What It’s Like Living Off-Grid.

And how I have all the basic necessities

I thought I’d start writing more about what it’s like living here off-grid and how it’s easier than perhaps some of you imagine. But before I begin, if you don’t enjoy being out in nature and crave the hustle and bustle of city life, this lifestyle is not for you.

You might be miserable hearing just birds in the trees lulling you to sleep or the soft whoosh of the wind blowing through the pines. You might get annoyed at your nearest neighbor being ten acres away or that there are no traffic sounds on the roads.

I get that. Being out in the woods isn’t for everyone, and I’m glad. Because if it were, then everyone would be out here!

You might be wondering the obvious. What do I do for power? How do I get phone service and internet? These were crucial services to me, and I would not have purchased this place without them.

Luckily, a Verizon tower is nearby, providing enough signal for my phone and internet on my Verizon Jetpak. If I drive into town, the signal is stronger, but it’s good enough for here.

As for power, that turned out to be easier than I thought. I purchased a lightweight Jackery Power station, which sits on my kitchen counter. (I don’t really have a kitchen, but I call my shelf that holds my butane camping cooking stove and utensils my kitchen.)

In the summer, I set two portable solar panels outside and charge the power station. It usually only takes a few hours for it to be fully charged, which can power my phone and laptop for days if needed.

Here in Maine, the sunshine in winter is less frequent, so I purchased a good-quality Honda generator. The previous owner of the cabin had already installed interior wiring, complete with a generator plug outside, so it’s easy.

I just place my Honda generator about ten feet from the house, facing away, attach the plug, and let it run. It’s important to never use a generator closer to or inside your garage, as the fumes can take your life within minutes without you even being aware of the deadly fumes.

Sometimes, I wait till evening to run it so I can turn on the lights to cook dinner or use my laptop while it’s still charging. When I turn it off, the power station powers the Christmas tree lights I strung up on the wall. It makes it feel cozy in here!

My setup and methods may not work for everyone, but they work well for me.

I guess the term off-grid can mean different things. I am not self-sustainable, meaning I still shop at the grocery store. I go into town to purchase gas and to Walmart.

But owning your own land provides options. I’m not much of a gardener, but I think next spring I’ll try to grow some vegetables and see what happens. I also don’t know how to can food, but how difficult can that be? Pun intended.

There’s something else I’ve been thinking about doing as well. As food becomes more expensive, I find myself not buying the things I love, one of which is fish. Well, I live next to the ocean and have my own beach! Why not buy a fishing rod and learn how to fish?

What am I waiting for? I could eat all the fresh fish I want! I’ve been thinking about buying a rowboat, anyway. Why not fish while I’m rowing around?

I also love fried clams and have a free clamming license because I’m over sixty-five. I was astounded to find last summer at a local restaurant the price of one plate of fried clams was twenty-five bucks. That’s crazy. Who can afford that?

Since my truck is four-wheel drive, I drive right out on the beach at low tide and park. For those of you who don’t like walking through mud, this activity won’t appeal to you, but I love it. I even go barefoot.

My dogs run around on the beach chasing seagulls while I dig them, put them in a bucket, and then rinse out the sand before taking them home. My generator runs my frier while I cook them outside. They are delicious. And they’re free!

I also want to learn how to catch rainwater since we often have drenching downpours. I can still get water from the spring, but I like the idea of having another method if ever needed.

I don’t consider myself a particularly crafty type of lady, and I’m certainly not technically inclined. Still, there’s something about figuring out things on my own that is incredibly relaxing and rewarding.

Maybe next summer, I’ll take photos of digging clams or write about my success (or not) at fishing. I’ll share how I figured out the rainwater system, which I believe there are YouTube videos about.

So, living off-grid can be what you make it. You can be entirely self-sufficient or only somewhat like me. Either way, having an affordable lifestyle and owning your own dirt promises endless possibilities to do whatever you want.

Please let me know if there are other things about living off-grid you’d like to know about. I would love to share them!