Downsizing for Our Big Move to New Mexico – A Look Back from the Vault
In today’s *Video from the Vault*, we’re taking you back to the time we had to seriously downsize for our move to New Mexico. Preparing to leave Minnesota meant sorting through our storage unit and making some tough decisions.
We held a big yard sale to sell the things we weren’t bringing along, and with the money raised, we bought new tires for our RV to make sure the trip was safe. Everything we decided to keep had to fit into one enclosed trailer—that was a challenge all on its own!
Along the way, we also made time to visit family, camp locally, and let the kids (both furry and non-furry) enjoy some fun before the journey began.
October is a special month for us—it marks our anniversary of moving here. We spent our first night on the land on October 18th, 2020. To celebrate our 5th year here, we’re sharing videos throughout October from our journey and setup.
✨ **Special Event**: On Saturday, October 18th, join us for an *Open Mic Night* at Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center! Come in person for a night of music, camping, and community—or join us online through our Colquhoun Entertainment TikTok profile.
For more information about camping, events, and livestreams, visit our website:
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#offgrid #Moving #tinyliving #downsizing #NewMexico
Tag: desert homesteading
From Broken Trailer to Desert Dreams – The Wild Story Behind Our Move to New Mexico!
From Trailer Repairs to New Beginnings – Our Journey to Ka-Hoon Campground
October is a special month for us—it marks our anniversary of moving here to New Mexico. On **October 18th, 2020**, we spent our very first night on the land that is now **Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center.**
In honor of this milestone, we’ll be posting **videos from the vault** throughout October, sharing our journey from Minnesota to the desert and the work it took to set up our off-grid home.
Before moving here, we had to figure out how to haul all our belongings. The solution came in the form of an old enclosed trailer… that turned out to need a LOT more work than we expected. We ended up replacing floor supports, laying new flooring, fixing wheel wells, repairing the roof, rebuilding the side and back doors, installing new tires, replacing wheel bearings, and rewiring the lights. Along the way, we even lost the tip of a finger—making this trailer a real blood, sweat, and tears project!
When the work was finally finished, the trailer was road-ready and became the backbone of our move, hauling everything we needed to start our new life in New Mexico.
Follow along this October as we share more from our vault of memories—before, during, and after the move—to celebrate four years of living and building in the desert.
👉 For more about us, camping, events, and livestreams, visit our website: **www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com**
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#KaHoonCampground #OffGridLiving #VaultVideo #MovingToNewMexico #DesertLife
Land Brokers Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Owner Financing! Off-Grid Buyers Beware 🚨
The Truth About Financing Land Through Brokers: What You Need to Know Before Going Off-Grid
Many people dream of buying a piece of land and starting their off-grid lifestyle. One common way to make that dream happen is through **owner financing with land brokers**. It sounds easy — a down payment, monthly payments, and eventually the land is yours. But before you sign, it’s important to understand the **pros, cons, and hidden risks** that come with this type of financing.
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## The Pros of Owner Financing
* **No banks required** – For many, traditional financing is out of reach. Owner financing gives you a way in without needing bank approval.
* **Flexible terms** – Some brokers are willing to work with your situation on down payments or monthly amounts.
* **Faster access** – Instead of months of paperwork, you can often start the purchase process quickly.
* **Opportunity for land ownership** – If you’re committed and prepared, this can be a solid path to owning your own property.
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## The Cons of Owner Financing
* **You don’t build equity right away** – Until the land is fully paid off, you don’t truly own it. Miss a payment, and you could lose everything.
* **No refunds** – If you put down a deposit and make monthly payments, but later realize off-grid living isn’t for you, that money is gone. Brokers are not required to return it.
* **High risk of failure** – Many brokers know people back out. In fact, they often **make more money if you fail** because they resell the same land over and over to new buyers.
* **Unclear land quality** – Some properties sold through brokers may not meet your needs for water, access, or zoning. If you find this out too late, you’re stuck.
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## Why You Should “Try Before You Buy”
Before committing to owner financing, **test out off-grid living first**. Spend time camping, renting a spot at a campground, or even staying on BLM land in the area you’re interested in. If you’re lucky enough to have friends nearby, spend time with them and see what daily life is really like.
Living off-grid can be rewarding, but it’s also challenging. From **extreme weather to isolation, limited utilities, and financial stress**, you need to know if you can handle it before locking yourself into years of payments.
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## 5 Questions to Ask Before Financing Land
1. **Can I realistically live off-grid in this area year-round?**
– Test it out before committing. Spend weeks or months there.
2. **What are the land’s resources and restrictions?**
– Check zoning laws, water rights, road access, and whether utilities can ever be added.
3. **What happens if I can’t make payments?**
– Ask the broker directly. Be prepared for the possibility of losing all your investment.
4. **Am I financially stable enough for long-term payments?**
– Budget carefully. Off-grid living has hidden costs beyond land payments.
5. **Who benefits most from this deal — me or the broker?**
– Remember, brokers often profit more when buyers fail. Be sure you’re not walking into a trap.
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## What You Should Do Before Investing
* **Research the land thoroughly** – Visit in person, walk the property, and talk to neighbors.
* **Live off-grid temporarily** – Try camping, staying with friends, or living at a campground in the area.
