http://www.cabinstuff.com CabinStuff.com - Helping people build and enjoy their dream cabins. en-us webmaster@cabinstuff.com http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/175.cfm Congratulations! You've decided to take the plunge and buy or build a cabin. You've realized that there are very few things in this life that may be more rewarding, but you want to build the perfect cabin. Unfortunately, like most people, you have never built a cabin before and have no idea where to start. Believe it or not, building a cabin that exceeds all of your dreams may be easier than you think. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/172.cfm Time in a cabin sauna is time well spent. Saunas come in many varieties, however, it can be more convenient for friends and family if the sauna can be accessed from the actual cabin building. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/180.cfm See the words "risk," "trouble" and "sorry" in a sentence and you can be certain you're reading about some hapless blunder. But see those same words in a cabin closet and you can be certain you're looking at blue-eyed nostalgia in the form of board games. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/178.cfm One of the joys of cabin living is proximity to amazing animals. Observing the behavior of raccoons, foxes, deer, bear, moose, and other wildlife can be great fun! However, you'll want to ensure that your fascination with furry friends doesn't jeopardize the safety of your family and pets. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/179.cfm The night sky ranks as cabin life's most overlooked amenity. It's a belief born from the realization that in this age of artificial light, night has become a cheap approximation, downgrading the spectacle of stars to that of unicorn-like rumor. It's not until we step out of our cabins at night, far from ambient light, that we recognize this bonus, and feel as if our decks and yards are open-air planetariums, minus, of course narration and some guy with a red laser pointer. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/173.cfm Cabin plumbing is notorious for giving cabin dwellers a headache! If you're not on the grid, you are pretty much out of luck. Tired of your outdated outhouse? For the rustic cabin owner, that may not be as good as it gets. Rainwater flushing systems are becoming easier to understand and less expensive. While not for everybody, in many regions rainwater flushing systems can mean indoor plumbing (at least a toilet!) for those cabin dwellers who have given up some modern luxuries. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/177.cfm You know you should lose some weight. You've tried some diets and weight-loss techniques, but you always end up giving in to temptation because -- if you're like most people in advanced societies -- hamburgers, French fries, milkshakes, cookies, candy, and ice cream are just minutes away from where you live. Here's a thought: the next time you're at your cabin for an extended stay (a couple of weeks or more), use the cabin's remote location as a weight-loss "tool." http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/174.cfm Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems with building a cabin in the middle of the woods is that the cabin's power is hard to get, at best. Even if you are able to bring power to your cabin, you'll still face the fact that it's unreliable. If you build your own solar panels, you'll save quite a bit of money on power, as well as be able to tap into a reliable source of power that you can use. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/170.cfm Moving from city to full-time cabin residency is an easy transition, provided you're not dependent upon sweeping approval from friends. Particularly those whose idea of a "rural experience" is shopping at Pottery Barn. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/171.cfm You've been gifted with your Aunt Jean's antiques and want to use them in your cabin, however, you're unsure as to how. Get creative. There are two ways to make an impact when using antiques in interior cabin planning. You can integrate them throughout your cabin, or decorate a single room in antiques. For example, an antique bed can be covered with a very old quilt. An antique stove can become the highlight of your kitchen and be accented with smaller antiques. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/169.cfm Cabin plans with really high ceilings are very popular, mainly because a structure with elevated ceilings is exciting to see and fun to live in. There's no denying the fact that towering ceilings create drama in a cabin design! If high ceilings are important to you, you should definitely include this feature in your cabin plan. However, if done without careful thought and planning, incorporating high ceilings into your cabin design can take a big bite out of your cabin's square footage, escalate your heating costs, and cut down on view potential. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/168.cfm Solar power is nothing if not the friend of the intrepid cabin owner. If your cabin is not wired to the grid, the days are gone that you have to rely on batteries alone. There are a number of wonderful solar options to help you with cabin energy. It's important for you to see where you are going in the dark, but cabin energy is important for so many more reasons! http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/166.cfm Among the strangest customs of cabin life is the need to name our cabins. I say strange because none of us ever feel compelled to name our homes or condominiums, but only our cabins. A related quirk, I guess, to how we name boats but not cars. Or to how we name ranches but not farms. http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/167.cfm When your cabin was originally built, you probably had it caulked by a professional to seal up the air losses in your walls and windows. However, over time, that caulk can dry out, leaving a possible area where energy can get out, and rain and insects can get in. It is in your best interests to update the caulk on your cabin every 7-10 years or so. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/164.cfm For some cabin owners, cabin life is all about seclusion and solitude. For others, though, socializing with friends and neighbors is an important component of cabin life. If you fall into the second category, and if your cabin is in a location far away from your full-time residence, you might be struggling with the challenges of assimilating into the neighborhood and building a social life at your cabin. Here are some good ways to meet new people and start forming friendships. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/176.cfm Author Edward Abbey once penned, "We are obliged, therefore, to spread the news, painful and bitter though it may be for some to hear, that all living things on earth are kindred." http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/165.cfm Lugging that heavy trash container down a slopping driveway in the pouring rain...well, you get the idea. Perhaps you should consider adding a compost bin as part of your cabin living plan. Whether you purchase a manufactured bin or build one, you can use it to fertilize your way to a healthy garden by composting your kitchen waste, leaves and grass cuttings. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/163.cfm Some things in life escape explanation. For me the big three are: Bigfoot; Donald Trump's hair; and the enduring tradition of sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows. I was reminded of this last night when my sister invited me to her cabin for a campfire (not to meet Donald Trump or lure Bigfoot, but to roast Jet-Puffs). http://www.cabinstuff.com/public/160.cfm Unfortunately, many cabins, particularly modern cabins, are built of substandard, cheap materials that will not last very long in the harsh wilderness environment that most of them are built in. If this is the case, then how do you choose a cabin that is both cost conscious and built to last? The answer is in the wood. http://www.cabinstuff.com/members/161.cfm During the process of planning your cabin design, you'll probably be thinking of all the good times you'll spend there. Like many of us, you might envision cozy evenings at the cabin after a day of hiking, skiing, hunting, boating, fishing, or snowmobiling. But have you considered the possibility that you might not always be able bodied? It can happen to anyone: a car accident, a sports injury, an illness, aging. Any of us can find ourselves dependent on crutches, or rolling around in a wheelchair.