When Bryant told a friend of ours he planned on building a structure that is a cross between a shack and a cabin on our property near Big Lake, she off-handedly referred to it as a shabin. Now, each time we cut a few corners in the construction phase, we plan to remind ourselves that we are building a shabin.Bryant brought a load of gravel out on Friday, laid out the corners, and leveled out the ground for the foundation. On Saturday, Bryant loaded the truck with power tools, the compressor, the generator, wood, and camping gear, while I loaded the Kia with boys, mine plus two other brothers. I wondered exactly how helpful I was actually going to be to Bryant. As it turned out, the boys were busy being boys and other than some sibling squabbles, they entertained themselves quite well. Not only was I able to set up camp and cook a few meals, I dug out the gray water system, assisted in the foundation preparation, and hauled and held boards in place for the floor joist. Most of this was done on Sunday, because after getting everything out to the property, the generator wouldn't stay running because it was low on oil. And of course, we didn't have oil. I drove back 15 minutes to the town of Big Lake to get oil. Right after I returned. Bryant realized that he needed something different for the foundation and he had to drive back to Wasilla to Lowes. Dark eventually set in, and we settled in to enjoy a meal and the campfire.
Bryant didn't waste anytime on Sunday morning and of course, I felt oblige
d to follow him out of bed at 7:10. By the time I had the coffee made, it was drizzling, which didn't sit too well with either of us. But as we all know, shabins don't build themselves, so we just dove in and completed the foundation, floor joist, and the floor itself, and during much of the day, the rain actually stopped. At some point, the boys woke up, ate breakfast and lunch, had mudball wars, played bigfoot, wrestled in the tent, burnt themselves with fire, and karate chopped half the 26 acres down; well maybe it was just the immediate 1/2 acre surrounding us. When it came time to pack it all up and head home, everyone was feeling ready to call it a day.
d to follow him out of bed at 7:10. By the time I had the coffee made, it was drizzling, which didn't sit too well with either of us. But as we all know, shabins don't build themselves, so we just dove in and completed the foundation, floor joist, and the floor itself, and during much of the day, the rain actually stopped. At some point, the boys woke up, ate breakfast and lunch, had mudball wars, played bigfoot, wrestled in the tent, burnt themselves with fire, and karate chopped half the 26 acres down; well maybe it was just the immediate 1/2 acre surrounding us. When it came time to pack it all up and head home, everyone was feeling ready to call it a day. While building, Bryant a
nd I talked again about how we are the first pioneers of this land, the only ones who have ever disturbed the soil. Until we obtained the land, only government entities owned the land and it remained undeveloped, other than the road that provides access through the right hand corner. We purchased the land from the Mat-Su Borough in 2004. The Mat-Su Borough had the land transferred to them when Alaska became a state in 1959, and the U.S. government received title to this land when Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867. So given that we are the first set of riff, raff to settle in, I guess it is alright to build a shabin.
nd I talked again about how we are the first pioneers of this land, the only ones who have ever disturbed the soil. Until we obtained the land, only government entities owned the land and it remained undeveloped, other than the road that provides access through the right hand corner. We purchased the land from the Mat-Su Borough in 2004. The Mat-Su Borough had the land transferred to them when Alaska became a state in 1959, and the U.S. government received title to this land when Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867. So given that we are the first set of riff, raff to settle in, I guess it is alright to build a shabin. 
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