Hey Crew!
When we searched for our land, we didn’t do it like most people. No scrolling through scenery, no daydreaming about mountain views or ocean sunsets. We centered our search on electric vehicle charging infrastructure and that’s how we ended up in the deserts of Southern Arizona.
After four years living aboard Dog House, our 28-foot sailboat, we started to wonder what it would feel like to have a place of our own. Somewhere we wouldn’t get kicked out of after 72 hours on the hook. Somewhere we could do things our way, without asking permission.
We had a short list of requirements: no HOA, off-grid capable, and cheap enough to buy outright. No bank loans. So we started looking.
First thing we researched was the county and their regulations. We narrowed it down to two counties that met our criteria: Luna County, New Mexico and Cochise County, Arizona. Then we started cross-referencing parcels against EV charging maps. We didn’t want to be stranded. We have family in other states and range anxiety is real.
Early this year we packed the car, loaded up Tula and Peaches, and drove east out of California. We stopped in Tucson and stayed in a tiny cabin hosted by a guy named Joel. Who turned out, also sailed and had lived on a boat similar to ours. Meeting someone like that felt like a good sign.
We found a 10-acre listing in Cochise County that hit the budget. One problem: no Superchargers anywhere near it. We went to look anyway.
There’s a small town about 20 minutes from the parcel. Predominantly Hispanic, right up against the Mexican border and it felt like it, in the best possible way. The food, the pace, Spanish in the air. The dogs lost their minds. Both of them had their heads out the window the whole time we were in town.
We walked around and thought: yeah, we could be here.
What sealed it was the free public EV charging at Art Car World. Slow charger, but it knocked out my biggest concern. We weren’t going to be stranded out here. We could leave when we needed to.
We didn’t drag our feet. We sent in a cash offer and got a response almost immediately. A few weeks after that, we were signing escrow and sealing the deal. We might have drained our savings once again but at least there wouldn’t be a bank to claim what is ours.
We named our land “Pirate Oasis.” It’s raw desert but it’s ours. And we have no idea what we’re doing… which, if you’ve been following along, you already know is exactly when things get interesting.
If you’ve ever thought about ditching the conventional path and building something from scratch… this is that story, in real time. Subscribe below and follow along.
Fair winds and following seas,
💜 Dog House Pirates
