I Bought an Abandoned off Grid Dream Home for Next to Nothing, and it's Going to be Glorious.
The past seven years have been an incredible rollercoaster of travel, opportunity and progress. I left my home and a full time job to pursue the dream of becoming an adventure film maker, and set sail as a Video Producer for Princess Cruises. This move changed my life fundamentally, and was arguably the most transformative and enjoyable chapter of the Dustin Porter story thus far. Of course, with the introduction of Covid, this chapter closed basically overnight, and I was left with the task of discovering a new path, and it was critically important to me that the new path would be as fulfilling as the previous, so I set my sights on the YouTube platform.
I was relatively prepared for this next chapter, with a Motorhome, a film kit, a skillset and a chest full of ambition, so I hit the road and refused to look back. YouTube is a tough market to break into, and it took me nearly two years of consistent work and growth, but at this point, four years in, things are looking very promising. All in all, my path as an Adventure/travel film maker has spanned seven years, 54 Countries and countless mistakes, and throughout that time I have not had a physical home. Ships, rigs and the road have been my home, and they have been a home I have loved and will continue to enjoy for many years to come, but the lifestyle does not come without some serious challenge.
Many people don't realize that a YouTube channel, once monetized, is a business no different than any other, and I am required to follow all of the same rules. Unfortunately, the rules in this country are still set for conventional business, which require a physical address. Even outside of the business, I am required to have a physical address to maintain many of the essentials in my life. For all of these variables, I have used my parents address, but it is time to finally change this. I need to find a way to get all of these variables into my own name with my own address, in a way that will not interfere with the business or the travel, and I believe that the answer to all of these problems lies here, at Lot 32.
The opportunity to purchase this property came to me nearly two years ago, and I purchased it on a whim. I had a rough. idea of what it was and was was here, but part of me was very concerned it would be a massive mistake. The filth left on the property was overwhelming, and the condition of the structure unknown. Coming into the winter season, the property build was not on the radar, but after getting back to the area and taking a closer look, the decision was easy. It is time to tackle this build. The structure is in great shape, the view is spectacular and the time is right. I have a great plan on how I can put this whole project together in a way that will give me a great little home base, that is self sufficient and sustainable, and of course will give me my own address.
Phase one was of course the clean up, as this had to happen weather the building was being utilized or demolished. This lot was purchased nearly 30 years ago, the small home was built until about 50% completion, and then the whole project was walked away from. The following decades, the lot sat vacant and was used as nothing more than a dumping ground, and by the time I acquired it there was more garbage present than land. The clean up will be under way for a long time to come, but the bulk of it was completed in four full days, leaving behind a great little home ready to be finished. Phase two was accessibility, and in went the driveway and fill of the "Bri Pit". Phase three will be of course the early stages of building and preparing.
I want to give a huge thank you to Emi, for helping so much with the clean up, which was arguable the most difficult part of this project. A big thank you to Andrew with Drewzer Contracting for coming to help with the driveway and landscaping. If you are in need of any work done in the Cariboo/Cilcotin, Septic Installations, Property Development or general excavation, he is the guy for the job. Phone: 250-267-9705
I am so very excited for this project and this chapter on my life, and I am truly honoured to be able to chare it with all of you. Thank you so much for being part of my life and making all of this possible.
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Destination Adventure
My name is Dustin Porter, I am an adventurer, a film maker and generally just a lover of life. I live full time in a 36 foot Winnebago motorhome, and let me tell you it is an interesting and exciting life. I love to visit and explore abandoned and histo...