plenty of communes still kicking around the hills

That is what I think of too...

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/n...traveler_x.htm

If this is legit then it is the way to go

I don't want to be 100% independent/isolated, but I'd like to be in a position to maintain a reasonable level of "normalness" in the event of an extended outage. I hope one day to get a gas powered generator like PersianKitty has - it's enough to power the whole house...

Rising [grid sourced] electricity prices are also a concern, a renewable energy setup like solar that may barely break even over its lifetime today could have its payback changed significantly by mains supply price increases.

love solar power :thumbsup

Don't waste your money on a gas powered generator. That will only be of use until you are out of gas.

Going solar is not about "breaking even" on your investment. It's about being prepared and ALWAYS having an energy source, short of a nuclear winter.

You have to think beyond living off the grid. You have to think about how will you survive a disaster and protect your home / fortress as well as your family, should an unforeseen event happen.

A few possible scenarios:

- Solar flares knock out the power grid (we're suppose to have some massive solar storms 2012 - 2013)
- Terrorist attack knocks out power grid
- Domestic rioting causes martial law
- Food shortage (this is very possible)
- Total financial collapse of your country
- Zombie attack (will need more preparations for such an event)

You have to think about food, clean water, power and protection. Be 100% prepared, don't just have a house in the middle of nowhere with a gas generator.

Just allowing for inflation the price of power will more than double over that period.

and $120k fuck me how much power do you need?

Because I'm building the house at the same time as putting in the system, I can save a fortune by building south facing with wide low angle roofing to keep the sun out of the house in summer and warm it in winter. No heating costs as I have about 4 acres of forest. I've got AC where I am now but put it on about 2 days a year, where I'm moving is cooler, so no need for it, I'll just go jump in the river to cool off.

I'm building three separate systems, 2 solar/1 wind so if anything goes wrong with one I can switch over and still keep lights/fridge running, but will grab a small generator just incase.

Yep, this is truly living off of the grid to some point and is most likely legit.

When I lived off the grid, I lived in and worked an old mining claim which belonged to an old friend of my Father; I had no running water and had to haul water for daily consumption in old plastic milk jugs I collected from a near by town for quick out door showers which usually consisted of 3 gallons of water. You would not believe how far 3 gallons would go when having to conserve?..heated in the sun?.ahhh!

I had no electricity and read by kerosene lantern at night. I collected wood during the summer season so I had heat through the winter. I spent my days working the mine so I could barter for canned or dried staples from a town which was about 25 miles away or a good day ride one way by horseback.

I also killed rattlesnakes for the meat and would cure the skins to trade for some cash from a local belt and purse maker which helped with purchasing grain/feed for my horses and mules.

Truly living off the grid is hard and can be lonely at times. I think I did not associate with people for about 4 years as I had my fill of people and the fucking government?hence the reason I went to the hills and dropped off the grid totally.

I would do it again if I was not married, it was a better life than living in the big city, going into debt, like many others do?..but still a hard rough life that most people can?t or won?t try to do.

My wife wants me to write a book about my trek from Phoenix to Colorado by horseback?..someday I will sit down and do this. I had great experiences, some good, and some horrific but in the end, I came away with an experience that most people will never have.....:2 cents::2 cents:

We will most likely be adding a wind power system to the house here in the next year. Just want to buy a new truck first.
:)

That sounds like reason enough to start/learn to live off the grid now.

I'd love a few 1000 acres in Montana or Wyoming, a wind turbine to generate electricity, well water, etc. but I'd need tv and internet too so I guess that is not too off the grid.

That's cool, man. Mules are cool, too!

Mules were the best investment I ever made, besides my quarter horses. Mules are so sure footed unlike a dumb ass burro....LOL

It is somewhat off the grid, especially if you create your own energy and not dependent on utility companies.. If that is something you want bad enough, you will go for it ;)

I had a 25 year old mule that I use to trail ride and of course I caught a lot of comments.

But of all the stupid ass shit and unexpected rodeo riding I've witnessed on the trail, they never involved my mule (or any mule for that matter). :thumbsup

I know what you mean. People used to ask me why I had mules as if it was something strange. I assume people are used to seeing burros with pack saddles which I can understand but a mule is so sure footed and give little hassle to anything around them. I guess that is why they use them on the Grand Canyon mule strips to Phantom Ranch.

There's many off-grid, independent living type blogs out there. It appears that there's a resurgence of interest in independent living due to a) energy costs b) interest in organic food and "organic living" c) realization that with the increase in off grid technology out there, off-grid doesn't necessarily mean uncomfortable.

I think you're right, and there are many forms or stages to living off the grid. Living off the grid 100% will be uncomfortable and trying for some. I guess it depends on how much one is willing to give up.

I can't tell you how great it was to not have TV, radio or any communication with the outside world. It gave me tons of time to think, be creative and learn to survive while enjoying things that I always seemed to take for granted. I guess I had more energy when all the push button items and propaganda were removed from my life.

I am not trying to knock anyone who is working to get off of fossil fuels or trying to be independent. Even if you have solar panels installed when you live in the city, you are still at the mercy of the utility company as you will have to sell excess power you create to the same idiots that prompted you to go solar.....something to consider ;)

I feel truly living off the grid would be giving up all the monetary and push button things that we have all come accustom to.....the simpler life.....:2 cents:

Off grid, no way, I'm going off planet. Only way to be sure those bastards can't get you.

The economy is going all the way down, get out of big cities asap.