PowerSwitch

I've spent years attempting to prepare for peak oil but "events" intervened.... So here's where I am now and the decision I'm trying to make: I'm currently living in Dublin, in a small shared apartment within cycling/walking distance of my job. My job is, I think, about as secure as it gets and well paid. I have a tiny balcony. There are no allotments within cycling distance of me. I'd have to drive to a private one and it would take forever in rush hour traffic in the evenings so it's not really an option. My parents own the apartment and are trying to sell it so I kind of have to stay here to make the place pretty for viewings.

What I really want to do in the future is to move to somewhere with a big garden within commuting distance by train of work. I want to be able to grow at least some of my own food and I love gardening too. Well on my balcony I do anyway! What I'm afraid of is that the cost of commuting will become unaffordable long before my job disappears. Or that routes will be cut like bankrupt states in the US are doing now. My job is right in the city centre so I'd have to move to somewhere about a half hour by train away to get an 1 acre-sized garden which is what I want. I also just hate living in the city. I know no one can predict the future but does anyone have any ideas/thoughts for me? Or better questions?!

Good luck Mallow... not an easy find I would imagine.

Alternatives? What about lodging somewhere near city centre (some-one's bound to appreciate the cash from renting you a room?) and buy further out & go there weekends?

Just a thought.... probably not a good one...

Otherwise just keep looking and looking!

What about a canal barge...

http://barges.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=107507

Live in the city during the week and boat out at the weekend?

For gardening what about hiring an alotment, ideally a riverside plot?

Or a house boat, yacht?

Is there any place close by with unused land that you could work and then share the crop with the owner? Old/disabled folks with gardens, nursing homes with a lot of land, that sort of thing. Doesn't solve the problem of living in a city though. My sympathies.

Half an hour by train isn't very far or a very long commute. I work in London and live in Kent, and am considered fortunate by many colleagues that my commute is 1 hour door-to-door (and indeed I am fortunate).

Can you cycle to the train station? It might increase your range. Could you cycle all the way to work? Might allay your fears about the cost of commuting.

In any event, in a PO situation, being on a public transport line is a Good Thing, as something will be kept running.

If your job is "relatively well paid", then I doubt that reasonable commuting will become unaffordable.
Train fares, though liable to increase should be relatively affordable, and if the distance is too great for pedal cycles, then an electric cycle or an efficient petrol moped would be alternatives.

If you are only staying in the apartment until it is sold, how much notice would you get ?

I would consider staying put in the near term, especially if not paying a market rent.
Pay off debts, buy useful tools, supplies and equipment, and learn future proof skills, including basic plumbing and electrical work, basic carpentry and the like.
Gardening skills would also be very useful, but it sounds as though you already have that covered.

I know this is not helpful mallow but it sounds like the problem is your job. It's too good and so you're tied to it.

There are some good suggestions here but ultimately only you can see the whole picture.

Can you get a similar job elsewhere? Why not try?

I don't think that the job is your problem.

All you need to do is find somewhere with a bit of space for urban gardening, and/or find a allotment where you can grow food.

Regarding commuting, taking public transport is perfectly reasonable and much better than a car.

I suspect you might be able to cycle, but it would take time.

Also I suggest build some preps in your place, a few months worth of water/food and maybe some portable power as well.

Lord Beria3 wrote:I don't think that the job is your problem.

Maybe, maybe not. If mallow wants to keep the job and have a low-impact lifestyle and grow some stuff, then public transport is your only man around Dublin. Anywhere worth living is outside the city, beyond the Pale.

So, good job in Dublin+near railway line+patch of land. Not impossible, just not simple. Luck plays a part plus possibly having ready cash to bargain for a property.

mallow's fears about routes being cut? Doubtful. Services cut, yes but not routes, not for some time but it's still wise to pick your land near a busy route. Ianród Éireann will be privatised eventually and that means downgrading all services.

ArowxGames wrote:What about a canal barge...

Nonono, we know where that will lead! He will just end up first in Wales and then in a French monastery.

MacG wrote:

ArowxGames wrote:What about a canal barge...

Nonono, we know where that will lead! He will just end up first in Wales and then in a French monastery.

Nice one

MacG wrote:

ArowxGames wrote:What about a canal barge...

Nonono, we know where that will lead! He will just end up first in Wales and then in a French monastery.

You've got me worried now. I was considering buying a narrowboat, but didn't, but I did end up in Wales. Are there any monasteries for atheists, or can I look forward to a conversion first?

Thanks for the replies everyone! A canal barge is probably out. I don't know if there even are any in Dublin but anyway I don't think I'd be able to manage any kind of boat on my own. I don't know anything about them, I'm a bit scared of water and I'm a total weakling.

There are definitely houses with an acre or more of land within half an hours train journey so I think I will aim for that. It does make sense to me that if/when we get to a stage where someone in my job can't afford that commute then getting to work would be the least of my problems! It might be possible to cycle from there to a train station but realistically it would be more like a 5 minute drive. I wouldn't be able to cycle the whole way to work but something like an electric cycle might be a good idea in future to get me to the station at least.

adam 2 I'd get probably a months notice if the apartment sells. To be honest though it might well just not sell at all. Then I might be really stuck because I might have to help my parents by taking over the mortgage. It could end up being that or the bank repossess their house. I'm busy paying off debts at the moment and should have them gone in 9 months at most. Plumbing and carpentry and stuff are probably out due to the aforementioned weaklingness and also am lethal with anything involving mechanical or spatial awareness. I've learned soap making and other things but my apartment's too small to do much or store much in. You couldn't swing a cat in the kitchen and the place has to be uncluttered to have any chance of selling it.

emordnilap, you might be right. I've considered changing jobs but a similar job elsewhere would involve going back to the private sector. The only reason I'm still in my profession is because I managed to get out of there! Going back would probably give me a nervous breakdown to be honest. So the only option would be to change career which would be tough in the middle of this recession. But the main trouble with it is there's nothing else I'd love to do or am any good at.

Lord Beria allotments in Dublin are as rare as hens teeth. Especially in anywhere within cycling distance of work. And I'd say they'll be even lower on any council's priorities given their current and future funding problems. There are private ones further out but to be honest I don't trust those. Councils might be inefficient and all but there'd be no protection against price gouging with private owners if or when demand for allotments increases. It might be ok as a temporary thing but in any case they're too far away from where i work to get there on weeknights anyway. Urban gardens are tiny in any part of Dublin that i could afford to buy, and I'm not sure how much a landlord would let you grow in a rented place.

Cheers.

Fair enough, than I recommend some form of landshare scheme.

http://www.landshare.net/

http://groups.google.com/group/landshare-ireland

Random google search has generated that, hope that helps.

Keep your job, as somebody trying to find a job, you would be daft to give it up.

how about a motorhome that you can stay in during the week, and take it home at weekends, we did a show at Earls Court a couple of years ago, camped at Crystal Palace Camp Site for £10-15 a night, bargain.

Also motorhomes tend to hold there price really well, and are also really useful if your place in the country needs work (like JohnB)