Three Years on the Homestead: Intro

It’s hard to believe we’ve been at this for three years. When we first pulled the camper onto this property and called it “home,” we had no idea just how much work, learning, and patience it would take to get where we are now. Some days it feels like we’re still just getting started, but when we look back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.

In three years, we’ve turned two simple 10x20 Amish-built shells into livable spaces — adding insulation, flooring, wallboard, ceiling, and electrical to make them our cabin and garage. We also built our solar shed from the ground up, which powers much of what we do here. Along the way, we’ve had to learn patience the hard way, accept that some dreams take longer than we hoped, and celebrate the little wins that make this life worthwhile. The photos we’re sharing with this post capture that arc — from overhead shots of our very first camp spot to the latest views of our building site.

To mark the occasion, we wanted to do something different. We asked ChatGPT to come up with 11 questions for us — no cherry-picking, no editing — and then answered them separately, without comparing notes. (Though, to be fair, Lou was in the room while I was writing mine, so there may have been a little influence there!) What you’ll read below is us looking back, side by side, on the same journey. Sometimes our answers overlap, sometimes they couldn’t be more different, but together they show not just what we’ve built, but how much this land and this lifestyle have shaped us.

Three-Year Anniversary Q&A

1. Looking back to when we first started this project, what’s the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself?

Michael: For me, it’s really about patience and acceptance. When we first came here, I thought we’d have animals right away and be producing much of our own food within a year. But the reality is, without fencing, good feed sources, and infrastructure, it just isn’t sustainable. We did try chickens, and it didn’t work out — and instead of forcing it, we accepted that it wasn’t the right time. The same goes for money. As much as I want to live entirely off what we grow here, I’ve had to accept that I still need a steady job to keep investing in the property. Homesteading might save money long-term, but the upfront costs are real. I’m proud of how patient we’ve been and how much better I’ve gotten at accepting where we are in the process.

Lou: I’d say patience too, but in a slightly different way. In some cases we used to buy quick, cheap solutions just to get something in place — whether it was a tool, a fixture, or some other shortcut. Now I’ve learned that waiting, saving, and buying the right thing once is better than rushing into something that breaks or doesn’t do the job effectively. That shift has changed how I approach everything here.

2. What project has made the biggest difference in your daily life?

Michael: I’d split it into two big stages. The first was in fall of 2023, going into our first winter here, when we moved the woodstove into the cabin and finally set up the bed inside. Up until then, we were still sleeping in the camper and just using the cabin as a storage and staging area. Once we moved in, we stopped heating the camper except for showers, and it felt like a whole new chapter had started. The second stage came last year when we built out the cabin with real comforts — the bedframe, the shower, the sink, and the oven. That oven might still be small compared to a normal house, but compared to the camper oven, it’s huge — we can actually roast a turkey! On top of that, we brought in a 72-inch workbench that became our kitchen counter. That simple thing completely changed how we function in the space. It defined our little kitchen and gave us a sense of home in just 200 square feet.

Lou: For me, it’s definitely the bathroom and shower. Just being able to step in, turn on a pump, and have warm water flowing at a comfortable pressure feels like such a luxury compared to where we started. We’ve upgraded our shower pump, too, so now we can choose a gentle flow or a more powerful rinse. It might sound small, but those upgrades make such a difference when you’re living off-grid. The bed improvements, too — finally sleeping in our cabin, in a space that feels like ours, was a huge turning point.

3. What challenge has been the hardest to overcome, and what did it teach you?

Michael: The hardest thing has been not diving into animals. It’s been a real exercise in patience because both of us dream of raising pigs, chickens, and goats, once more. But I’ve come to see that it’s smarter to build the infrastructure first — fencing, feed sources, comfortable living spaces for us — rather than piling animals into a half-prepared system. Feed costs are higher than I expected, too, and quality feed is tough to source at a reasonable price. The lesson? Be patient, build the systems, and don’t rush just because your heart wants it.

Lou: I’d echo that. My heart is heavy sometimes because I want animals so badly — puppies, kittens, anything that would bring life and energy here. But I’ve had to learn that animals don’t fix everything. Sometimes they add more problems if you’re not ready. Holding back has been hard, but I’ve come to see it as the right thing to do.

4. What’s been the most surprising joy or hidden blessing?

Michael: Honestly, the seclusion. I’ve spent so much of my life in or near cities, and now the quiet here is one of my favorite things. Watching wildlife move through our property, seeing deer or hearing owls, or just driving home and noticing how alive the woods are — that’s a gift I didn’t fully expect.

