Living the Off-the-Grid Good Life

I live in a high alpine valley. My nearest neighbors are elk, bear, deer, mountain lions, wild horses, and coyotes. I am immersed in forests of aspen, pine, and fir, topped off by the splendor of two mountain ranges. Three mountain peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation rise up majestically from my backyard. Beauty surrounds me. Wonder fills my days. Welcome to my off the grid good life.

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These two beautiful mule deer bucks, and 14 more of their companions, were feeding and resting on my property at sundown last night. How I love their visits.

So what does it mean to live off the grid? The first time I mentioned it someone commented about criminals hiding out in the hills. Well, not so much. I am not on the lam and I have no criminal past. In the technical sense, off the grid refers to existing off of the power grid. I have no telephone landline and no power lines. That means I have no energy bills. Imagine that! In the personal sense, living off the grid, for me, is about fullness of life. It is a conscious decision to live more deeply in tune with all that nourishes my spirit.

When you are living off the grid, less really is more. At the most basic level, one begins to focus on water, fire, sun, and shelter. How much is really necessary for living well? I have found that having fewer material encumbrances means greater contentment and true freedom.

It is interesting circling back to the time before a switch was flipped to provide the juice for a modern life of convenience. I often feel like a pioneer woman and frequently think of how my grandparents lived. I relish the opportunity to slow down, roll up my sleeves, and thoughtfully produce only what is absolutely necessary for sustainable living.

Until changing my way of life, I had lost contact with the immense joy of simple pleasures. Don't get me wrong — I've always had good jobs, nice homes, wonderful friends, and everything a person could hope for in terms of the rewards of hard work. It's not that my life was bad. Still, something essential was missing.

Now, I realize the blessings of a life lived on purpose. Every morning, upon awakening, I say thanks for the gift of the day and for this new life I am treasuring. I have made the critical move from survival mode to what I call thrivival. How many people truly get to thrive in this day and age? I don't know many individuals who are really thriving even in the midst of seemingly great worldly success.

How fortunate I am to have finally decided that life is too precious to waste on striving, on worrying, on living in a way that does not generate real peace and well-being. I have found the true riches and the only wealth that really matters in life. Are you finding it, too?

Where do you get your water?

I get my water from a nearby artesian spring. There is a huge aquifer deep below this alpine valley.

If you don't have power lines, how do you generate electricity?

My power comes from the sun. I have three photovoltaic panels and 14 deep-cell batteries that store the collected energy. I do have a back-up generator for those very rare times when the sun isn't shining.

Did you build your own home?

I bought a property with two unfinished buildings that needed a lot of work. I've made a great deal of progress, but there are always ongoing construction projects. It's a good thing I enjoy this type of physical activity, and, I must say, it's a great way to build muscles and lose weight.

Isn't it more work to live off the grid?

Everything is relative. The efforts are just different from city life. Nothing is delivered to my doorstep. Resources are farther away. Good planning makes a difference. Now that I have a few seasons under my belt, I have a better sense of what I need to do during each month of the year. Winters are a bit easier now that I know how my various systems respond to cold weather. With time, one learns how to prioritize and maximize one's efforts.

What does it take to live off the grid?

Mostly, it takes a certain frame of mind. Not everyone can live this type of lifestyle. One must be resourceful, flexible, self-reliant, hungry to learn, and able to find satisfaction in the everyday pleasures of a life lived close to nature.

How do you sustain this type of lifestyle? How do you pay the bills?

First of all, I have very few bills. It is possible to create income from home. I used to commute quite a distance for work. Now I make my living online. You can learn the specifics through additional blogs and lenses that I am creating.

How are you able to access the Internet when living off the grid?

I have a satellite connection to the Internet. It works flawlessly and is a necessity for my online work and for staying connected with friends and family.

What did you have to give up to live this way?

I gave up 70-90 hour work weeks. I gave up a lot of stress. I gave up sleepless nights, and I gave up the unhealthy pace of my previous life.

Aren't you ever afraid? How did you find the courage to live in a wild place?

I don't live in fear. Fortunately, I've never had any dangerous experiences. I feel safer here than I used to feel when I lived in big cities. You learn to trust your instincts. I'm careful and I have equipped myself with the appropriate protection. Part of it is faith and the other part of safety and security is not taking foolish chances.

What will you do if you get sick?

This is an important question and consideration for anyone living in a remote location. I don't have close or easy access to medical services. Perhaps that is why I am so focused on achieving a high level of health and fitness. Fortunately, I've been healthy all of my life. In a rural setting, you rely greatly on neighbors. I have worked out a signal system in the case of a true emergency.

Question: What do you like best about your green lifestyle? What have you gained from living off the grid?

I love how healthy I have become. Instead of sitting indoors behind a desk all day, I am constantly moving about outdoors. It's been wonderful to find a new rhythm for life that is in tune with the changing seasons and the natural ebb and flow of daylight. The beauty and serenity of this place just absolutely fills such important places within me. Also, having wide open space and breathing room has been so revitalizing. Finally, I am thrilled to be learning so much every day. This is a time of exceptional growth and reawakening for me.

We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.
~Luciano de Crescenzo

It is with a full heart that I recognize these Squid Angels for providing that second wing that enabled this lens, and me, to fly. Please know that I will pay that kindness and generosity forward.

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