at the cabin now while I hold down the fort at home is the really, really hard part of practicing patience. The part I don't like at all 
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Woodthrush
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 04:11pm
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I have lived in my cabin for nine months now, through the summer, fall and winter.
You don't need very much to live comfortably and happily.
I go to work every day and I come home to the sound of the birds, the water in the stream, the trees and the stars. The dogs and I are content. I don't have a TV and I don't miss it at all.
I have time to think. I've sorted a few things out in my mind. I never took the time to do this and it's very good.
Sometimes, I need to be with people; I don't want to run away from everybody all the time. But when I'm home, I am at peace.
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trollbridge
Member
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2013 08:57am
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Awesome Woodthrush! And welcome. I'm glad you've found happiness! Sounds wonderful 
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beachman
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2013 12:17pm
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The cabin has taught me that I can really dig out stumps by hand if I am patient enough and work all day on one.
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trollbridge
Member
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2013 08:33pm
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Quoting: beachman The cabin has taught me that I can really dig out stumps by hand if I am patient enough and work all day on one.
 determination and perseverance!!!
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Borrego
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2013 11:26pm
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Patience. And the feeling of awe when something you've envisioned for a couple years sits there before you done, and all because of your own ideas and hard work.... And the feeling that when the nearest store is an hour away, you can figure out a way to do things, somehow. Makes you think of the old ways, using leverage, rolling things on poles, etc.....
Hmmmm, a different world it is.....
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Alaskaman
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# Posted: 4 Apr 2013 08:09pm
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perserverence was what I had to have. My biggest lesson was relax and enjoy the ride. I spent to much time sweating the over the pace.
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DaveM
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# Posted: 11 May 2013 07:27am
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Haste makes waste --unfortunately I keep re-learning this.
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spencerin
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# Posted: 23 May 2013 11:29pm - Edited by: spencerin
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The end of your "to do" list is like a mirage.
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Kudzu
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# Posted: 24 May 2013 07:27am
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I have learned I truly could be a hermit. I don't mind being alone, except I like having the dog with me.
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 24 May 2013 09:39am
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I learned to be more careful how much land you clear. I like the woods, I don't like grass.
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creeky
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# Posted: 26 May 2013 09:21am
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so many lessons.
i too have learned patience. learned to damp a fire in the wood stove to extract the most heat over the longest time. learned to get the girts on the poles for the "shack" asap, before they start to twist as they dry.
as for planning: is there a better feeling than storing an incredible bargain for two years and then the day comes when you take it out of the box, fit it into the waiting assembly, and then stand back and go, "okay what's next." 
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spencerin
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# Posted: 27 May 2013 06:53pm
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In response to my own comment, I have taken steps in the direction of completing 2 items on my list (a storage shed and porch railings), but then I decided to add another, just-now-thought-of item to my "to do" list (adding a small sink to my kitchen cart). Mirage.
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Buggy
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# Posted: 6 Nov 2013 11:46pm
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My cabin has helped me learn the following:
-- To be still and listen
-- To enjoy the small things life has to offer
-- Keep it simple
-- To un-plug
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 7 Nov 2013 12:13pm - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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I didnt learn this from my cabin build, but learned it before the cabin build.
Plumb, level and square. If its not perfect, stop and fix it right away, do not proceed any further.
Anything short of perfect plumb level and square will slow down the building process by 10 fold, worse the closer you get towards finish.
I cant emphasize how important this is until you have went though it.
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