Year 1 in Review and Looking Ahead at Year 2.

One year ago today I started a grand adventure leaving my home state of Michigan, driving across country with my dog, cat, and trailer in tow to Arizona.  It has been quite a year!  While I vastly over estimated the amount of progress I would be able to make in a year toward building infrastructure and the home we plan to retire in, I made progress none the less.

I built a shed to house electronics for the solar system and the computer network with a ton of help from my new and good friend Rick.

I got internet and a WiFi network operational at the property enabling me to live and work there.

I got the solar system completely installed and operational.

I got a 5000 gallon water tank delivered and filled with water so I would have water available at the property.

I acquired a second RV to provide space and privacy for my wife, daughter, and I who will all be living on the property starting this summer.

I acquired a tractor with back hoe to move earth and assist with various projects in the years to come.

I started a war with the mesquite shrubs.  I expect it to be a multi year war but I have confidence that my trusty tractor and I will be victorious in the end.

I got (paid to have installed) a fence to keep the cattle out around the area I plan to develop over the next 5 years

I forced myself out of my shell / comfort zone and made a conscious effort to make new friends and socialize.  The end result is I have a number of friends out here now.  More friends that I am keeping in touch with than I’ve ever had at any one time in my adult life.

I spent about a month or so back home in Michigan.

I went on two business trips out east.

Had friends from Michigan come to visit.

Had one of my sons come to visit.

Cured the tumor in my dog’s eye by switching her from commercial dog food to home cooked food.

Put my cat down as I didn’t catch his tumor in time and it got the better of him.  For what it is worth, I will never feed my pets commercially made food again.  Home made food is both cheaper and healthier for them.

Shot at a rabid fox with my rifle and missed.  My heart just wasn’t in it even though I knew it was the right thing to do.  In hindsight, I wished I had seen it through and put him down.

Shot at a rattle snake with my neighbors shotgun – hit but did not immediately kill it (I blame the miss on the failing light of day as it was nearly dark).  Saw him a couple days later in the drive.  Left him alone as he wasn’t in our immediate living space.  Haven’t seen him since.

Sold one of two houses in Michigan.

Learned many lessons including to remember my wallet when I go to town for shopping.

While I can’t find a record or notes of my weight when I left home, I do have notes back to Dec 2016 that I was 248 lbs.  Given that I am now 204, I’m going to say I have lost 30+ pounds in the past 12 months.  Not bad considering all the potlucks at Rusty’s where I found it very difficult to resist temptation (and failed to do so on many occasions) and meals I’ve eaten out where I’m eating high fat due to the corn chips, guacamole, and either corn tamales or bean burritos where I’m certain they have added fat for flavor.  My target weight is 170 – 180 and I fully expect to get there in the next 12 months.

All the above and more while working full time.

I have a little over three years left to complete the construction of our house and various other structures planned for the property.  Guess I better pick up the pace a bit.

I’m looking forward to a very productive year 2.  With Cheryl and Rachel moving out here, I will have help with both the projects themselves and house keeping matters that currently take away time from working on projects.

Here are my objectives for the next year:

• Move my wife and daughter from Michigan to Arizona to finally join me in this grand adventure.
• Finish the outside roof and walls on the electronics shed.
• Add 2 more batteries to the solar system to provide sufficient battery power to run two RV’s and lighting over night (currently just shy of the required battery capacity for that requirement).
• Build a storage barn for compost pile, tractor, and other things that I wish to protect from sun, rain, and wild fire.
• Build a small practice earth bag structure.  I will likely use it to house water supply stuff such as water pumps, pressure tank, point of water distribution, and maybe some storage.
• Build a carport for the RV’s.  This will provide much needed shade to the RV’s in the summer months as well as a rainwater collection surface.
• Plumb the RV parking area for water and wire it for electrical.
• Chip the piles of brush that I have collected as while they are providing habitat for wildlife (road runners and quail have nested in them), they also add to the fire hazards around the property.  Besides, I want the wood chips in place for the future garden and tree plantings.
• Continue to collect brush and chips from residents in the valley who don’t want them for use in the future garden and tree plantings.
• Do some earthwork to direct the flow of water runoff to where I want it.
• Continue my war with the mesquite.
• Plant some trees.
• Train for and pass my pack test to be a wild land firefighter and join the local fire department as a volunteer.
• Take some additional training to add value to the local volunteer fire department.
• Continue my weight loss and reach my target weight in a healthy and methodical manner.
• Take time for friends and family because they are what make time on earth enjoyable.
• Take time for some volunteer work as that is what our community here runs on.

This is a sizable list of projects for a year, but I need to get as many of them done as I can providing I have the funds needed so I can focus 100% on building the house in year three with some experience and lessons learned behind me.

Special thanks to all of you who encourage me to document and share this adventure with you.