Moving to the Colorado Mountains next year.

[Hermit]

Hi, I’m Hermit. I’m retiring at 63 and I’m planning to build a cabin to live in year-round located in a high mountain valley in the middle of a national forest. I have a daughter that just graduated from college and a son still in college. My wife of 30 years died three years ago which is why, at least according to my earlier plans, I am retiring early. It will be just me at the cabin. I’m deeply involved in a Christian kid’s camp in the Valley and have committed to a large gift to the camp and also plan to help out (certainly not “w*rk”) at the camp while I am able. This will involve a move from southeast Virginia and I will also need to buy a new Jeep to get in and out of the Valley. With retirement and all these other items coming together at the same time, I have questions for the Fire and Money forum on how best to manage my nest egg.
There are several summer cabins in the Valley, but in the winter, there will be the camp maintenance man and his family, one retired couple, and me scattered across the valley. It is truly a beautiful (but cold) place, so I’m looking forward to becoming a very Happy…


Hermit

 

[LauAnn]

Wow, that sounds like quite a change and a real adventure. Hope it all works out and turns out great for you.

 

[Sun456]

You are very brave and adventurous. Good luck!

 

[bssc]

Our plans too but a little more populated Colorado Valley. Good luck

 

[NW-Bound]

I call my get-away home a boonies home, but it is not really one. I can often hear the siren of patrol cars chasing speeders on the nearby highway.

Now, yours sounds more like a true boonies home. Please keep us posted on your new adventures.

PS. When visiting the Sequoia NF recently, we ran across a Christian camp at Hume Lake when exploring around. It is a lively place in the summer, but in the winter when it closes up, there might be just a few people there, but still, probably more than the half-dozen that you described at your valley.

 

[goneboarding]

Hi, I’m Hermit. I’m retiring at 63 and I’m planning to build a cabin to live in year-round located in a high mountain valley in the middle of a national forest. I have a daughter that just graduated from college and a son still in college. My wife of 30 years died three years ago which is why, at least according to my earlier plans, I am retiring early. It will be just me at the cabin. I’m deeply involved in a Christian kid’s camp in the Valley and have committed to a large gift to the camp and also plan to help out (certainly not “w*rk”) at the camp while I am able. This will involve a move from southeast Virginia and I will also need to buy a new Jeep to get in and out of the Valley. With retirement and all these other items coming together at the same time, I have questions for the Fire and Money forum on how best to manage my nest egg.
There are several summer cabins in the Valley, but in the winter, there will be the camp maintenance man and his family, one retired couple, and me scattered across the valley. It is truly a beautiful (but cold) place, so I’m looking forward to becoming a very Happy…


Hermit

Best wishes and much success on your plans. By any chance, is this camp near the town of Westcliffe?

 

[Hermit]

The Front Range commuters stop probably about 8 miles from the camp. The only sounds at night are the coyotes, the wind rustling leaves, and an occasional airplane. The night stars are awesome. The camp doesn't really shut down, but it does slow down. My contribution will help create a family center to provide better accommodations for weekend retreats, etc. With no cell phone access, it provides an opportunity for solitude, reflection, and renewal and an opportunity for a family to enjoy each others company without the normal distractions.

 

[Hermit]

Its about 50 miles north of Westcliffe. Lots of camps like it throughout the mountains.

 

[SJ1_]

Hi, I’m Hermit. I’m retiring at 63 and I’m planning to build a cabin to live in year-round located in a high mountain valley in the middle of a national forest. I have a daughter that just graduated from college and a son still in college. My wife of 30 years died three years ago which is why, at least according to my earlier plans, I am retiring early. It will be just me at the cabin. I’m deeply involved in a Christian kid’s camp in the Valley and have committed to a large gift to the camp and also plan to help out (certainly not “w*rk”) at the camp while I am able. This will involve a move from southeast Virginia and I will also need to buy a new Jeep to get in and out of the Valley. With retirement and all these other items coming together at the same time, I have questions for the Fire and Money forum on how best to manage my nest egg.
There are several summer cabins in the Valley, but in the winter, there will be the camp maintenance man and his family, one retired couple, and me scattered across the valley. It is truly a beautiful (but cold) place, so I’m looking forward to becoming a very Happy…


Hermit

Good luck and enjoy. We love Colorado and hope to spend some more vacations out there.

 

[brewer12345]

Its about 50 miles north of Westcliffe. Lots of camps like it throughout the mountains.

A lovely area. We camped in Eleven Mile State Park and Kenosha Pass this summer and I can definitely understand the attraction. We live in the southern burbs of Denver, since we have small kids and I am comuuting to dowtown.

Out of curiosity, have you spent a winter in the mountains? What is the plan as you get older and less physically capable? I would love to live up there, but it does not work for my family and I wonder how long I could keep doing it.

 

[Nords]

The Front Range commuters stop probably about 8 miles from the camp. The only sounds at night are the coyotes, the wind rustling leaves, and an occasional airplane. The night stars are awesome. The camp doesn't really shut down, but it does slow down. My contribution will help create a family center to provide better accommodations for weekend retreats, etc. With no cell phone access, it provides an opportunity for solitude, reflection, and renewal and an opportunity for a family to enjoy each others company without the normal distractions.

Hey, Hermit, welcome to the board.

Your plans remind me of my father's years in the vicinity of Grand Junction after my mother died.

