CANTERBURY, N.H. — Even after being arrested, taken to jail, and his home burned down, New Hampshire's "River Dave" said Sunday he feels about as good as he has in his life.
David Lidstone, 81, expressed his gratefulness and is overwhelmed by all the fundraising efforts and offers for a place to live.
The New Hampshire hermit said he lived in the woods because he liked being alone, so he's not used to all the publicity.
"River Dave," has lived in the New Hampshire woods for almost three decades, building a cabin in Canterbury and mostly living off the land.
"He's really a good soul," said Jodie Gedeon, who met Lidstone 20 years ago while she was kayaking along the Merrimack River.
They've been buddies ever since.
"We consider him part of the family," she said.
But the land isn't Lidstone's, and he's been fighting the landowner who lives in Vermont. The two have been locked in a court battle that's gone on for years.
In mid-July, he was arrested for squatting and violating zoning and environmental regulations. He'd been in jail since then.
Just hours after his latest court hearing this week, and with Lidstone still in custody, his cabin mysteriously burned down.
New Hampshire man's cabin destroyed by fire after he's forced to leave
"Several people have offered their cabin and land of theirs for David," said Gedeon.
Late Thursday, Lidstone was suddenly released from custody. Only NBC10 Boston was there as he got out of jail.
He says he wants to rebuild on the same site, as long as he's not arrested again.
Despite losing all his belongings, he remains upbeat.
"It's all physical stuff," Lidstone told NBC10 Boston after he was released from jail. "It's what you have in friends that counts. These multimillionaires and billionaires -- I'm happier than they are."
Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal.
Lidstone will be back in court next week as the legal fight over the land continues.