The Clock Is Running

Countdown to AGI

2 Years
163 Days
06 Hrs
13 Min
08 Sec

Counting down to 2028

Disclaimer

01

The Reality Check

The numbers that explain why the old path doesn't work, and why a new one is possible.

The Problem
0% Cumulative U.S. CPI inflation, Jan 2020–Apr 2026 (approx.) Source: BLS CPI
$0K Median U.S. home sale price, recent quarters (approx., varies) Source: FRED MSPUS
0 yrs Standard U.S. fixed-rate mortgage term (typical) Source: CFPB
The Opportunity
~85% Drop in U.S. utility-scale solar installed cost, 2010–2023 Source: LBNL / NREL
16M+ U.S. self-employed workers (incorporated + unincorporated, recent BLS) Source: BLS
~$3.6K Median U.S. farmland value per acre, 2023 (varies widely by region) Source: USDA NASS

A standard 30-year mortgage compounds total payments well above the sticker price; exact figures depend on rate, taxes, insurance, and PMI. Dollar purchasing power has eroded materially since 2020 by most reasonable measures. None of these statements should be relied on without checking current data.

At the same time, some inputs for a different kind of life have gotten dramatically cheaper or more accessible:

  • Utility-scale solar
  • Consumer GPUs that run local AI
  • Open-source automation projects
  • Free creator platforms

Before acting on any of this, talk to qualified professionals where you live.

Median U.S. home sale price
$420K (approx.)
recent quarters
Source: FRED MSPUS
Cumulative U.S. CPI inflation
~23%
Jan 2020 - Apr 2026
Source: BLS CPI
Median U.S. farmland value
~$3.6K / acre
2023, varies by region
Source: USDA NASS Land Values
U.S. utility-scale solar installed cost
~85% drop
2010 - 2023
Source: LBNL Utility-Scale Solar
U.S. self-employed workers
16M+
incorporated + unincorporated
Source: BLS
U.S. residential rooftop solar installed cost
~$3.30 / W
2023 (NREL benchmark)
Source: NREL ATB

The information here is a starting point for your own research, not a professional recommendation. Read our terms & disclaimers.

02

The Plan

Four steps the author has been thinking about. Not a prescription. Material for your own evaluation with qualified professionals.

Do your own research. Not legal or financial advice. Read our disclaimers and terms.

Adaptability matters more, the faster things change.

An author's working hypothesis: that the ability to build, learn, and teach may matter more under accelerating change. Hypothesis, not advice.

01
Est. cost $0

Start making content (responsibly)

One possible economic channel: film what you learn, build, and figure out. The One-Hour Rule — if it took you more than an hour to learn, it could be a video.

Be responsible: don't share location, family, financial, or safety-sensitive details publicly.

Outcomes vary widely No income claim
Read more →
02
Est. cost $5K–$30K

Find land or space

Land prices vary enormously by region and parcel. Owner-builder, reclaimed, refurbished, and adaptive-reuse pathways exist in many places.

Each carries very different legal and code regimes. Work with licensed local professionals before any purchase or build.

Local laws vary widely Consult licensed professionals
Read more →
03
Est. cost $25K–$100K

Build a Shop

Not a house. A shouse — shop first, shelter second. Steel kit prices swing with commodity markets.

Habitability conversions face local codes and inspections that vary by county. Consult a licensed contractor and your permitting authority first.

Code varies by county Consult a contractor
Read more →
04
Est. cost $2K–$15K

Build, Film, Automate, Teach

Use the space. Document what you build. Open-source projects worth knowing: FarmBot (CNC food-growing), Llama and other open-weight models.

Not an endorsement — evaluate fit, safety, and legality for your situation.

Open-source projects, varies Verify for your context
Read more →
Illustrative range Highly variable Your real costs will differ; consult professionals
03

The Window

One author's hypothesis about how this unfolds. Educated guesses, not forecasts. The window to act is before these become mainstream, not after.

2025–2026

Learn the Tools

Modern AI becomes learnable by anyone. Consumer hardware and open models put real capability within reach of self-taught builders.

2026–2027

Open-Source Robotics

Homestead automation becomes accessible. FarmBot, open bimanual arms, and low-cost actuators reach the maker community.

2027–2029

Shouse Economy

Housing affordability crisis accelerates the owner-builder and shouse path for families priced out of suburban real estate.

2029–2032

Decentralized Production

Networked independent producers coordinate without dependence on fragile global supply chains.

04

Alternatives to Consider

Some systems worth thinking about differently. Each item is a starting point for your own research, not a recommendation.

Surviving the Singularity book cover
IN EDITING

The Book

Surviving the Singularity

Currently in editing - releasing when it's ready.

The book is being carefully edited and refined. No arbitrary release date. It ships when it's genuinely ready. Drop your email and you'll be the first to know the moment it launches.

Prefer the long-form essays? .

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Closing thought

Real security may come from tangible things you understand,
not from status, debt, or systems you don't.

Material from this site is for thinking with, not acting on. Anything you might attempt (land purchases, construction, career changes, financial moves) should be evaluated with the relevant licensed professionals in your jurisdiction.

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