* **Budget for the unexpected** – Factor in costs for solar, water, septic, fencing, and repairs.
* **Read the contract carefully** – Look for terms about defaults, repossession, or hidden fees.
* **Have an exit plan** – Know what you’ll do if off-grid life turns out not to be for you.
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## Final Thoughts
Owner financing **isn’t horrible** — it can be a great option for those ready to commit. But it’s not for everyone, and it’s important to know that **land brokers don’t care if you succeed or fail**. In fact, failure often makes them more money.
If you’re considering this path, take your time. Research, ask questions, and most importantly, **live the lifestyle before making a commitment**. That way, your hard-earned money becomes an investment — not a loss.
And if you want to learn more about the realities of off-grid living before jumping in, **join us live on TikTok at Colquhoun Entertainment**. We share our daily experiences, lessons learned, and real conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to desert homesteading, off-grid challenges, and sustainable living.
Come hang out with us in the mornings, ask questions, and get the unfiltered truth before you invest.
👉 http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#offgrid
#homesteading
#sustainableliving
#LifeUnfiltered
#desert
Truck Brakes FAIL After Repair?! Could Be Costly Caliper! But We Got Water Delivered Anyway!
🚚 Truck Update: Brakes, Water Runs, and Salvage Yard Hopes
We finally got the parts in to repair the truck’s brakes. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get any photos of the parts or the guys doing the work. After the repairs, they took it for a test drive into town, and everything seemed fine… at first.
Feeling confident, they decided to take it on a **water run** — that’s when the trouble started. The brakes began acting up again, sometimes locking up, sometimes not working at all. Not exactly the kind of surprise you want when you’re hauling water through rough desert roads.
Today, they’re planning to take another look. The biggest concern? The **caliper** might be bad. From what I’ve been told, that’s a pricey repair. More than likely, we’ll be searching local **salvage yards** for the part instead of buying new.
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### The Silver Lining
On the bright side, they *were* able to haul out **one load of water** before the brakes started misbehaving again. We never run full loads — usually around **100–120 gallons at a time** — to protect the trailer on these bumpy roads. It usually takes two loads to fill up the IBC tote completely.
Since they managed to get that first load home, it means one very important thing… **the shower is functional again!**
Life off-grid is full of challenges, but every small win — even something as simple as a working shower — feels like a big victory out here.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLife #DesertLiving #TruckRepair #WaterHaul #KeepItMoving
West Mesa Ancestral Magic
We’ve been told the mesa holds ancient magic — a power that predates us all. Where it came from, I don’t know. But I believe it’s real. There’s something about this place that feels alive, almost sentient.
When I was a child, I visited my favorite museum on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. It was there I met an old Sioux woman. She told me something that stayed with me my entire life — that where two rivers meet is sacred. Protected. Watched over by unseen forces.
Here on the West Mesa, we are flanked by rivers on both sides. And not far to the south, they meet. That energy — sacred and powerful — is in the land.
A very wise local man, someone we deeply respect and who’s lived here longer than anyone else we know, once told us something even more curious. He said the mesa itself has a will. It can approve of you… or reject you. And even if it approves, it still makes you work for your place here. You must prove yourself worthy to stay.
If the mesa doesn’t approve? Well, we’ve seen what happens.
Some people go mad — slowly at first, hanging on for years before their grip slips. As I like to say, their cheese finally slides off their cracker. Others unravel much faster. This place doesn’t just test you — it chooses you.
There is magic here. Ancestral magic. Whether it comes from the land, the rivers, the spirits, or something older — I may never truly know. But I respect it. And I know better than to ignore it.
Off-Grid Shower Build: Parts, Progress, and a Bit of Trial and Error
Living off-grid in the New Mexico desert is full of problem-solving—and our current project, building an off-grid shower system, has tested every bit of our patience (and creativity).
We’re using water stored in an IBC tote and creating a basic but functional setup. Since many people in this area use IBC totes for water storage, we thought the parts would be easy to find locally. After stops at both Lowe’s and Home Depot, though, we came up empty-handed.
Thankfully, we were able to order most of what we needed online—and even managed to pick up a drain piece in person that we *hope* will work. Now we’re just waiting on the final parts to arrive. Once they’re in, we’ll start assembling everything. Fingers crossed it’s all the right stuff, and everything fits and works as planned.
This build has taken longer than usual—not because it’s overly complicated, but because Anne and I are not exactly seasoned builders. I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not a contractor.
What’s made a huge difference is Brent’s involvement. As he continues to heal from his multiple strokes, he’s slowly gaining more movement in his left arm, hand, and fingers. It’s been incredible having him able to help again—it’s not only sped things up, but also made the process feel a lot more hopeful.
Every project we tackle out here teaches us something new. And while this one has come with a few more learning curves than expected, we’re getting there—piece by piece.
We’ll share an update once the system is fully installed and working. Until then, we’re staying positive, staying dusty, and staying determined.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridShowerBuild #DesertLiving #OffGridCouple #TinyHomeProjects #IBCToteWaterStorage #DIYNotContractors #StrokeRecoveryJourney #ShowerBuildUpdate #HomesteadProgress #LearningAsWeGo #OffGridLife #NewMexicoDesert #BrentStrong
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 