This probably goes against the spirit of the post, but my 2.5 acres of NW FL swamp. It’s dope.

Mom died of COVID, and after my divorce, I still had just enough inheritance left to pick it up. It’s a place to camp, shoot (guns and bows), hike, relax, whatever the fuck I want.

Benefits:

• Learning to build stuff. Working on converting trash trees to lumber right now, proper cabin next.
• Learning the environment. Too much to go into, but I’m learning ecological things I never knew. Trying to improve the biosphere while keeping it (nearly) strictly native.
• It’s my home away from home. No matter how stressed I am, I can get out. I go every weekend and work on it.
• I have a place to run away, no matter what. I’m no prepper, but I have a SHTF place for sure.
• No matter how foolishly I live the rest of my life, I can still pass this to my kids when I croak. They’re 8 and 10 and get to see it next month! (Playground isn’t near done though.)
• 1,000 outdoor skills. Again, too much to list, but you could drop me off naked in January and I’d be comfortable within 15 minutes.
• I can recycle so much stuff! So much of my gear was found on the side of the road. Plenty good enough for camp materials.
• It’s a place for friends to gather. Had my cat’s funeral out there and it was a blast, after all the crying was out.

tl;dr Get some damned land if the opportunity presents itself. They’re not making any more.