I know a lot of "crazy" people who want to go live out in the woods and escape from civilization and live off the land.
Not a bad idea, but flawed since no one really knows how to do that.
I'm pretty into geodesic domes because they are probably the most energy-efficient (best use of space) and sturdy structures. I've seen some specs where you could personally build a livable bare-bones single person dwelling for less than 500 dollars. I mean a permanent weather-prof shelter, not just a tent.
all you'd have to do is set up utilities. I don't know anything about plumbing and even less as electrical wiring, but I think that sounds pretty good. That is most likely that I would do if I got ahold of some land, and I'd just work my way up to a nicer space as I went along and learned what to do.
that reminds me, i read about what this guy came up with. He designed an inflatable "house", ya know, like a jumping castle, but as a living space, and it could be set-up by attaching it to the output exhaust vents on the side of buildings. Nothing permanent, more like a tent, but it offered some weather-resistance and he gave them out to homeless people.
I'm sure that the city nixed that idea very quickly, but it's pretty inspired.