My wife and I have visited John Wells a number of times, and are happy to call him a friend. We love his dry humor, and his ability to design and fabricate practically anything. Also, his love and care for the local wildlife is uplifting. Thanks for featuring him.

John Wells passed away. On a Wednesday in January 2024. He was an inspiration to many of us that now live out here. I never got to meet him, but always wanted to thank him. We followed his beautiful videos, and love his heart. It's very sad he is gone. He was something else. Rest in peace John. ❤

and yet, I'd bet, he still gets an occasional call on that pay phone "We've been trying to reach you regarding your vehicle's warranty."

Great idea to put a roof over your roof in Texas like this, especially with no trees for shade. Brilliant in fact.

"If there's no one to smell ya, do ya really stink?" This man is wise

Can't get more tenderfoot than Manhattan, I love this guy, no more fancy restaurants, no more sirens, parking restrictions, NYPD and snobs, just clean living. He sounds happy to me.

"Places aren't lonely, only people are lonely." - You're never lonely if you have yourself.

"places aren't lonely only people are" so true

He said "Places aren't lonely , only people are lonely." I like that, it is an attitude, and attitude is a choice.

"People are lonely, not places". That is so true that one might even feel lonely attending a party with eighty other guests.

This story never gets old. I've seen this video several times. I'm envious, as I pay my mortgage.

I'm from NYC too & I've also lived upstate NY & living this lifestyle is so desirable to me. I was thinking Wyoming but Texas is another possibility too. This is an outstanding little Doc. I truly appreciate it & I have so much respect for the man. I wish I could be friends with him.

In 2011 I got tired, I mean "tired", so I bought a one-way ticket to Costa Rica. I've been living here since then. I had a condo in Miami, mortgage was $1,253, it was 995 sq ft of living space and zero property. With a view of nothing. My total monthly cost of living was about $2,200. I now live in a house that's 700 sq ft. The property sits 4,000 sq meters or 43,000 sq ft. with a pool, fruit trees, a large gazebo-like space, which is larger than my house and has three bathrooms (one with a shower for the pool) and two bedrooms. I have a view of a volcano and the mountain range of Nicaragua. I forgot to mention my pool water is gravity feed from an underground spring and I'm also on a mountain. So, it cost me nothing to fill it and my pool water is cleaner than the municipal water I used to pay for in Miami. My rent is $150 a month 10 Mb internet is $40. Monthly water is $5 to $10. Energy bill between $15 and $20. Food about $100. Fuel for motorcycle about $40 to $100, depending on how many leisure rides I take. My cost of living is about $400 a month. I'm 39 years old. The biggest issue was the fear of "change".

This guy is a wonderful person I've met him twice while on a hunting trip. Can't believe i ran across this video

He seems very excited for the company. I think the down side to this kind of living is the isolation. Not due to loneliness, but for mental health. having other humans to talk to, bounce thoughts off of, and just reach out to is essential and an integral part of being human. There are a lot of clever ideas here, however, and definitely the paired down lifestyle is very appealing.

I watched this vid in early 2015 one of the many videos that helped me downsized my life not to the level he has but close saved so much money and enjoyed life more. I will be retiring later this year in 2020 at the age of 41. As I type this relaxing in Colombia south america the past 4 months I wish I could explain to people how well we have it in the U.S. the ability to save and retire so wealthy in other places.

I often tell folks in a somewhat joking way that I'm looking for a job as a hermit in a cave. Only thing is I'm not joking. You have a very rich life Mr Wells. Its people around my age (57) and older taking the plunge that inspire and motivate me. My hats off to you. I'll get there eventually.

Wait, what? No HOA writing you a $250 a day citation for "not winding up your garden hose?" How do you know how to BEHAVE?

WOW, bless your heart for such an amazing creativity you have here. We all have so much to learn here. This is all about creating your freedom off the Grid and self control. Thank you so much John for sharing your story. I totally applaud you!

I started watching by accident and found myself watching it 3 times and can see his ideas in my mind. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

Love it, love it! I moved out also. I lowered my cost to meet my means without worry. It really is the only way a person that is ill can continue. You have the dream. Work is what your slave mind craves. Breathing easy is what the soul craves.

