The heated rocks thing is something that was done in olden times for various reasons. There are in-ground vats with clear evidence of hearths next to them in Ireland (that I know of, probably other places). What they were used for is unclear – maybe heating mash for beer, maybe dying cloth or cleaning wool before spinning it. But archaeologists are sure they were for some heated-rock-in-liquid process. Also, some ancient cultures are known to have boiled water by adding fire-hot rocks. I don’t recall, but I’m guessing their water containers, maybe animal skins, wouldn’t withstand hanging over a fire, but would hold up to the rocks. These days, in saunas there’s often (always?) a container of heated rocks that one ladles water over to produce a bit of steam. Keeps your skin from otherwise cracking open, but isn’t anywhere near as intense as a steam room.

Heating rocks for a bath though. I didn’t know that was a thing. Good idea!

As for the rocks I was thinking they might be like the ones used in a sauna – heat them up first and they’ll keep the bathwater warm a lot longer. Or you can make cannibal stew. Your choice.

Of course one has to be willing to risk wildfires, living in the SoCal hills, that’s a given. But I’d want to see for myself what the “soothing sound of the seasonal creek” is about; those can turn into flash flooding creeks. If it’s not right on top of the house (and teepee) and wouldn’t totally block egress from the neighborhood, I’m good. When can I move in?

PS – Marty, if you have to ask what the mirror on the ceiling is for, you really don’t want to know. ;)