Just as a quick update: As is almost always the case, things are taking longer than expected:)

The shed was delayed in being built, but my moving buddy Dean and I roughed it in the tent the first night.

Not gonna lie, it was scary, but Dean, who was a great Craigslist find, was the perfect guide: Peaceful, optimistic dude from Montana, who regularly deals with bears and has a very calming presence. When I think of who else I could have found on CL to help me through this, I am very, very grateful. I’m very grateful anyway. He went above and beyond.

So, we spent the night, and the cats hid deep in a sleeping bag the whole time. I barely slept.

But in spite of my fear of waking up to a bear stomping through the tent, everything and everyone was so welcoming.

The trees make the place naturally air conditioned–its a good ten degrees cooler on my property than on the street, which is fantastic in August. We’ll see how the natural insulation of being surrounded by trees does in the winter. Does it break the wind, or help me freeze? Time will tell! But for now, I’m digging it.

The neighbors came by one by one to introduce themselves and see what the hell was going on. But they were incredibly kind and supportive, with offers of help and tools. It’s…honestly something I have never experienced before, in any neighborhood I have ever lived in. And I’m just overjoyed by it

One neighbor, in fact, is a licensed contractor and cuts down trees –and was very eager to see if he could help cut a few down. It’s good for his garden, too, to get some more sun. I love these trees…but there are a few too many, and I could use the wood. I’m not used to so many good coincidences. But I am gladly accepting them.

The shed arrived yesterday afternoon. We tried to get started building it, but it was no use before nightfall. Dean couldn’t stay another night, but could come back later. He graciously is putting me and the cats up at his place until we return this afternoon, so I didn’t have to sit in the darkness alone with no walls. We’ll camp again tonight, and then start building the shed first thing in the morning when we wake up. So hopefully by tomorrow, night, I will go to sleep in an actual structure. At my place. At home.

I’m crossing my fingers that this will be sturdy enough. I’ll be using the last of my money to get more lights, so I can put them throughout the property and not just at my campsite.

I can’t lie…this is the most frightening thing I’ve ever done. Everything about this community is just as treacherous NATURE as you can find: winding roads, and cliffs, and bears, and animals, and beaches where swimming is impossible –if you are swimming, you are being torn apart by the ocean.

But it’s also the most fantastical, beautiful place I have ever seen. And I will take beauty and terror over the safety of the soul crushing grind.

The air in my tiny wooded lot is incredible. I didn’t know what it felt like to breathe.

But I am absolutely afraid of the dark, it turns out. The darkness will be the biggest challenge to overcome.

Lights, and a motorbike are the next things I need with immediacy. I have a job interview on Monday (after months and months of looking for jobs where I am, to no avail, here, I line up an interview at the place I want to work immediately. I am where I am supposed to be).

But in the meantime, your Bone purchase continues to make this possible. The sooner I get lights, and a little scooter I can throw the cats on and outrun tsunamis with, the sooner I can enjoy breathing so deep, and stop hyperventilating.

Go here to get your bones, and start your arts and crafts savings account, and please enjoy this slide show of what you made possible!