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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider going all out and living in a yurt with our family

39 replies

Liken · 18/03/2018 20:50

More than anything I'd like other people's opinions and experiences?
DH, DCs and I already live quite self sufficiently, we have a small holding, grow most our food, rear our own meat, use wood fuel from our land partially for heating etc. However we still live the rat race 90% of the time, we are stuck in the never ending struggle of working all hours to keep on top of house and bills etc.
We potentially have the opportunity to look at some alternatives and one of the considerations is purchasing a very large Yurt, with the option of connecting Yurts, and renting out our house. We are fully aware of the planning requirements etc and have had positive feedback on this now. It would mean we were financially more flexible and we'd be able to expand our self sufficient way of life further. We'd still have running water, electricity etc. It wouldn't mean moving the children out of area, but it'd be a very different type of lifestyle in many ways. Would you do it? Have you done it? and if so what was your experience?

OP posts:
athingthateveryoneneeds · 18/03/2018 20:53

What about long interminable winters? It sounds lovely for summers, but I'm a fair weather camper at the best of times.

Original poster
Liken · 18/03/2018 20:56

We've done some research and visited some others living this way and the log burners seem very effective at keeping the place very toasty throughout winter but do need constant attention. We've spoken to lots of people living this way very happily (most i colder countries than UK), BUT haven't really met any with younger children (ours are 4 and 6)

OP posts:
Hally3 · 18/03/2018 20:57

Sounds awesome- good luck! Must say, I'm tempted

athingthateveryoneneeds · 18/03/2018 20:58

Can you keep them away from the log burners?

I'm not trying to be a downer, these are just questions I've asked myself (I have a canvas tent and considered installing a small log burner at one time but decided the burn risk was too high for my comfort level)

moreismore · 18/03/2018 20:59

I think your kids are much more likely to take to it at the age they are and it sounds like a wonderful adventure!

ThatchersCold · 18/03/2018 20:59

I have some friends who live on some land nearby (several different families on the same land) who all live in yurts. They have had children who have been born and raised in the yurts, they’ve been there more than 20 years now. They love the way of life and no it’s not cold, all the kids have had a great free range lifestyle.

NannyR · 18/03/2018 20:59

There was a tv programme a couple of years ago, I think it was Ben Fogle "living in the wild"(?), where there was a family with very young children living in a yurt in Alaska. It looked really cosy in the winter with a stove and rugs and quilts everywhere.

Bananasandchocolatecustard · 18/03/2018 21:00

If you are thinking of renting out your house you can try living in a yurt. If you don’t like it you can return to your house.

Deshasafraisy · 18/03/2018 21:00

If do it. If it doesn’t work out in the long term then reassess your options. But if you don’t do it you might regret not at least trying.

MrsCaecilius · 18/03/2018 21:02

I've stayed in one for in Mongolia and lived it. The layers of felt and opening at the apex means it can be warm in winter and cool in summer. Amazing idea!!

Original poster
Liken · 18/03/2018 21:07

I'd love to speak to anyone in the UK who lives this way if anyone would be happy to put me in contact - or are there FB communities I can join - haven't found one focused on this yet!

The children have a very outdoor type of life as is it so would probably adapt easily. I'm ok with them and log burners as we have one in the house and an open fire.

OP posts:
athingthateveryoneneeds · 18/03/2018 21:10

Check with home ed groups, op.

Yambabe · 18/03/2018 21:12

Have you thought about doing it the other way around, staying in your house and renting out your yurt (or yurts) as a holiday home? They seem to be a very popular option these days and the ones we've looked at (or stayed in, just once though) are not cheap to rent.

sleepylittlebunnies · 18/03/2018 21:19

I’ve never even stayed in one but I would say that it would be a great time to try it out while your kids are young. You could rent your house out for 12 months so you could trial it for a year and see. If it doesn’t suit you could try renting the yurt out for extra income.

frigginell · 18/03/2018 21:36

For me, it depends whether you would have a proper bathroom.

I know a family who live in a yurt. They don't have running hot water, as far as I know, and they're very noticeably dirty. The idea is an excellent one in other respects, but I think that they're really putting their children at a unnecessary disadvantage socially by being so obviously filthy.

Original poster
Liken · 18/03/2018 21:51

Thanks Frigginell, we'd have running water, a bathroom, a bath and a shower! Absolutely no worries there!

OP posts:
travailtotravel · 18/03/2018 22:03

I spent a month in Mongolia in a yurt - 2 weeks summer, 2 weeks winter. Absolutely loved it in all circumstances and can totally see yurt/ger living as a very viable lifestyle. I am well jell.

Slippersandacuppa · 18/03/2018 22:09

I’ve been researching all things Home ed and have come accross a family who live in a yurt in New Zealand (YouTube video). It looks amazing! I would love to do it but feel too entrenched with older kids (two of whom are happy with their schools at the mo). Do it!

StickStickStickStick · 18/03/2018 22:15

What about all your things?

Will you home ed?

Original poster
Liken · 18/03/2018 22:27

Stick, we've long played with the idea of home ed - we accessed our wonderful local home ed group before the children started school at a very small, local village school where I really trust the head and teachers. However it is not off the possibilities if we lived on our land, we'd be able to rent our house out at a small profit, and DH would invest more time in our sustainable living. I'm in a very well paid role, which I love, but could afford to go part time, and home ed would become an option for us again. However by now I think my youngest would love it, my oldest I think would choose school. We've talked extensively to the children about our ideas of living in a yurt and a more sustainable living, as this is without doubt a whole family decision. Youngest is 100% sure, oldest probably more like 60-70%

OP posts:
StickStickStickStick · 18/03/2018 22:29

It sounds amazing (village school sounds fab too if they're happy! )

Will you blog? I love the idea of travelling for a year (year 6 ...) but we just can't make it happen.

SingaSong12 · 18/03/2018 22:29

Will you still be working outside the home - if not make sure that your rental will cover all the maintenance costs/insurance etc. and storage of any belongings you don't want in either (if you have a valuable piece of furniture that you don't want a tenant to damage but doesn't fit a yurt.). Also make sure that if you have a mortgage you are allowed to rent.

Motoko · 18/03/2018 22:29

I'm trying to work out how your life will be different, other than living under canvas instead of stone/brick. Are you planning on putting the yurts on your own land, and planning are ok with that?

Motoko · 18/03/2018 22:30

By planning, I mean the planning department. Just to clarify.

SingaSong12 · 18/03/2018 22:31

Ah - just seen update.

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