The Incredible 25,000-Gallon House

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TIME FLIES

We've lived in the yurtlike abode for two years now. Our daughter Sally is nine, and our son John—the newest addition to our family—is 18 months old. We've made a few additions to our home as well, and plan to continue building on to and expanding the domicile. We're happy, snug, and dry . . . even during our region's infamous driving horizontal rainstorms (which did cause leaks between the slats until I came up with the solution: a good coat of clear boat-bottom epoxy!).

TANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Our family has come a long way from those dismal days spent crammed into the camper. I still find it necessary to take on occasional jobs to pay for food and supplies, but we're on our way to real self-sufficiency. I'm sure we'll get there, too . . . because, in the process of converting that dilapidated old tank into comfortable living quarters, we underwent a valuable transformation ourselves. We learned to do. . . and to make do.

We found that, as a family, we can always adapt to suit our circumstances. At the same time, we developed the ability to laugh at ourselves and at our predicaments. And we discovered some basic truths that help keep us keepin' on: for example, "Everything will take twice as long and cost double what you figured" . . . "Head toward, not away from" . . . "Be more flexible" . . . and "if you're not missing more than seven ingredients in the recipe, substitute and go for it!"

In fact, I'd like to repeat the most important words in that last maxim and dedicate them to those of you who have almost—but not quite—made the commitment to get back to a more natural, more resource-conscious, more self-sustaining life: Don't let doubts stand in your way, folks . . . go for it!

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