Life goals: Hobo artist lives in subterranean DIY home happily on $5K a year

From the sustainable living blog Fair Companies, a wonderful profile of a self-titled "Hobo Artist" who lives connected the electrical grid, but off the city water system, and in an underground shelter from which he publishes his "Moonlight Chronicles" zine.

And so the porch remodel on the underground studio begins. #tinyhouse # #simple living #handpanhouse #forts

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Jul 30, 2015 at 4:58pm PDT

"In his meadow paradise, Price also has a composting toilet, a propane-powered shower (using river water) and a pine wood propane sauna," according to the article.

This story is basically my lifestyle goal. I sure hope it's not a viral hoax.

When Dan Price returned to his home state of Oregon in 1990 he was determined to avoid mortgages or rent (he and his family had just finished caretaking a mansion with a heating bill of $500/month). He found an unused meadow in Joseph, Oregon and began renting it from his neighbors for $100/year (in exchange for cleaning downed trees and repairing fences).

He first erected a tipi on the property, but after awhile felt it was too big so he built himself a 9' by 12' red willow dome hut. Then he began traveling a lot so he made an even more temporary home from a 4-season mountain tent. Eventually he fell in love with a cedar shingle beach shack he's seen in a tiny house book and built a 6-by-10-foot one for himself with an underground room as a bedroom.

He was never comfortable in a square home so when he was robbed (someone entered a skylight and took his photography equipment and computer), he tore down the home and left only the underground portion as his entire home. "That was what 15 years ago. That's when I went into the little hobbit hole. Eventually, of course, I saw the Hobbit movies and made like the porch with the little curved porch on it and I've been in that ever since."

Full article here.

Get a copy of his zine here, or buy his e-book about the tiny house. Follow him on Instagram.

New studio porch project completed. Two days work, zero dollars. #simplelife #simpleliving #artiststudios #tinyhouse #greenbuilding #cabinporn #tumbleweedhouses

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Aug 3, 2015 at 7:14am PDT

Check out the latest video done on my Hobbit Hole home, filmed by Kirsten Dirksen who visited with her family in july. Youtube titled Dan Price's Underground home..... #simplethingsinlife #simple #simplelife #vagabond #tinyhouse #tinyhome #tinyhousemovement

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Sep 21, 2015 at 2:21pm PDT

Gavyn likes my Hobbit house. #simpleliving #simplelife #livingfree #befree #hobbithouse

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Jul 27, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT

Inside the studio. One large skylight illuminates the space.#tinyhouse #artiststudios #simpleliving #simplelife #greenbuilding

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Aug 3, 2015 at 12:33pm PDT

Outhouse/toolshed built 25 years ago and showing no sign of decay in our dry climate. #tinyhouse #greenbuilding #cabinporn #tinyhouseblog #simplelife #simpleliving

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Aug 3, 2015 at 7:20am PDT

In the studio with SunPan. #hangdrum #pantam #handpanhobos #handpan #handpans #handpanman

A video posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Aug 28, 2015 at 9:13am PDT

Early morning sauna on the river. #simplelife #vagabond #simplicity #simpleliving #sauna #sweatlodge

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Sep 7, 2015 at 8:09am PDT

Practice 1 to 2 hours a day. In the Hobbit Hole at night, out and about by day. #hangdrum #pantam #sunpan #handpan #hobbithouse #simplelife #simple #tinyhouses #vagabond #hobosAlql

A photo posted by Dan Price (@hoboartist) on Sep 12, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT