Have you considered living off the grid?

[onpatrol98]

[Morning Dew]

1. Stuck in the city for now. Would love to make the attempt someday.

[Speck Tater]

2. Casually considering it full time, though I already do it for a couple months out of the year

when I go out into the wilderness with my camper van.

[readmoreoften]

3. Depends on what you mean by "off the grid"

In terms of alternative electricity, I'd love to but can't afford it. In terms of running off and living on a mesa or out to the country I have no interest in that. I want to fight for a more just society, not run away. My neighbors can't run away off the grid. We shouldn't have to *go* anywhere. Things should be just where we are.

[Lost-in-FL]

7. Who is saying that living off the grid is running away from society?

:wtf: Seriously? Lol!!!

Living off the grid is not only smart, but it does help the overall society.

[readmoreoften]

21. When people talk about living off the grid, they are usually talking about buying a plot of land

and farming it and living off their garden and chickens. Well, I've raised urban chickens and a garden and it's not enough and it's not a stable source of food (not in this heat). And I can't do it when I work 70 hrs a week during the school year and neither can my neighbors. When people talk about living off the grid, they are not usually talking about having solar panels put on their suburban home.

97% of energy waste comes from manufacturing, not personal choices. We have no choice in how our cars are made, how are washing machines are made, or how our milk cartons are manufactured. They're usually not even made here anymore. Personal purity isn't any sort of solution. It barely makes a dent really. There needs to be an end to the wars and a politically forced shift in manufacturing practices. And for-profit coal and oil needs to be made illegal--globally.

[Lost-in-FL]

27. See, I thought you were implying the "Libertarian/survivalist way" of living off-the grid.

We used to have this coworker that did just that, moved to upstate NY and bought land, got his solar system, pile of fire arms, his garden, chickens and pretty much lives "suspicious" of anyone. I don't necessarily agree his way is the best way to do it. Living off the grid is a full time job. I agree, it is hard to do it on your own. I would think it would be best when you are part of a small "community" of like individuals with their own "exchange" system or coop. Wonder if there are communities like that in the US.

[onpatrol98]

30. I agree

I like that system better. Communities like that actually do exist. I don't know how well they do. But, there are some who try it. Not just wackos try it. LOL. People who want to try to live more simpler lives with shared resources. I have wondered if better arrangements couldn't be provided for the homeless and others in this fashion. Unfortunately, I think it's problematic if you have health issues.

[librechik]

4. I did it for years, it's doable.

I did miss plumbing and having to bathe in a bucket. It was a drag to have to wait for the fire to get hot in order to get warm and fed. But doable.

[HappyMe]

18. Hmm...that's the thing.

I love the idea of a simpler life. But at my age, wonder how long I could physically deal with the hard work involved 24/7.
The fact that we don't have money for land or cabin pretty much makes the decision for us.

[seabeyond]

5. i wouldnt do it. no interest. you didnt give that option. nt

[onpatrol98]

8. true, Seabeyond

I missed that option. I was hoping "I just couldn't do it" would work. But, having no interest in it, is really a separate option.

[seabeyond]

22. shit happens, lol. but ya, they are two different things.

ah well....

[Raine]

23. Yeah that's the way I feel too. nt

[cmd]

6. Impossible because of poor health

The heat wave would have been the end of me without air conditioning. I lived most of my life without ac. It has now become a necessity rather than a luxury. I have it need to breathe.

[XemaSab]

9. The absolute worst lifestyle for the environment

is the 3-acre ranchette.

The best lifestyle is living in a small city apartment.

[Ineeda]

10. Changing the infrastructure of my home is way out of my financial reach. n/t

[Edweird]

11. I'm not going full-on "off grid" but I am heading towards serious seclusion with a large helping of

self sufficiency. Remote rural area with phone and electricity available, but wild and difficult to access.

[onpatrol98]

14. Yeah...now, that's the idea

I'm currently enjoying country living. But, I would like to be more self sufficient. My grandparents used to grow most of their own food. I could really do more in that area.

[peace frog]

12. I have an opportunity to live in another country for a while

The climate there is spring-like year round, so potentially could be comfortable enough to eliminate a need for AC. There is also potential for wind-powered electicity and each household has a rainwater-gathering system. It could work, with a lot of thought and preparation. Just waiting to see if we get the go-ahead to move.

[onpatrol98]

34. Never lived outside of the country

I've never lived outside of the US. I wonder how much that would change my perspective and others, if we had the opportunity to do that. For instance, many were allowed to play boogey man with with the health care plan. I honestly didn't know enough about other countries to have an idea if a system similar to another countries would be better than the US. I have a friend from China, who's convinced that I can find most cures to whatever ails me, if I'm willing to go to Asia.

[onpatrol98]

13. I'm truly curious...

As I get older, I wonder about it more and more. As our nation, gets crazier and crazier, I am wondering how many people will find it a more viable option. When a nation seems to care so little about its children, it's sick, and it's older citizens, I wonder.

In my area, there is a local tax assessor that is helping work on a bill to sell off "permanently" people's property for taxes or an approved value if you owe a year's back taxes.

[cali]

15. how about I've done it but am not currently doing it.

[onpatrol98]

16. But, would you do it again?

[cali]

19. yes, I'd like to do it again. Can't afford it.

[handmade34]

17. I've done it, loved it...

can't right now but would love to work with groups to help us all learn alternative ways of living

[Cool Logic]

20. I have a remote cabin in the mountains that is off-grid (solar and wind)...

However, I still must run a generator in order for my wife to use her hair dryer.

Live off-grid...? Sure, if you don't mind giving up the high wattage stuff.

As for me, I have a good marriage and would prefer that it remain that way.:)

[Raine]

24. Not interested in the least, wouldn't want to do it. nt

[elocs]

25. When I retire I've thought about becoming a nomad, traveling the country in my little car

pulling a small teardrop trailer. There's lot of federal lands where I could stay for nothing. That would be as off the grid as I'm likely to get.

[onpatrol98]

29. next door neighbor

Now, that you mention it. There is an elderly guy living near us out here in some sort of travel trailer. Used to be salesman making huge dollars, but when he retired, he wanted to downsize. Man...did he downsize. But, if you think about it. How much room does one guy need? He's apparently decided he could do with a lot less. He isn't impoverished or anything. He's still healthy and quite agile to be in his 80s. He just wanted to live a more simple life.

[roody]

26. Grid tie is just as good, and cheaper.

[WinkyDink]

28. No can do.

[Blue_In_AK]

31. I did live off the grid for a while

back in the '70s. I'm probably too old to do it now.

[Zorra]

32. I've done it for most of my life.

I beat them.

[onpatrol98]

33. What prompted you?

What prompted you to do it and what did that mean for you? Solar panels, wells, and growing your own food. Or, truly leaving civilization behind?

[Zorra]

35. I think the primary reason was that

everything in the matrix seemed so phony to me. I felt this at 5 years old; it seemed like this big crazy trap and I avoided it as much as possible. I seem to have a (possibly compulsive) need for freedom and independence and this has always been a huge motivator. Maybe because I grew up in a rural area, and always loved and understood the natural world much better than system world and always feel unrestricted in nature.

I did it several ways, one was "going mobile" several times in my life. And yep, another one, pretty long term solar panels, springs for water, growing food (plus growing organic veggies for market), chickens, rabbits, wood heat, the whole deal. I still have a small place that is completely off the grid, but I am not living there right now.

It's actually a long, strange trip of an explanation beyond this.