Thank you Angel and Red Star, and for the thoughtful links!! The ole' [old] ringer washer, is one that I horse-traded alittle work for, from one of our neighbors this last summer, it's green in color, dates back in the 30's I believe, but still works like a new one.. Actually, this is our "second" attempt at survival in the mountains, our first try only lasted about 2 years and we went so broke that we couldn't afford to get anymore chainsaw gas, and lived too remote to do much about it... so sold out and came back to the work-world... This time though, we've alittle bit more prepared, stocked up and got an ole' backhoe, am able to make a few $$ now and again to keep us afloat... So with the land paid for and etc. I believe we'll make it this time around... If the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise...as the saying goes.. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Also, our first try at suvival back in the late 90's, we only started then, in a dome-tent with a woodstove, this time we have an RV and we got the roof onto a 10 X 20 room addition, [still have to finish it though] also got our underground water holding tank in with gravity flow water lines, but that's about all we could get done in our first summer, into getting settled here... Our ultimate plan is to build an earth home, but figure that'll take us two or three more years to get completed. Plus there's the "future" Greenhouse; large garden; root cellar and etc. to get put in too... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Personally, I don't think we'll be into the "real survival period" until after 2012, and especially so after 2016.