Posted on 11/05/2021 8:50:33 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
GREANEY, Minn. — Beryl Novak bought 40 acres of forest here in 1966 for $700, eventually moved an old one-room shack to the site for a deer hunting cabin and then liked it so much he moved in for good.
That was 1977. He hasn’t lived anyplace else since. He hasn’t slept in any other bed, not a single night away, since May 1993.
“I’m kind of a homebody,” Novak said.
Novak, 71, shot his first deer at age 10, in 1960, hunting alone. He still has the paper hunting license and aluminum buck tag pressed between pages in a photo album. Since then, Novak figures he’s shot 75 deer in these woods northwest of Cook.
Through his military service, he would come home on leave scheduled around hunting seasons.
There's a gas range for cooking, a bed in the corner and a small TV that gets three stations over the airwaves. “Why would you need any more than that? Everything on TV is all so damned depressing anyway,” Novak said.
Novak formally “retired” in 1995, meaning that’s the point he stopped trying to earn a living and focused on the living part.
“It doesn’t cost much to live up here. I get by pretty cheap,” he said.
His last car broke down in 2005 and he hasn’t driven one since
“I’ve been social distancing out here for 20 years,” he said.
He hasn’t shaved or had a haircut since 2001,
“If people would read what Thoreau wrote in the 1800s it might help them today,” Novak said. “Simplify your life. That’s what I’ve done. … People out there working to make more money are just chasing their tails.”
(Excerpt) Read more at duluthnewstribune.com ...
Not a life I’d like to live, but he’s fascinating. Hat’s off to him for doing it his way.
Damn, that site requires creating an account to read the story.
The only thing I could say I would have on my “bucket list” would be to live through a winter in a primitive cabin in the mountains, or live for a year on a deserted island. I am pretty much in awe of this guy.
A Paywall has fenced me in. Oh well.
I was wondering if he ever goes into town or to a bank?
Does he have no family left that is important to him?
What about hygiene needs?
About 6 months ago, there was an 80 y/o man living on someone else’s property. He said there was an agreement allowing him to stay, but the present 84 y/o owner said no, there was no deal. This guy was arrested for squatting and jailed.
During his jail stay, the owner (or somebody) reported that the old shack had all of a sudden burnt down to the ground, just like that! I can’t recall other details.
There are times when that is very tempting.
It’s Uncle Jesse!
“Beryl Novak bought 40 acres of forest here in 1966 for $700,”
He bought this at 15 or 16?
Nothing wrong with that, 'cept it indicates back problems.
The left hand arm rest is pretty nasty.
It’s a pigsty
It’s a pigsty
Not the worst I’ve seen.
“It’s a pigsty”
Yes. I don’t get it. Living alone in squalor.
But if he’s happy, enjoy! Seriously!
“It’s a pigsty”
Yes. I don’t get it. Living alone in squalor.
But if he’s happy, enjoy! Seriously!
“It’s a pigsty”
Yes. I don’t get it. Living alone in squalor.
But if he’s happy, enjoy! Seriously!
“It’s a pigsty”
Yes. I don’t get it. Living alone in squalor.
But if he’s happy, enjoy! Seriously!
“It’s a pigsty”
Yes. I don’t get it. Living alone in squalor.
But if he’s happy, enjoy! Seriously!
Wow, that was crazy!
s/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.