If you have ever longed for a secluded place in which to "get away from it all," here is the book that will tell you what is required to make your dreams come true. Whether you want to build a hideaway just for escaping your crowded city during weekends, or you want to construct a country cabin in which to retire, you need to know beforehand exactly what you will face if you decide to do it all yourself. Read this book and learn from the author's experiences. For readers with little interest in the technical details of carpentry, the author has placed an "Interlude" after each chapter, effectively turning this volume into two books. The Interludes are accounts of experiences the author and his wife, Alma, had while pursuing their cabin-building quest. These sixteen, humorous, sometimes-poignant memories and observations offer unique insights into the pleasures and perils of rural life. The Interludes, alone, are worth the price of this book.