Where parcel size is 20 acres; out in the country, straw bails are a dime a dozen. It may be advisable to build a curved wall of straw bails around
the north side of your tent... maybe 5 feet tall. excellent wind break and thermal mass for cheap. Doing so may inspire you to get a small parcel
yourself and live in a straw hut
If there is a downed tree of considerable size on her land... consider carving yourself out an area amongst the branches to plop your tent; thats what
the deer would do; thermal mass.
Every day... get up early. Get dressed. Wash your face. Brush your teeth. LEAVE CAMP. Walk the street, meet people and neighbors, network, find
things to do... even if they do not pay. Productivity is the antidote to depression.
You mentioned you are a reader... stop by the library and pick up some books on self improvement; nobody is above such. Steven Covey's "7 Habits"
for example.
Hot rocks. When it is wicked cold out... and I have to do something outside... I keep palm sized hot river rocks in my pocket. Set them in your
fire's coals, (I use my wood stove) let them get really hot... wrap them in cloth and then stick 'em in your pockets. 30 minutes of heat to go;
it'll keep you warm until you get to doing something productive.
Every hotel room has a bible in it. If you respect the book, your tent should too. Keeping a bible clean and dry in "the woods" can be a humbling
spiritual experience in itself.
Flag your poo hole. You will have visitors and they may come to visit when you're not around... Its one thing to step in dog poo; a whole other
animal to be knee deep in someone else's pit... A road cone works well.
A roll of hemp string from the craft store can be really helpful for keeping food off the ground, tying down your tarp, etc.
Hang a pair of pants in your tent, preferably cargo pants. The pockets will become your "night stand" where you can dump your keys, wallet, watch,
etc. each evening.
Be sure you drink your 8 - 8oz glasses of water a day. You're around a fire; which is new... you're doing a lot more walking, which is new... Stay
hydrated if you want to stay productive.
You are going to have a new time schedule. Dawn to Dusk becomes a very real thing when you are away from city lights. Don't fight it... go with it;
and bring it back to the city with you when you return; the early bird catches the worm.
Leave no trace. If you pack it into your aunts land, pack it back out when you leave.
Establish a personal monthly budget. What do you expect to spend when you return to "the city"? What do you have outstanding that you need to fix?
What is your action plan to "fix" it? How much can you reasonably expect to earn monthly? What will you spend on food? What will you spend on
housing? What else will you spend? Be detailed with your budget. You are in the woods, without a roof, largely because your previous budget, or
lack thereof, failed.
I don't know you, and I don't want to pass judgement... but consider your personal "recreational" habits... We all have them. Consider their
MONTHY cost in dollars. Perhaps this is the time to give up your daily "expresso".
Sri Oracle