Question regarding settling

[Tjotjog]

I think I'm ready to settle down. Here is my situation. I have a lean-to out in the middle of nowhere. I hate where it is. The ground is really hilly and there always seem to be timber rattlers around. I bought my Writ of Homesteading. Can I simply find somewhere better to settle and stake my claim there, making that my new home, or do I have to first somehow disavow my current "home", where my lean-to is?
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[Dallane]

I think I'm ready to settle down. Here is my situation. I have a lean-to out in the middle of nowhere. I hate where it is. The ground is really hilly and there always seem to be timber rattlers around. I bought my Writ of Homesteading. Can I simply find somewhere better to settle and stake my claim there, making that my new home, or do I have to first somehow disavow my current "home", where my lean-to is?
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to move your homestead either throw down that claim and make your homestead there by right clicking the stone or make a new leanto and right clicking that.

[Mereni]

And it's definitely a good idea to search around before you settle somewhere! When I picked my home area, I wandered around for literal days first, building new leantos and making them my homestead every now and then so I wouldn't lose my progress.

[Tjotjog]

Ooh, I like that idea of building them as you go along. I get lost easily. Thanks.

Let me ask this. Every once in a while I'll come upon a nice location that someone has started building on, but they have obviously quit the game for one reason or another. There isn't much there, just evidence that someone at one time has intentions of settling there. Is it possible to use that spot?

[Hans_Lemurson]

Yes it is! I was worried at first when I found my spot, since it had already had a few containers and a claim stone. I didn't stick around, but when I came back the next day and saw there was no change at all in the camp and I could walk right up to the claim-stone without tresspassing (this was actually the better indication of abandonment).

I built a leanto, filled the baskets with my own forageables, demolished the old claim stone, and earned myself a free nail in the form of the Sawbuck already standing there.

Claiming abandoned property is quite nice. The only word of caution is that you must ask yourself: WHY was it abandoned in the first place?

[Mereni]

Yes it is! I was worried at first when I found my spot, since it had already had a few containers and a claim stone. I didn't stick around, but when I came back the next day and saw there was no change at all in the camp and I could walk right up to the claim-stone without tresspassing (this was actually the better indication of abandonment).

I built a leanto, filled the baskets with my own forageables, demolished the old claim stone, and earned myself a free nail in the form of the Sawbuck already standing there.

Claiming abandoned property is quite nice. The only word of caution is that you must ask yourself: WHY was it abandoned in the first place?

A word of caution if you do this. It's only abandoned if you can walk on it with crimes turned off. And if you do want to take it yourself, destroy the inactive claim stone. If you put silver in it to reactivate it, it won't become yours. Make your own stone with your own writ.

[Tjotjog]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the insights!