We dreamed of owning a vacation home in the Pacific Northwest. Houses were too expensive, so we bought land and a trailer.

• We fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and wanted to live there every summer. • Housing prices in our desired area were too expensive, so we bought land and a trailer instead. • Being off the grid isn't easy, but we love spending months of each year living in the forest.

We began dreaming of living on Washington's Olympic Peninsula while on vacation there in 2010.

I'd picked up a travel brochure about the city of Port Townsend and joyfully read it aloud as my partner, Carol, and I drove through the area.

It described a place great for kayaking, hiking, and biking with an active sailing community and emerald forests — all things my outdoorsy mate loves.

We were even more sold on the area when I learned about its charming Victorian homes, historical seaport, array of music and