/diy/ - Do It Yourself

I got the go-ahead that I can build a shipping-container style (I am flexible with the specifics) cabin on some property my family owns.

I would like it to be self sustaining, with solar and septic. I could hook into the main property's solar and septic but I want a bit of remoteness and privacy.

Budget to build would be $5-8 thousand US.

Time to build would be 1 year (would prefer to build it on-site), though I could fabricate the main parts in town then bring it out there.

I have trailers and front loaders/backhoes so digging a foundation and moving it into place wouldn't be too difficult.

Also, what I want out of the cabin: it would be a retreat for me and a girlfriend. Would be a go-to in a shit hitting the fan scenario.

Have access to spring, well, and stream water (stream water is unreliable though).

How should I approach this undertaking?
I fancy something like pic related, but it gets me thinking... do I even need a shipping container at all? A good friend of mine was a house builder (framer) and he knows enough that he could help me build it.

Building codes are a non issue. I can build whatever I want however I want and as long as I'm not throwing shit into the stream, anything goes.