America needs a hard reset. All this stuff we are surrounded in but have no need of, yet basic needs are easily taken for granted. This dude is all set! I think he has real wealth and prosperity.

John, your comment on "lonely" was spot on. There is a difference between being alone and being lonely.

happiest ive ever been is when i lived out my car for a few weeks , its the only time ive felt free and no one could tell me what to do , id happily live there.

The fact that he has a land line and internet is freaking awesome!

The richest man is not the one who has the most but the one who needs the least.

Probably one of the most satisfying video I've seen in a long time.

Used to live with my dad on a farm, 14 miles from nearest town, near Ft. Stockton. Actually been over to Alpine (cool town). Miss that farm.

I simply love this place, and I could live the rest of my days happily way out like this too, and never think twice about it or look back. In fact - this video has inspired me to sell my business / home and follow suit. After all, not getting any younger - and I absolutely despise the headache of city life nowadays. Thanks for sharing this video - I truly enjoyed watching!

I bet the night sky is amazing!

This man is a genius. Takes real talent and know-how to accomplish all of this on your own.

Please do an update on this interesting guy. Loved to see what he has done with the place in the last 5 years.

As a landlord who has had to clean up after tenants leave it never ceases to amaze me how much crap we have. IT's made me rethink my environment and what I really do not need to be happy. Less is more!

The older I get, the more attractive this sort of thing gets. 50% of the time I want to sell my (unfinished) cabin in New Mexico, but every time I get there, I enjoy the privacy (10 acres) and the fact that that other neighbors haven't done anything on their lots, providing even more privacy i.e. think-time etc. The way our political climate is 'warming up', being out in a place like this could provide the sanity we need.

Looks like I'm not the only one who LOVES this video. ✔

Less is more. He is self-reliant, not homeless, seems happy, kudos to him.

I can't get enough of this stuff. Innovative minds are so inspiring! So glad I subscribed to your channel a few years ago. Thank you for what you do!

Good on you brother; family & friend ties is the only thing that's kept me from making a move such as this. I will most likely continue living vicariously through folks like you. God Speed brother.

I am watching this in 2020, wondering how much he has gotten done and wondering even more if he needs a friend to help him. I have a 26 foot Dodge Travco and I will help you out if you give me and my rig a place to home up.

We gave up everything we knew, and created a Market Garden in a new area, off grid living in a caravan and living off the land, anyone with a dream should just 'go for it!' we hope our own channel inspires others x

You could be in the middle of a city of millions, and still be lonely.

The American dream is NOT suppose to kill you to pay for for what you have,... but rather reward you for what you are doing now! Regardless of what we have been taught, the American dream is FREEDOM!, and freedom alone, not government or bills to make someone else rich.

I love this guy's honesty, like "10 reasons not to use shipping containers". They are not the best starting point for many 'tiny home' projects. My buddy gets 20'ers delivered in Chicago for $3,200.00 as recently as 2019. He goes through brokers and local dealers, not close to the source.

Something tells me that when he found out a camera crew was coming out he hid the weed plants.

This guy is super bad ass. Love his superior motivation and do it yourself life view.

'The place is not lonely, only people are lonely.' Brilliant.

John is quite the character. His place hasn't changed a whole lot since this was filmed! Great documentary of life in the last American frontier.

electric, he's got internet, that's all that matters. sign me up.

Under ground it's always cool 60 to 65 degrees...you can dig a trench 4 to 5 feet down and 30 to 40 feet long...put in some 8 inch PVC pipe to go out and back...plum one high to collect the hot air in your living quarters...and the other down low and hook a CPU fan to circulate (suck) the air...or what ever works for you...the air will return cool to cold...even in the desert...great job man...

I truly understand your entire thought process to live just simple and off of the grid. You are a remarkable man with a creative mind and not afraid to step outside of the box, so to speak! I'm tired of living in a suburb and long to return to the country, where I came from originally. You are amazing!!

This is a great video, mini documentary... I relate to much of it. ~ lonely ~ is a mindset, I live isolated in the country, have limited contact with people. I am alone, but very rarely lonely. His conversational mentions about traffic and stoplights, certainly registers... bordering anxiety inducing. A key point, he mentions... is recognizing what we 'truly need' and to [be able to] live in minimalism, it is, can be so 'freeing', critical in our current world. Big city living has become ever a greater challenge, bordering unsustainable... (after 5 years) I can not imagine it.