A decade or so down the road, you may want to consider a plan for making your kids feel welcome at bringing their kids to visit you. Either that or your self-professed "Hermit" lifestyle may need to include frequent travel to visit your family.

 

[Hermit]

I have lived most of my life in Colorado. I too lived for many years in the southern burbs of Denver. We moved to the East cost about 10 years ago for education opportunities for our kids. I have not lived a winter in the mountains. It will be interesting. The temps are about 5 degrees colder than the front range and the snow in the central area just west of the front range is not that bad. The great thing about it is the low humidity. 30 degrees in a flannel shirt is quite comfortable. 30 degrees on the East cost and my teeth chatter! The worst thing about it is that it will take longer to get to the ski slopes than it did in Denver!

I'm hoping to stay up there for 10 years or so depending on health. Should have enough funds to move to a retirement community or assisted living place along the Front Range when the need arises. The place may be that of a Hermit, but the living style will probably be less so. I have lots of friends along the Front range and I plan to drive down to the local mountain community on Wednesdays and Sundays for church and shopping. Probably an occasional trip to Arizona or Texas with other retired friends. And, yes, I'm sure there will be trips to visit kids and grand kids should they arrive. In the warmer times of the year, the place is quite lively with several retired families and a camp full of kids.

The cabin will be small, but will have two bedrooms upstairs and hopefully room to add another in a walk-out basement. (Price increases over the last three years have been pretty steep so budget constraints are limiting the size.)

 

[obgyn65]

Welcome to the forum, hermit. I have never been to Colorado but would love to.

 

[winger]

We are currently staying that area, making our way back to Texas for winter.

We've noticed hundreds of homes built "off the grid". Obviously no electric or water, hopefully a septic tank for waste. A small % are preparing for winter, it's obvious by the amount of firewood stored.

Those that stay the winter in primitive conditions are tougher than me. I like the modern conveniences that we have.

Good luck.

 

[Hermit]

Its not that primitive. I have electricity to the lot and old fashioned phone lines are available. The well will go in next spring and then the septic system and foundation. The homeowner's association has a road grader they use to keep the roads in pretty good shape during the summer. I have a plow truck for when it does snow and the camp keeps the main road into the area plowed through the winter. Its an easy drive in and out, just slow because of washboard roads. My daughter is lobbying for me to put in a media room!

 

[panacea]

That sounds awesome. Enjoy your time there!

 

[Milkman]

Hello Hermit. You say you will be north of Westcliffe. Are you close to the Amish community?

Milkman

 

[bssc]

It sounds like it is not near the Rainbow Lutheran, which is only 15 miles north of Westcliffe. Good luck.

 

[NW-Bound]

Why are we trying to pinpoint our new friend? Judging from his screen name, he is not looking for visitors, I don't think. Don't scare him off.

 

[Hermit]

Why are we trying to pinpoint our new friend? Judging from his screen name, he is not looking for visitors, I don't think. Don't scare him off.

I've really enjoyed the banter from my Hello post. Glad to see folks interested in my adventure. There's been enough interest, that I would like to continue with updates on the progress when things get underway next spring and summer. I'll probably start a new thread in Life After FIRE. I'll be jumping the gun a few months, because I don't think I will retire until July or so, but I guess that should be close enough!

Hermit

 

[CMH in CO]

Welcome Hermit. Lived in the Colorado mountains winter, summer and everything in between all my life and love it.

Cass

 

[Packman]

Your adventure sounds great, Hermit. We live in the Denver south burbs as well. Would love to try something like you're doing but my DW would die without hair salon's, nail places, and the like. Good luck, and post your thoughts regularly, when you retire.

 

[NW-Bound]

I've really enjoyed the banter from my Hello post. Glad to see folks interested in my adventure.

Yes, we like to hear from hermits. There are several self-proclaimed hermits here, but I am not sure that many live in remote areas. Well, the lack of internet would cause self-exclusion, for one thing.

And I am glad that there are people here who also like to banter. There's only so much we can rehash about AA, active vs. index investing, taxes, mortgage or no mortgage, etc..., basically about just money matters. ER has got to be about more than money, of which I think my need is quite elastic. I can have more, or less, and it would not make that much of a difference (of course I want more, but that is because I am greedy, not because it would buy me happiness).

Let's have some fun, while we still can. Life is too short, and I try not to get too worried or too upset. Once we no longer have our health, nothing matters that much anymore. There's nothing like going into a hospital or a nursing home and seeing people there to make me appreciate my condition now, whatever physical abilities I have left.

So, party on!

 

[Hermit]

Yes, we like to hear from hermits. There are several self-proclaimed hermits here, but I am not sure that many live in remote areas. Well, the lack of internet would cause self-exclusion, for one thing.

No lack of internet in the Colorado mountains. WildBlue, now Exede, has a new satellite with pretty good speed. A few of the summer folks up in the Valley got together and bought a Hughesnet link a couple of summers ago which we have set up in the Ranch House. It works great for e-mail and Forums! Satellite is a little pricy, but a person has to have his toys!

 

[NW-Bound]

Hughesnet is what many RV'ers use when they are in the boondocks, and what I know about it comes from reading their blogs. On a recent trip up the twisty coastal Hwy 1 in Northern California, I recognized the same antennas mounted on rooftops.

The problem with satellite internet, as I understand it, is not just the one-time cost of the equipment, but rather the recurring cost. They meter the traffic and the usage cost is rather high from what I've read.