Off Grid/Subsistence Living: Could/Would you do it?

Huckleberry wrote:

KyAllroad wrote: There is a level of hypocracy and self delusionment among the "off the gridders" that I find very off putting. "I want solar panels", well pal that means that somewhere else there has to be a multi-billion dollar industry manufacturing that item. Or modern medicine, again you want to live off grid and not contribute to the common good until you need it, then you run to the hospital. Or dentistry, remember Tom Hanks in Castaway? Yeah, I don't want to live like that either. Ready to weave your own clothes from homespun wool? No, well you probably want a textile industry out there generating comfortable, durable clothes for you. There is so much more to modern life than food and electricity, it simply defies comprehension. Try this mental game: you are transported through time back to the birth of the United States. 1776 and you are there with your modern day knowledge. What could you do?

I'd build advanced(for the time) weaponry.....offer them to the colonies at very low costs in exchange for massive land grants of future conquests....then remember where the oil fields are.

KyAllroad wrote: Try this mental game: you are transported through time back to the birth of the United States. 1776 and you are there with your modern day knowledge. What could you do?

What could I do that wouldn't get me burned at the stake for being a witch?

Probably a carpenter or a farmer. Maybe an accountant or banker.

Burning at the stake was pretty much over with by then.

But while I understand how many things work, given a 1776 shop/forge/lab I doubt I'd be able to recreate much in my own lifetime. My greatest contribution might be in the field of public health and immunizations. Smallpox is actually pretty easy to prevent. Cholera can be halted through basic water supply hygiene.

I wouldn't do "off grid" I would do "grid equivalent" Local power generation, well with local treatment, local waste water treatment (honestly a ship aboard system with microbes would be great, I could use the smallest one.) I already cut the cord on cable.

Cell and internet would be my only two hold outs.

As far as food, I don't mind growing my own veggie and stuff, especially spices, but I live in civilization for a reason. Raising farm animals? berkeley that E36 M3

EDIT: I see KyAllroad already got some of the issues with a true "off-grid" idea. LOL

I could probably do it for a brief period but I lack the ambition. Add in that as soon as people find out you can do things they expect you to do everything and it gets old fast. If and when the E36 M3 ever does hit the fan I'm fine dying early on rather than fighting for some E36 M3ty post apocalyptic existence.

mazdeuce wrote: I don't mind living off grid, but the constant work required to grow food isn't something I'm interested in. I've raised livestock and veggies and there are other things I'd rather do with my time.

this plus 1. Grew up raising hogs in open pens (not the smelly confined housing) and had a large veggie garden every year that we used to can. There's nothing wrong with that lifestyle, it's just not for me. If the SHTF and the TEOTWAWKI happened, yes I could do it again. But otherwise? Nah.... I'm good. I'd rather not kill my own food. I'll go to the grocery store instead.

I could go completely off the grid and be fine, by myself. But I was thinking more along the lines that flight service is talking about. Either one would be a huge negatory from the wife though. Plus I really wouldn't want my son to have to live like that. But by myself, yeah, berkeley civilization, I'm out.

My grand parents lived on a self sufficient farm.

But they sold the milk from the cows and maple syrup for staples. sometimes veggies.

My mother told of the monthly trip to town to buy staples. sugar, flour, kerosene etc.

There were times when they had to tunnel through the snow drift to get to the out house wasn't much fun.

No doubt in my mind that the wife and I could do it. At some point in our lives we have already done most of the things required. We still grow most of our own vegetables and help some of her family at butchering time.

But at ages 68 and 72 with a very comfortable income, I think we will pass.

In reply to SVreX: Man o man. Don't tempt me.

In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:

I wasn't tempting you. I was offering.

Split off a true cord of wood by hand and get back me. Oak if you please.

I am often cofused by people that wish they could have lived in the "good old days". Where people lived off the land.

So, I ask them when was the last time you went an entire summer in Texas without AC?

They shut up and walk away.

These are the good old days!

TRoglodyte wrote: Split off a true cord of wood by hand and get back me. Oak if you please.