If I had the start up money, I’d do this with no hesitation!

This man has checked out of society and that’s the way he wants it. Quite innovative also.

Today im where you used to be and i want to be where you are im 55 and getting older im afreid of a change but you only live ones ,your a very smart man abd i respect you for haveing the balls to have done it.God bless you and God bless America.

17:48- "If you have a big city and everyone is just pooping in thier front lawns,it could be a problem" SanFran: Hold My Beer.

Legend!!!!! Loving the phone booth and the swamp cooler.. also HAHAHAHAAHAHAAA love the stop light comment. 'I thought they were just christmas lights...you know, red,green and yellow!' hahahahaha love that!

I'm not sure people realize how labor intensive living off grid is. There's no reason a person couldn't live in a somewhat populated area using the basic concepts of off grid living. Think about the personal emotional strength it would take to live by, yet not be a part of a consumable society. Hang clothes to dry, use solar lights at night, cook on an outdoor stove and oven. So many off grid things can be done right where we stand. Begin the journey where you currently are. Work on getting debt free. Learn skills like preserving foods and heating cheaply, growing food. Try camping for a week or so without modern conveniences to see what your flexibility level is. There's no need to start big. Check out things first because if you do not like intensive work, you won't make it.

He can keep the desert! Give me a house like that up in the woods somewhere and I'd be golden!

Wouldn't it be great to have the courage, ability and money to do this?!? At 61 years of age and suddenly having mobility problems after a healthy and active life ,, this is not an option for me anymore unfortunately. Nice to see others stepping happily away from the ratrace and going for this kind of lifestyle! Kudos to you all for trying a different way of living like this gentleman is doing! Thanks for this video! Peace to all....⚘💜⚘

This is the strangest twist to Sinatra's lyrics, "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York!”

Crazy how much we work to pay for “stuff”... Also, $13K for 100 acres is awesome!

This guy is very inspirational he gives you much to think about LIFE

This man totally gets what being free is all about... totally. I agree with the sentiments stated here - where being rich does not equate to the amount of money or things you have. I'm presently stuck in a factory as far as work goes, but I turn 55 in a couple of months so I could split and start getting my pension early. Home is paid off.... taxes kinda low - but not this low - ha ha... I got to add another zero - but this video is so inspiring, it's got me even re-thinking my path in life. West Texas totally interests me. But... It think it would be bad to go in that direction, because [23.00] I got a bad feeling that within 10 years houses will be everywhere. But I really like what he's doing... Thanks for posting this video, it is very inspiring.............

I freaking love this guy! He needs his own channel.

kudos to this guy for following his dream.. Mine would be a little greener and more social... less alone. Each to their own. Kudos.

If i can live off grid like that with at least a 40 to 50 min drive to town incase i need anything I'll be ok some people call it loneliness I call it peaceful lol

"places arent lonely, only people are lonely"....thats actually a mindblowing insight. I would LOVE it out there

I really respect this guy. I also live off grid, in a van down by the river.

I could have watched an hour on this. What a cool guy!

We did the exact same thing -- seven years ago! We moved into a 10' x 12' shed (with a sleeping loft). Also had an outdoor shower until last year! Used 3 - 120' hoses for a water heater, had chickens, pooped in an outhouse, etc. My son and I built our house over the summer and fall and finally dried it out in late November. I worked online from the shed during the day and worked into the night on the house. We are on a ridge over the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, so we have very high winds that shredded our camp several times (our workshop was in a tent). Good luck John Wells! I wish you all the best!

I grew up in westTexas. You would have to go to this guy's place to really appreciate how remote Brewster County is. Make sure to map out the gas stations first,lol.

I moved out in the country 20 years ago and couldn't see a light at night. Now the whole horizon is lit up and they're building houses all up and down the little road I live on. About time to move west.

Honest, interesting and fascinating. I like that he openly talked about the hard things, too. Thanks for the video.

places aren't lonely, only the people.. that is a true phrase.

