It only took 7 or so months, but I am in the process of moving into the new abode. It's rustic, needs some work and ongoing maintenance, has its positives and negatives, and I don't think everyone would like to live there... but I love it!I write to you from my little mezzanine sleeping area above the main part of the house (kitchen/dining/living section). There are also another couple more rooms, one with a mezzanine and a storage room which is a little run down and full of general rubbish.
I just watched the moon drop down into the Tasman Sea in the clearing of trees which enables me to hear and watch those waves crashing down on this crazy wild coast. Breathtaking.
Some drawbacks;
- Needs a bit of work to get it up to its potential, including plenty of weed removal
- Outdoor shower & long drop toilet
- 5 min walk up the hill from the driveway
- Only heating is the fireplace
- Getting heavy things up the hill is a challenge
- You cant just pop round to a neighbour if you run out of sugar...
Some selling points;
- Rustic charm
- Secluded+ quiet
- Amazing views of the coast and our CVNZ project site from my lookout spot
- A bit of garden/land to grow some tasty organic veggies
- Surrounded by native rainforest bushland(!!)
- There's a walking track leading off from behind the house and I have no idea where to!
- I have a winch...
- Landlord is keen to have someone look after the place, and has offered to buy materials and sub my rent for any work I do
- The whipper-snipper / weed-eater is my new toy
- It's mine all mine - good to finally have my own space
To me, the advantages far outweigh the so called disadvantages. It's stripping those comforts back down, which I always feel makes for a more interesting life. Comfort is kind of a misnomer... you get too comfortable and you don't experience things as often, or as intensely.So I have plenty of ideas about how to improve the place. First plan is to get on top of the vegetation and weeds... it's going to be a whipper-snipper marathon I think. Once I have managed to pull some of the grass back, I also need to get in and dig out or poison some of those nasty weeds (ginger being my main enemy at the moment). Following that process, I shall endeavour to cut a little path through to the lookout and the longdrop, and mulch it to keep it nice and open. I will also be able to replant the long-dead veggie patch and maybe grow some tomatoes in the green house.
At the moment I'm devoid of lightbulbs, so I'm nipping into town to get a stash. However I have also been looking at the slightly greener option of solar lighting. Ok, I don't have $3k to rig the whole place up with proper panels, BUT the little solar paddles are 'cheap as chups' these days, so I may make my own (here's a great link if you're interested). I also found a bargain on TradeMe (NZ's verison of eBay) for 10 of those garden solar lanterns, so they can be my track markers down the hill. Should give me a few hours light after sunset to get up the hill! Even saw solar fairy lights on sale, so may purchase some of them for the inside decorations. All of this is not me becoming more and more of a hippy. Oh no. It's actually financial... solar = free
Why wouldn't you?! That's what I say!
Anyway, other than that I'm keen to get some more of my photos framed or on canvas and hang those around the place. I'm also massively missing my sister's art from home, so am considering how to get some of that brought/sent out.
There's plenty more to be done but I shall not bore you with the details. Needless to say I'm happy to have some of my own space once again, and keen to live as sustainably, cheaply and happily as possible. I'm looking forward to having it all scrubbed up by the time my folks arrive in September, and then the ever amazing Elinor arrives shortly after that, so it shall be like a fast forward to when she comes over to live in January time. Then Ing & Doug (El's folks) are spending a little time on the coast around the same time, so hopefully I can invite them up for dinner sometime around then.If anyone feels like they need a break from the city, well I have a spare room and you're welcome to stay! A property backing onto the Paparoa National Park rainforest awaits you...
Facebook Photo Album Link
p.s. I had to re-write this blog after writing it all out last night offline in the cabin. I was writing away enjoying a glass of wine, and then... oops... my laptop drank a glass of wine and doesn't want to let me use the keyboard today. Balls.
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