What is off grid

Someone asked me recently what off grid means. If you know already feel free to skip this post. Or feel free to read it. I'm sure the person who asked me is not the only person who doesn't know what it means. I have 3000 watts of solar power. This might sound like a lot of power, but it's really not. I don't run most of the things that are found in a house. I have to shut off things I'm not using. The only thing that is always on is my small fridge. I limit my TV time and don't have it on for noise. I listen to music on my phone, most of the time. I have to take care of my own trash disposal. I have to take care of my own bathroom disposal. That's a gross job, and my least favorite. I can't get an ambulance to come out here, because of the roads. When it rains, I wait to leave my house until it dries up a bit. I live on an unmaintained dirt road that turns into quicksand when it gets wet. People get stuck out here quite often. I don't yet have running water, but I have multiple containers for storage. Since it used to be ocean floor out here, digging a well is expensive and often ends with an unlimited supply of salt water. Which is not beneficial to the plants and animals. Therefore I haul water from town, about 15 miles away. I don't drink the water from town, so I also pick up drinking water. The dogs and plants don't mind the water from town. There are many perks to living off grid, but it is work. I have to fill propane for heat and cooking. I am fortunate enough to have a gentleman who delivers my wood for my wood burning stove, but I have to chop much of it myself as he brings me a lot of larger pieces. The only connection I have to the world is my cell phone. Some don't consider it being off grid if you have a cell phone, but I do. I don't have to pay utilities, but everything falls on me to take care of. I don't have an HOA. I pay property taxes for my little piece of heaven. No one cares if my dogs bark all night. No one cares if my yard is full of trash. I believe this is how we were supposed to live. Living off grid has been a huge learning experience, but it has built my self-reliance. I have extra food on hand. I have to keep pests out of everything, especially mice and rats. Out here it's about survival. I don't have extra money for makeup or shoes or fancy clothes. I spend my money on essentials. I gather seeds for future crops. I have a compost pile. I recycle and reuse as much as possible. I don't waste much and I am more conscious of my usage. I have my groceries delivered to the post office mostly. I don't like to people as much as I used. I like to be home more than I ever have. I don't have a gym membership, because my chores keep me in shape. Hopefully this answered the burning question of what is off grid. Love from the presert, Ceeeej 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Very Long Time Ago

Image
My mom recently sent me this picture of me from about 45 years ago. She found it in my grandma's prayer book. (She was a Catholic) It made me think back to this little girl. She was small and thin. She didn't smile often, because of silver caps on her teeth, thus the tightly pursed lips. Thankfully they were on her baby teeth. She was serious and contemplative, but could be silly and playful. She had a dry sense of humor. She loved who she loved, and protected those people fiercely. She was the youngest at this time. She adored her dad, her mom, her maternal grandparents and her brother. Her parents were separated by the time she was 3. She left her home when she was about 4. She was angry and scared, but she was excellent at hiding her feelings. She felt ugly and self conscious. She hated what she saw in the mirror, especially her hair. She was awkward and clumsy. She was already a badass, though, she didn't know that yet. She was intelligent and sharp witted.
Read more

Charcot Marie Tooth CMT

Image
pictured is my leg brace, known as an AFO, to support my ankles and legs In 2012, I broke 3 bones in my foot, 3 toes, and ruptured my Achilles. I had twisted my foot walking and all of me came down on my foot. I got to ride in an ambulance for the first time ever. My foot was numb and I turned down the offers of pain medication. Shortly after, I had my foot repaired. The toes they couldn't fix. And we were unaware of the ruptured Achilles. I didn't walk for 5 months, even after months of physical therapy. I was unable to put my right foot down. Due to my lack of judgment I rushed to return to work. I had begun to experience burning in my foot early after breaking it. The doctor had no idea what was going on. He tested me for diabetes. I healed up the best I could, working full time and being a mom and wife/caretaker. In 2013, I had my Achilles repaired. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth, CMT. This was the cause of the burning in my foot. I was
Read more

Gratitude

Image
Good day to you all. I hope this finds you well. Kids are returning to school, and summer is apparently coming to a close. The days are not as hot in the presert, and the nights are becoming cooler. We've had a little rain, but not nearly enough. The rain has mostly just made it humid. And, yes, the usual dry heat here is very different than when it's humid. I've cleared the 10 days of hell for the 7th time. The fog is beginning to lift on my widow brain. At this, and other tough times, I find that the best thing I can do is to be grateful for the things that aren't shit. I have food, and shelter, and clothes, and animals, and people who love me. I have flowers and trees and food growing in the sand. I am in decent health, all things considered. Gratitude helps to remind us how blessed we are. Not focusing on how much life can be a fucking dumpster fire. It feels like when I am struggling, life becomes more challenging. It must be Murphy's Law. This set
Read more