While I have been reading here for awhile, this is my first post on the site-and I am very thankful for all of the good information posted by all of the members.
I am a disabled veteran just about at the end of the line as far as diagnosis and treatment goes, and it looks like I'm not really going to be able to get back into having a productive career of any kind-so I am strongly considering using my savings and any means of help I can get to find a decent strip of land in an area with a moderate climate (cool year round, not too cold in the winters) such as Oregon, Southern Washington, N.E. CA, etc., and putting up a yurt as a permanent home. I've been renting apartments all of my life, and can not afford to do so anymore on limited veterans benefits-not to mention needing to be away from all the people and their drama so that I can try to relax.
As part of my location limitations, I'll need to be fairly close to VA facilities to receive my regular dose of apathy, which means I will likely need to be erecting a yurt to local code (I doubt that I can manage all the extra chores associated with off-grid living, so I will need running water, sewer (or septic), and electric, with propane/woodstove for cooking and
if feasible). Although I understand that this requirement might make finding a place where a yurt is acceptable very difficult. I'd love to be able to do without, but while I can still walk and move, I'm slow-and won't likely be getting any better.
I think ideas like strawbales are excellent, but I'm doubting that I would be able to get away with them if I need to meet code requirements? I'm thinking that being in a moderate climate, I could get away with a concrete slab foundation with necessary plumbing, and using a decent woodstove for heating-but that might cause
issues with an inspector? Then again, what do I know. I'm really hoping to be located somewhere where summers are under 80 degrees, and winters do not get too much snow.
I'm looking at yurts from
,
,
, etc., in the 24'-30' sizes; I am not thinking of any interior finishing if I can avoid it-It will be just me and the girl pugs, so I don't need "rooms," just functionality, peace, and a place to try to be as comfortable as I can.
I suppose that I'm just asking for any ideas that those with experience can offer...and any tips anyone might have for obtaining help with all of the details; I'll likely need to hire help for all aspects, which just might push this whole idea into the land of unfeasible. I do not think I would be able to manage revisions later, so I have to try to do things right the first time.
Thanks for all the great information already provided, I hope to see more!
~Sam