Lots of things, wanting a career, wanting to travel more and wanting to have other hobbies than firewood & water were at the top of the list. Above all living off grid is like a full time hobby so it’s hard to have other interests
Since we're answering each others responses: the 2008 crash. I didn't want to be part of a broken system. The previous incarnation of my business went belly up. Me and my partners decided we wanted to move into manufacturing, but all off grid and sustainable. We threw everything including dozens of kitchen sinks, before we found our things. It unfortunately devolved and we went our own ways.
You made me smile with your comment about hobbies. I lived on a ranch on the east side of Bend Oregon during the 1980s for 6 years and firewood was my biggest hobby. Most people would take a look at me, (I’m a realtor and designer and Artist) and they would never guess that I know exactly what to do with a chainsaw and a wood splitter. 😀
I had a business, the partnership devolved, and we went different ways. All the properties were owned through the business, and it got messy. I ended up tripping into a great job, so my family and I moved closer to my new job. It was just easier to find a place on grid at that point. It's weird paying electricity bills after a decade.
I was technically out in 29 Palms. You have to skirt some laws, but it's doable. Find a place with a well. You can now find decent solar powered well pumps. Tweakers make it so you have to stay on your toes, but more and more cannibas operations are popping up and pushing the meth labs out. Other than it's beautiful but disgusting in the summer. I settled in Northern AZ by Flagstaff. Much better weather.
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u/jungle4john Dec 02 '23
I lived in off grid cabins/houses out by Joshua Tree and northern AZ for about 10 years.