Watching this almost 6 years later during COVID-19, one would have to think he has no problems with social distancing and is the envy of everyone right now.

I might be an unconventional 19 year old, but this guy is living my dream. I'm sick of the world, the nasty people, the oppressive government and their high taxes that I've been paying since I started working at 16 so that politicians can get rich and lazy assholes can live on welfare. I have got to do what this guy is doing.

A truly resourceful and independent man. Take note, America. This is your heritage and future.

I love this guy, what an outlook on life, the world needs more people like him, had I met him when I worked in midland/odessa I might just have kept that job but I couldn't stand it out there all I did was work and eat and sleep and living out there was expensive, everyone charges triple for rent and it just didn't make sense to pay for my place in odessa and my family's home in fort worth...but had I know this guy I would have stayed a little longer he seems like the type to lend you his wisdom

This is totally awesome. Simplicity is the best way to go. I envy a situation like this because it such a challenge to just getting by and being stuck in the stream of keeping up with the Jones... this is awesome what you have done. You are awesome and resourceful.. great job and video thanks for sharing your humble life. God bless

lol... There are very good reasons to have building codes and zoning. I love that his view on hygiene is "if no one is there to smell you..." and not "I live in a desert full of dirt miles from anyone else, it might be a good idea to be clean so I don't get sick." Other than that, some of his ideas are fun.

"...places aren't lonely, only people are lonely." One of the best insights I've heard. Humans are so conditioned to think that there's only one way to live. The system is designed to keep humans unhappy and dissatisfied, even when they have so much money that they don't even know what to do with it. You have to have things that you don't even need. And we're conditioned to impress people who we will never meet with things that are supposed to define us. This man is an example of true freedom. Freedom from being owned by things that are temporary and that give humans a false sense of security, spiritually and psychologically.

I've watched this video twice now.. I lived in the middle of nowhere in northern california for 20 years with dialup until satellite became a thing, what a ripoff that was! The deciding factor in moving was being over an hour from town it was poor health and the fact that half the neighbors sold their homes to pot growers. Even though I was on the back side of 40 acres the smell of weed permeated our home every fall. When we started seeing asian people hiking up into our property and above it packing in supplies and a couple of shootings happened where people were stealing crops we decided enough was enough. We sold the place to growers who came in and bulldozed flat areas all over the mountainside and put in 100 planters, which is the same thing all the other neighbors had in their yards (Google Earth tells all!) So I left the desert and headed to the east coast to NC and found a happy acre just outside of town and a beautiful 120 year old home in great shape that needed all new plumbing and gas lines repaired.. 12' ceilings and more room than we know what to do with.. But the best part is the 50Mb cable and 5 people streaming movies and doing whatever they want anytime they want. A/C runs us an extra $200 a month and I'm working on putting wood stove inserts into two of the fireplaces. We get 2+ inches of rain every month of the year. I don't have to water my garden after the first month. We don't have to heat the house until the end of November and we plant the garden in March. I spent the first half of my life as a city kid, spent the 2nd half as a hermit.. Now I'm ready to try a little of both. We lucked out and have 4 old growth pecan trees and a black walnut. I've planted peaches as my first trees thus far and I'm looking forward to getting apples, figs, and maybe some oranges if I'm lucky and a dozen others I can't even think of right now. I've planted a strawberry patch, several blueberries, and over 100 asparagus.. Everything is green.. property tax is dirt cheap.. an acre is more land than I know what to do with.. I could plant 200 fruit trees here and still have room for all the veggies I want to grow.. I've never mowed so much grass in my life! I'm 5 minutes from everything and the only things I can't do anymore is walk around my yard naked and shoot my gun. In fact there are a lot more freedoms here than we had back in communist california. And everything is cheaper. From milk to gas to.. well.. liquor isn't cheaper lol vehicle registration is amazing. I can do any engine swap I want and no one cares. No emissions testing! Building codes are lax in my county. They basically don't care unless I'm adding on or building a new building. Gas required a permit for inspection and all the guy did was look at the pressure guage and see that it held so many psi for 15 mins. I've talked to one of my neighbors twice in 2 years, the other one I haven't even met. It took a little while to get used to sirens and the occasional hot rodder drift racing at 3am lol I almost feel more isolated here in the city than I did back on the mountain. Although it is really nice being 2 minutes from the local grocery store, gas station, like 7 fast food joints including two kinds of bbq, like a 10 minute walk. We mostly work because we want to. $200 from each person holds down the fort and covers the basic food staples. Anything else we want we just get it. People post free firewood every week year round and then come winter everyone is scrambling to buy it and the wood guys never answer phones or return calls or texts.. I used to make a living off cutting firewood, but we had to drive up into the mountains and hunt for it. Here most of it is already cut up and ready to load! City folk are too soft apparently. Back on the mountain every time I took a trip to town I put $80+ in fuel in the truck. Here I fill up once every 2-3 weeks. On the hill I paid $130 a month for satellite internet. Here I pay $50 for 10 times as much with no data cap. When I left California 2 years ago diesel was $4.49 a gallon, about half way across the country diesel was $1.57, and it was $1.79 when I landed in NC and has been hovering around $2-$2.50 since. idk what else to say.. I could go on for hours about how hard it is to live in the middle of nowhere, and compare the benefits to living in town. I mean this guy went to some crazy extremes.. From Gotham city taxes to mad max hermit.. You don't have to go that far. Play around with zillow and look for all the homes over $100 and under $10,000. Not only will you find land EVERYWHERE cheap, but you can find TONS of fixer upper cabins in town with enough land for anyone to get started planting trees and building a garden. Give that home some love, maybe a new roof, lots of paint, a custom kitchen.. Counters can be covered in epoxy like some Jackson Pollock painting or flat tile, or mosaic.. You can cover ANYTHING with food grade epoxy so your artistic talent is your only hindrance. A few years of love can turn a $10,000 cabin into a $50,000 retreat that will sell in a heartbeat when you're ready to move on to the next project! Do that a couple times and you can have anything you want. The sky is the limit. Live within your means. ALWAYS save money every paycheck. And go be where you want to be.

