Podcast Summary
Simplify your life before going off-grid: Declutter possessions, reduce financial obligations, and streamline daily routines to prepare for off-grid living
To make the transition from city life to living off the grid a reality, it's important to simplify your existing life first. Gary Collins, an expert on off-grid living and author of several related books, shares his personal experience of growing up remote and the freedom it brought, which inspired him to leave his urban 9-5 existence in search of a freer lifestyle. He emphasizes the importance of simplifying your life in three main ways before making the move. This includes decluttering possessions, reducing financial obligations, and streamlining daily routines. By taking these steps, one can better prepare for the challenges and costs associated with off-grid living.
Seeking Freedom and Simplicity through Off-Grid Living: The speaker found fulfillment in off-grid living by disconnecting from public utilities, focusing on essentials, and cherishing lifelong relationships.
The speaker felt suffocated by the conventional lifestyle of working hard, accumulating debt, and being manipulated by the system. This led him to seek freedom and simplicity by going off-grid, disconnecting from public utilities and returning to a self-sufficient lifestyle. He found joy in the freedom of rural living, the focus on essentials, and the strength of lifelong relationships. Off-grid living can vary in degrees, but for the speaker, it meant a basic, utility-free existence. His experience serves as a reminder that sometimes, stepping away from the norm can lead to a more fulfilling and authentic life.
Understanding Off-grid Living vs Homesteading: To live off-grid, focus on individual freedom through simplifying, optimal health, financial freedom, and life purpose. Homesteading is a self-sustaining lifestyle that can include farming and animal raising, but off-grid living is about energy independence.
Off-grid living and homesteading are two different things. Off-grid living refers to being independent of public utilities, while homesteading is a self-sustaining lifestyle that can include farming and animal raising. The decision to go off-grid is a significant one that requires planning and resources, and simplifying one's current life is a recommended first step. Living off-grid is not a cheap or easy lifestyle, and it's important to focus on what's truly important in life to make the transition successfully. This includes optimal health, financial freedom, and finding one's life purpose. The process of simplifying involves decluttering, reducing debt, and refocusing on what truly matters to regain individual freedom.
Test the waters with RV living before going off-grid: RV living can help simplify your life, teach minimalism and self-sufficiency, but careful planning and research are crucial before making the move to off-grid living.
Going off-grid is not a magic solution to personal problems or financial debts. Simplifying your life and learning to live with less is a crucial step before making the move. RV living can be a great way to test the waters and learn these skills in a more affordable way. The RV lifestyle forces minimalism and teaches self-sufficiency through dry camping. Remember, planning, organization, and execution are key to success. Try renting an RV for a vacation to see if it's right for you. The off-grid world is filled with potential pitfalls, so take the steps to ensure it's the right journey for you. Whether you choose an RV or a stationary off-grid home, careful planning and research will increase your chances of success.
Test out off-grid RV lifestyle before committing: Consider starting with a travel trailer or renting an RV to test off-grid living. Gradually make the transition to off-grid property by selling your home, downsizing, and renting a smaller living space.
If you're considering the off-grid RV lifestyle but aren't ready to make a full commitment, starting with a travel trailer or renting a smaller RV is a great way to test it out. This approach allows you to experience the challenges of managing electricity, water, and waste, and determine if RV living is the right choice for you. If you decide to take the next step and buy off-grid property, it's recommended to sell your current home, downsize, and rent a smaller living space as a transition. This gradual approach can help you solidify your plans without making a major financial commitment. Remember, the off-grid lifestyle is about taking things slow and enjoying the journey.
Considering more than just cost and availability when choosing land for off-grid living: Research community fit, travel to area, spend time there, and ensure availability of necessary amenities before purchasing land for off-grid living.
When it comes to finding land for an off-grid home, it's essential to take your time and carefully consider various factors beyond just the cost and availability of the land. The community and lifestyle fit are crucial. Before making a purchase, take vacations or travel to the areas of interest, research on platforms like Zillow, and spend time in the town or area to ensure it's a good fit. Remember, you're moving into a new community, and it's important to blend in and get along with the people. Additionally, consider the availability of necessary amenities such as medical facilities. While it may be tempting to rush into a purchase, remember that it's harder to leave a remote location if the fit isn't right. Whether you use services like Lands of America or not, take your time to make an informed decision.
Explore locations in person for best deals and valuable properties: Online research is important, but physically visiting locations and networking with locals can lead to the best deals and valuable properties for off-grid living. Secure water sources by drilling a well instead of hauling it.
