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teakboat
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# Posted: 16 Jan 2011 11:33pm
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Hello, I have been really happy to find this excellent website. Lots of good info and enthusiastic members.
I have a question, I am wondering if people actually make the drive to use their cabins often enough to make it worthwhile. I have some land in a pretty part of the Ozarks in AR. It is about 160 miles from my house. The land has a clear creek, is at the base of a mountain, and is pretty scenic. I like to go out there, just wondering if our family would spend time at a cabin if I build one.
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bugs
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2011 07:49am - Edited by: bugs
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Hi Teakboat
Welcome to the "little" forum.
Property/cabin usage comes down to what type of lifestyle you have.
For us our property is a pleasant 1.5 hour drive. If the weather is good and we are not working or have other obligations we are out at our little place every weekend from snow melt (April) to snowfall (October). We often try and extend the weekend into a three day stay. We found "things" get very interesting at dawn and dusk at the property and now we have a telescope to add to the pleasure of an overnight stay. During the winter months we try, if the weather is decent, to go out for a day trip once a week to get out of the city and go snowshoeing.
But again it is all about your lifestyle and how much you want to/can bring your property into your regular circle of activities.
You could compromise and build a small cabin or try tenting or rent a camper for a couple of months to try it out and see how things go. If you are like us the novelty still hasn't worn off after almost 2 years of owning our place.
bugs
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larry
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2011 07:49am
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my wife is not a outdoors kinda girl and my kids were quit young when i built our cabin thinking it would me mainly a hunting lodge for me and a few friends. our cabin is 175 mile north and when i was done with construction my wife help with the interior at that point she was hooked. now she can't wait till the weather breaks and the kids are out of school because that 175 mile drive is nothing to get to a place as wonderful as our cabin. build it and you will use it more often then you could have ever imagined!
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teakboat
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2011 11:50am
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I'm thinking that this year we will camp out there some, and make improvements towards a cabin that don't cost much. Improve the little road/trail to the building site, run water from the spring down to the site, and perhaps place piers for the foundation.
I am thinking about a 14 x 24 cabin. The land has lots of limestone rocks. Could I make piers out of that stone, 18" deep in the ground, mortared together? I was thinking 6 on each side (12 total) and using 2 x 10 joists across the 14' span. That is my initial plan.
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fpw
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2011 03:36pm
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I am about 2.5 hours from our cabin. I spent weekends and vacation building. My wife wasn't too interested in staying in the bunkhouse with the tools. However, now that things are closed in and more civilized, she loves to spend the weekend with me.
Jon
www.peelinglogs.blogspot.com
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teakboat
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2011 09:54pm - Edited by: teakboat
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Well, I feel pretty committed now. I just made an offer for the 30 acres adjacent to my land, hope he takes my offer. It sounds like my situation is so much like a lot of those here. I think reading this site and looking at the photos of others properties has put me in the mood.
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teakboat
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2011 10:38pm
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FPW - your cabin looks really nifty!
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beulahfarkward
Member
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# Posted: 7 Feb 2011 11:51am
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FPW - love the cabin! Especially loved the toilet!
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fpw
Member
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# Posted: 7 Feb 2011 12:51pm
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teakboat,
The downside of traveling is that, often, I can only work for the weekend. So it is a drive up, pack in, unload, work a day and half and, then, reverse the process. So overall time to build gets pushed out some.
beulahfarkward,
Lots of dicussion on toilet design at our cabin. My wife and my perspectives are quite different. Based on the outhouse design, I've gotten specific direction on what my prespective will be in the future.
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bushbunkie
Member
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# Posted: 9 Feb 2011 08:36pm
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Hey Teakboat,
We're a 3.5 hour drive from out little cabin...and it's worth it.
I found that once I added a few comforts...my wife and two boys became just as pumped.
We're now creating some traditions when we drive up to make it fun...we'll leave Sat morning at 5 a.m. with the big goal of hitting our favourite greasy spoon in 2.5 hours, where the kids order any breakfast they want.
With our bellies full, we're a short hour to the cabin.
FPW...love the cabin!!!!...and the toilet....but my wife needed something a little more traditional :)
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teakboat
Member
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2011 04:34pm
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Well, after a cold (and unprofitable) winter, now with a little money coming back in and warmer weather nearby I am back to thinking about this. My biggest concern is getting our family up and around early enough to travel and get any work done. I know how we are, much discipline would be required to get an early enough start...
You guys mention adding a few comforts to make it easier.. like what did you do?
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