I live for the hunt,
And the hunt paid off.
I’ve been captivated by old, unique cabins and cottages for as long as I can remember. Something about the idea of them has a hold on me; these small, quiet, intentionally designed spaces in nature and the peace they can bring to someone’s life. From Thoreau’s humble writing cabin to unique hand built cottages highlighted in old books like Handmade Houses, I was obsessed.
Back when I was in college I was constantly searching Craigslist for little cabins in Vermont or New Hampshire that I could buy and transform into a cozy space in the woods to call my own. As a 19 year old college student with no savings, this was all just a dream at the time; there was no way I could actually afford a cabin of my own (even though I recall going to see a handful of gems that were listed for under 75k and now 20 years later they would be absolutely be 4x that amount). But even if I couldn’t afford these places, I absolutely loved the process of searching for them. There’s something about hunting for special things amongst a sea of personality void crap that ignites a spark in me. I absolutely love it. From cabins to books to textiles to art - I live for the hunt.
All the hours of hunting paid off when I found my dream cabin in September of 2017. I spotted it on Craigslist and I knew immediately it was the one I had been waiting for. At this point I was 10 years into Forestbound and had worked very, very hard to put as much money as I could into savings knowing that one day I’d find a property and most likely it would be off grid and that meant the more cash you have available, the better (a lot of off grid cabins don’t quality for traditional mortgages and camp loans typically have interest rates 10% or higher).
Since I had spent a ton of time not just searching for cabins but also going to visit them in person, I had a good sense of what I was looking for and what it all meant. 60k? Very reasonable! No running water or power? Great. Access via an old logging road that is kind of tricky and might be off-putting to other people? Amazing. Located on a quiet pond where motor boats are not allowed and there are only 2 other houses? A dream. 90 minutes away from our home in Boston and not far from where I grew up in New Hampshire? Ideal. Set on only an acre of land but surrounded by dozens and dozens of acres that won’t be developed? Unreal. So I met the sellers at an ice cream stand, offered them asking price, gushed about how much I loved the place just for what it was, and then we all cried and the cabin became mine.
I know it might sound over the top, but this cabin has truly changed my life. In a chaotic world that doesn’t seem to be getting any less chaotic, a quiet space where I can escape to ended up being essential to staying grounded in life and dealing with anxiety and depression that reared its head after the tragic loss of my dad in 2014.
These sorts of spaces don’t appeal to everyone, of course I understand that! But I know so many of you long for a quiet cabin like ours to call your own. So, that’s where this Substack comes in!
Did I stop hunting after I found our cabin? Of course not. I’m constantly looking for gems and hoping that I can connect the right person with the right cabin. So let me help you! I’ll do the searching so you don’t have to. With this Substack I’m going to share special properties I find throughout the Northeast - mostly New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine - that I think would be worth considering. I’m going to only share properties that are under 300k (with an emphasis on lower budget options) and will utilize all that I’ve learned in 20+ years of uncovering special properties so I can bring you the best hidden treasures.
I’ll also be sharing rental properties that I love since I know not everyone is in a place where they are able to purchase real estate but are still seeking a cabin respite. And most likely I’ll include design ideas and links to special products I love because well, I can’t help myself.
So without further ado - here are a few cabins I’m excited to share with you. If you ever have questions just reply to this email and ask. Always happy to help if I can!
Seasonal cabin on Ticklenaked (!) Pond, 240 Spruce Drive, Ryegate, VT $229,000
A classic New England seasonal cabin tucked away on a quiet pond with maybe the best name ever - Ticklenaked. Honestly, this Vermont cabin has it all. Reasonable price, incredible location, and timeless interior beauty. And that kitchen sink?! Sold.
Pondside cabin with private dock, 52 Ashuelot Pond Washington, NH 03280 $230,000
A gem! This 846 sq ft cabin in central New Hampshire was built in 1957 and sits on a quiet pond with a private dock (a huge plus!) and peaceful water views. The cabin itself seems like the perfect timeless blank canvas for someone who wants to transform it into their dream getaway. Wood stove, electricity, running water.
Multi cottage retreat in rural Maine, 44 Colby Ln Union ME 04862 $249,000
Okay now this is the dream! Built in the 1960’s and owned by the same family for over 60 years, this pond side getaway in mid coast Maine has it all. A 2 bedroom cottage with kitchen and living room, a detached bunkhouse, and a cute little separate out house with propane toilet, and dreamy views of Round Pond. Someone please buy this and invite me over for dinner and a sunset canoe.
I could go on forever but I’m going to stop myself here for now. I’m still figuring out this Substack and what/how I’m going to share everything bouncing around in my head and on my ever-growing bookmarks page so I hope you’ll follow along. I promise I’ll only share the really good cabins worth sharing.
Talk soon!
-Alice
This is a dream thanks so much for sharing :))) can’t wait to find my little magical cabin
Alice! So wonderful to read, and so excited for more!!