I'm so happy for this guy! Very inspiring, keep it up!

"places aren't lonely only people are lonely" I felt that can be surrounded by society and still be alone and yet can be by yourself and content with your time

I have a friend with a little desert land like this in Nevada that she would sell cheap. I have already homesteaded myself here in Washington state and love it. I have solar and composting toilets and have finished building a mortgage free log house. I grow organic foods and pretty much live off the land. This is the good life. I love to watch others that are doing it too. You are doing a great job showing what its like.

this guy reminds me of the grandfather on the book "Host". going from New York to Texas dessert is from one extreme to another. He has a point with his life style, can be miserable paying for the 'dream' and not being happy.

“Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all daaaay” 🎶 🎵

I live in a smaller city in Upstate NY (Albany) and I'm ready to do exactly what you're doing!!. Thanks for the video even though it's 9 yrs ago. It's more relevant now more than ever.

OMG over $13k in property tax in NY! Love the interview. Not for me but love seeing someone living the way they want. Thanks

I met John on Stickam almost 10 years ago..... coolest guy!

Yes, getting debt free is good. I sold a second property abroad to get debt free and although I am not in the middle of Texas it is a similar feeling.

Man with space like that I'd be on the pipe all day smashing out LOUD tunes lol

holy shit, 500 bucks for some land you can build anything on and still within dSL connection range! sign me up!

I love the Bike-O-Worsher. I didn't know that people have been building those for years. Awesome video, Kirsten! I love all of them!

I love this guy and his way of living

While not as sturdy, old school busses could be had cheap, driven there, and anchored.

Love the random phone booth in the middle of the desert!

This guy is the real deal. And notice he's alone. He MIGHT be alone because he wants to be, but more likely is there are so few females (in America especially) who will live in such a sane and sustainable way. Sure, there are countless females that will let a fella put himself into an early grave paying for a 2800 sq. ft. house in NY, but few will work along side a fella living in an authentic way such as this. That's why this guy is commendable, because he did it anyway.

This video was the initial inspiration for me and my family to choose a off-grid lifestyle. I said "If John can do it so can I" We now have a KZfaq channel documenting our journey... Thank you both!

John is a very smart , intuitive man, not a lot of people can do what he's doing.