While finding land online can be effective, the best deals and most valuable properties are often discovered by physically visiting the location and networking with local realtors and residents. This is especially important when it comes to securing water sources, which are crucial for off-grid living. Hauling water is a major inconvenience and should be avoided if possible. Instead, drilling a well is typically the best solution, although this can be costly and may require navigating regulations in some areas. Ultimately, the most successful land purchases are made through a combination of online research and on-the-ground exploration.
Planning Essentials for Off-Grid Living: Water, Sewage, and Power: To live off the grid, carefully consider water sources like wells or property with water sources, invest in a septic tank or outhouse for sewage, and choose power solutions like solar, wind, hydro, or geothermal based on feasibility and budget.
Going off the grid requires careful planning and consideration for essential resources like water, sewage, and power. For water, using a well can be an option, but depth and cost depend on location. Alternatively, buying property with a water source like a creek is another possibility, but it comes with its own risks. For sewage, a septic tank with a leach field is the most common solution, while an outhouse may still be an option in some areas. Gravity-fed systems are the simplest and least expensive, but pump systems can be more complicated and costly. For power, solar is the most common and popular solution, while wind, hydro, and geothermal are other options. Geothermal is highly efficient but expensive and may not be feasible for everyone depending on their land conditions. Overall, going off the grid requires careful planning and investment in these essential systems.
Living Off-Grid: Modern Housing and Renewable Energy: Modern off-grid living is possible with affordable solar panels and advanced battery technology. Consider climate and energy needs when designing and building a sustainable, energy-independent home.
Going off-grid for energy and housing is more accessible than many people think. Solar panels have become more affordable, and battery technology has advanced significantly. You can live in a normal-sized house with modern appliances, just like a normal house, but it runs on renewable energy. The house itself can be built with various materials, from standard stick frame to insulated concrete forms or even tiny homes on a rolling chassis or smaller than 500 square feet. The key is to consider the specific climate and energy needs when choosing the design and materials. The process may not be easy, but the rewards of energy independence and sustainable living can be significant.
Reliably Connecting to the Internet for Off-Grid Living and Online Business: To run an online business off-grid, consider costs of satellite internet, cellular data, or radio technology. Ensure a solid financial foundation and good cell phone reception.
Living off-grid and running an online business requires reliable internet access. This can be achieved through various means like satellite internet, cellular data, or radio technology. However, it's essential to consider the costs involved, as going off-grid can have significant upfront expenses, and running an online business still requires essential bills like cell phone service. It's crucial to have a solid financial foundation before making the transition. Additionally, the availability of cell phone reception is an essential factor to consider when choosing a property for an off-grid living and online business setup.
Buying land with cash and simplifying life in off-grid living: Buying land with cash is key to financial stability, living in an RV while building a house is a common solution, simplifying life by getting off social media saves valuable time.
Financial stability is crucial in the journey of off-grid living. Buying land with cash is recommended to avoid debt and potential financial burdens. Living in an RV while building a house is a common solution for those who cannot bring a house up the mountain. Additionally, the speaker encourages simplifying life by getting off social media and saving time, which is a valuable resource. Social media is seen as highly toxic and a form of theft due to the time wasted and the primary function of data mining. The creators of social media are viewed as sociopaths whose goal was never to create a platform for communication but to make money by collecting data on users.
Costs of Social Media for Entrepreneurs: Building relationships directly and owning customer info is a better approach than relying on social media for business success. Focus on long-term growth over short-term gains.
Social media comes with significant costs, including the potential loss of privacy and control over your data, as well as the potential for negative impacts on mental health. The speaker, who has successfully built a business without relying on social media, argues that owning your customer information and building relationships directly is a better approach for entrepreneurs. He also emphasizes that true business success often takes time and effort, and that relying on social media for quick fixes may result in obtaining low-quality customers and dealing with complaints. The speaker encourages seeking authentic engagement and focusing on long-term growth rather than short-term gains.
Relying solely on social media can make you a digital sharecropper: Avoid relying solely on social media for business and personal growth, as it can be risky and limit your control
Relying solely on social media platforms for business can be risky and make you a "digital sharecropper." This means you don't truly own your business, as the platform owner has control and can kick you off while taking a significant cut of your potential earnings. To learn more about simplifying your life and going off the grid, visit Gary Collins' website, thesimplelifenow.com. Don't forget to sign up for his Simple Life Insider Circle for updates. Remember, it's essential to have multiple sources of information and not rely on just one platform. This principle applies not only to businesses but also to personal growth and knowledge acquisition.
