In the beginning of 2007 i was living in a drafty 1870's farm house with a recording studio, jam space and many bed rooms. I had been there for three years and it was taking its toll on me. It was a money pit and was too big to keep clean all the time. I wanted a change, BAD! I had heard about a kindly old man that lived on 20 acres on the outskirts of town who let people camp on his land. It was march and spring was coming so i went and paid him a visit. His home sits nestled in a thick deciduous forest down a dirt drive. I offered to do any work he may have in exchange for letting me stay out in my tent on the land. He asked me some questions, told me a little about his life. He'd live in Ann Arbor since he was born in 1928 and had been a fitness guru and owned a local mom and pop gym from the 50's through the 80's. He had purchased the land in the mid 70's and built his home a few hundred yards from the road. Five years ago he built 2 tree houses out in the forest and he has many other plans for the land even though he's pushing 81. He was 75 when he built the tree houses! After thinking for a few quiet moments he agreed to let me stay out on the land! A few days later Chip went over there and got the same deal. I got rid of 90% of my belongings and moved outside and into my tent. The forest has been one of the 1 blessing of my adult life. Its full of birds (including a great horned owl), deer, rabbit, fox, etc... The peace and tranquility that is bestowed on Chip and I is indescribable. Everyday I wake up and praise GOD for bringing this lifestyle into my life! Simplicity the sages say is the key to inner happiness and i see exactly what they were talking about. The spring turned to summer and the summer turned to fall. The idea that i would soon have to return to a heated house in Babylon really really made me sad. After 6 months of being in this majestic forest i didn't want to return to the way i previously lived. I talked to our kindly land owner about building an earth shelter with a 50 gallon drum stove in it for warmth through the winter. At first he agreed but later he called me and asked if i'd like to live in one of his tree houses. Without even thinking twice i agreed! In trade i would need to do some work on it. I hauled a potbelly stove into it and installed a chimney. I put in a new floor repaired some minor roof leaks and built bunks. I have been taking walks in the woods with my chain saw every couple weeks. I find a dead tree thats still standing (fallen ones are usually too rotten or wet), cut it down, segment it and drag it back to the tree house. I then cut it into pieces that will fit in the stove. I haul it up the steps in milk crates. The winter set in and the snow fell, man has it ever fell. I can't remember a snowier winter than this one. And the cold... Its been below zero many times this winter. BUT! I have been toasty, so toasty. The coziness of being in the tree house in a snowstorm is... Well its amazing! There has been a few wind storms i could do without. The tree house groans and rocks back and forth when the wind is high. I got used to the rocking but the groaning keeps me up. I have never bailed on the tree house because of the weather. It invigorates my soul and fills me with the vitality only nature and GOD brings. In the spring i will move back out into my tent. Chip? You wonder where Chip has been? Well i'll tell you. That man is one burly brother. He's still staying in his tent happily. He has spent a few cold nights in the tree house but for the most part he's been out in his tent. Warm in his blanket pile and happy as someone in love. Id's like to add that we have had the $$$ to live in a "normal" habitat, we both have work, but we wouldn't trade this way of life except for a spot deeper in the woods. Live high, love deep, know GOD, blend into nature...!