Lou: For me, it’s our neighbors. I didn’t realize how strong and supportive this community could be until we were here. They’ve offered advice on where to build, shared meat they’ve processed themselves, even plowing our long driveway our first winter so we could get back to our property, and just been kind in ways that remind me we’re not really “alone” out here. That sense of camaraderie has been such a blessing.

5. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice on Day One, what would it be?

Michael: Material over machinery. We spent a lot of money on renting an excavator and scraping topsoil, when that same money could’ve bought us loads of gravel. Yes, I learned a lot about operating large equipment, but if I had to do it again, I’d spend the money on materials that we can still see and use today.

Lou: I’d tell myself: you’re always going to want things, and things cost money. Don’t let impatience or short-term desire dictate what you buy. Often, when I’ve waited, I’ve realized I didn’t even want that thing as much as I thought I did. Patience in purchasing is worth it.

6. What skill or piece of knowledge are you most proud of gaining?

Michael: Building and systems. Everything from putting up insulation and wallboard, to wiring solar and electrical systems, to building a bedframe — we’ve gotten better at the whole process of learning, planning, and executing. I’m proud of how we’ve leveled up our ability to take a concept and make it real.

Lou: Construction, hands down. We took an empty shell and turned it into something that stands, works, and serves us every single day. That’s a skill I never thought I’d have, and I’m proud of it.

7. How has living this lifestyle changed the way you see community?

Michael: In a city, people come and go. Here, families stay for generations. That stability makes for a different kind of neighbor. Ours have given us advice, brought us food, and even checked in during bad weather. It’s a kind of community that feels rare in today’s world, and I’ve come to value it deeply.

Lou: I’ve learned to feel more confident asking for help. Our neighbors know so much, and they’re willing to share that knowledge. It’s humbling and inspiring, and it’s taught me that community isn’t about everyone knowing everything — it’s about sharing skills and looking out for each other.

8. What do you each do to recharge or find balance?

Michael: Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a drive down a new road or exploring trails with the Tacoma. We’ve been fishing this summer, too, and soon we’ll have a boat, which I think will really open things up. But balance also comes from working on the property. When we spend a day cleaning or clearing an area, I feel recharged just looking at the progress. And when Lou says, “That looks so good,” it’s like fuel for me.

Lou: I’m still figuring that out. Sometimes the best thing for me is to walk away from a project that feels overwhelming and come back later with fresh eyes. Recharging doesn’t always mean rest — it means stepping back, breathing, and not letting stress take over.

9. Is there a moment from the past year that captures why this life is worth it?

Michael: Last fall’s big purchase stands out. We bought the shower, stove, wood for the bedframe, kitchen counter, sink, and our Honda 3000-watt generator. It wasn’t a picture-perfect, rainbow kind of moment. But standing there with all of that equipment that we own, knowing we’d invested in real comfort, power, and freedom — that was huge.

Lou: For me, it’s the everyday rhythm of coming home and seeing what we’ve built. Walking onto the property, seeing the cabin, the shed, the progress — it makes me proud and happy. That simple moment repeats itself every day, and it never loses its power.

10. Looking forward, what’s one dream project you hope to accomplish in the next three years?

Michael: Fencing is the big one. Once we have an acre fenced in, it’ll change everything. I want to move the cabin to a better spot, build out the land more intentionally, and by summer 2028, I hope to be raising pigs again. That feels like a milestone worth aiming for.

Lou: Gardens and a greenhouse. I want space to propagate perennials and to really see plants thriving here. Adding that life to the land will make it feel even more like home.

11. What do you hope friends, family, or readers take away from our story?

Michael: Inspiration. We’ve learned so much from people like Simple Living Alaska, Girl in the Woods, and Bushradical. They showed us that it’s possible to build a life like this, even if it looks different for everyone. I hope our story adds to that chorus — that people see our path, unique as it is, and feel encouraged to take their own.

Lou: That slow and steady wins the race. It’s not glamorous or fast, but it works — and it’s worth it.

Three Years on the Homestead: Wrap-Up

Looking back, the theme that keeps surfacing for both of us is patience. We’ve had to slow down, accept where we are, and trust the process. That’s not always easy when you want animals right away, or when you dream of gardens, greenhouses, and a fully developed property. But patience has kept us steady — and it’s teaching us to appreciate the small wins along the way.

This past year has also been marked by loss. With Lupe’s passing, we were reminded again of how fleeting life can be, and how important it is to cherish the time we have together — with our animals, with each other, and with this land. It reinforced why we’re here: to live intentionally, to keep learning, and to build something lasting.

Three years in, we’re proud of the cabin we’ve finished out, the solar shed we built, and the systems we’ve put in place. We’re proud of the patience we’ve practiced, even when it’s hard. And we’re excited for what’s next: fencing, animals, gardens, and the slow, steady shaping of this land into a true permaculture homestead.