Bucked with a two-man cross cut saw. No chainsaws allowed. Splitting it would be the vacation part.

TRoglodyte wrote: Split off a true cord of wood by hand and get back me. Oak if you please.

My 16yo and I split this in a couple of hours. I actually enjoy splitting wood. It's almost soothing. I burn 3-4 truck loads a year. It's great exercise.

I could definitely go off grid and love it. I'll probably do the modern version with solar power and a 300-600 square foot house when my last child graduates. We will still be grid tied but using minimal electricity. The house will be on the families 400 acre farm. Wood heat, solar power, solar water heat, chickens in the yard, a couple of pigs and a cow or two. Add a acre or so of garden and I'll be set. Then I'll bank 90% of my pay and retire in another 10 years.

Kia_Racer wrote: I am often cofused by people that wish they could have lived in the "good old days". Where people lived off the land. So, I ask them when was the last time you went an entire summer in Texas without AC? They shut up and walk away. These are the good old days!

I certainly wouldn't do it in Texas.

In reply to KyAllroad:

Crosscuts aren't that bad, but power saws aren't exactly a new invention. I've still got the crosscut saw, but I don't think my father ever had to use it and he grew up on the farm.

All of this has me really wanting a cabin to enjoy with my family. Something like this Would be awesome. Really secluded property to get away. Bonus is that my kin folk live just round the corner.

That's me. I want the grid, I need the grid, I love the grid.

TRoglodyte wrote: Split off a true cord of wood by hand and get back me. Oak if you please.

Ok. Did it. And that crappy stringy white oak at that. I like it.

SVreX wrote: In reply to Fueled by Caffeine: I wasn't tempting you. I was offering.

If I get the position in Atlanta. I'll do it.

Division of labor - that's how humans have survived and thrived. Not by going off in a corner and trying to go it alone.

What we should be striving for is our own country with a race track. Everyone can bring their specials skills and we can create the ultimate gear head commune!

Most people in the world live this way. As well all people until rather recently. So yes, it can be done.

Can a typical urban American do the transition? Not comfortably, and probably not well at all. A great many simply would not survive a month.

Could I do it? Yes. Do I want to do it? No.

KyAllroad wrote: There is a level of hypocracy and self delusionment among the "off the gridders" that I find very off putting. "I want solar panels", well pal that means that somewhere else there has to be a multi-billion dollar industry manufacturing that item. Or modern medicine, again you want to live off grid and not contribute to the common good until you need it, then you run to the hospital. Or dentistry, remember Tom Hanks in Castaway? Yeah, I don't want to live like that either. Ready to weave your own clothes from homespun wool? No, well you probably want a textile industry out there generating comfortable, durable clothes for you. There is so much more to modern life than food and electricity, it simply defies comprehension. Try this mental game: you are transported through time back to the birth of the United States. 1776 and you are there with your modern day knowledge. What could you do?

I see your point, but there are a few levels of "off the grid" people out there.

There are the groups that want to live a primitive life style- which for Americans was just 150-200 years ago for many. Primitive cabin, tools, food off the land, ect.

But I also see the people who want to figure out how to love as comfortably and modern as possible with as little connection as needed. Nothing wrong with being able to use electricity- and if you can find a remote location without power and can still have electricity, great. Nothing wrong with growing as much food as you can (veggies, meat, honey, fruit, etc) and still use some market items. And certainly nothing wrong with modern medicine.

Sure, it was a multi billion dollar company that made your solar panels, but so was the power generating station that we all use. And if you can scrounge garbage to make a wind generator or a neat hydro generator, that's cool, too.

I don't see the problem with using as much modern technology as you can but just be remote and not connected.

As for the common good point- people contribute to it so that they can also take from it. If you minimize your need to take from it, if you can generate money, and take as little as possible, what's wrong with that?

Take 2 shipping containers, and go for it.

Could I do it? No

Do I want to? HELL no.

Call me soft. But call me warm, dry and sufficiently nourished soft.