Living ‘off grid’

Homesick by Catrina Davies is a really fascinating book on how hard it is for young people to get a decent roof over their head, the problems they face and the inventive and brave steps they take to help themselves.

Sago

We used to call them New Age travellers.

Even the ones who were stationary in their off-grid homes?

That seems odd.
I'm not talking about those people travelling between festivals...

Skydancer

I think it sounds wonderful. So many of us do what we think we ought to do rather than do what we'd really love to do.

When I was a little girl I wanted to live on the Woolwich Ferry.
But when I was 33 I achieved my dream ( thanks to my wonderful partner) to live onboard.
We lived on 2 different boats for 20 years.

Great way to live but only for the young. There are people in the UK who have done that. One out in a sparsely populated part of Scotland and one in mid Wales. I read his book and was quite envious of the very simple stress free life.

I think it sounds wonderful. So many of us do what we think we ought to do rather than do what we'd really love to do.

I really wish I could live like that, but I need a flushing loo, shower and electricity (have to blow dry hair every day) at the very least. I am a slave to bothering about how I look. I could not use public loos or share a shower with all and sundry. It must be so liberating to live this way. I bet we would all be a lot healthier too.

My brother lived a similar lifestyle though more a ‘light touch’ than off grid, until he was in his 40’s. He’s 68 now and it’s come back to bite him on the bum a bit. He receives minimal State Pension and hasn’t been able to fully retire because he needs the income from PT work. He lives (alone) on about £1200 a month all told, which isn’t much when he has to pay rent out of that. Still, he doesn’t complain, he says he made his choices back then so he just has to live with the results.

I know several people (uk) who live in caravans parked on seasonal pitches during the summer and then spend most of the winter months abroad. They have taken early retirement, sold their homes and decided they wanted to spend the long winter months abroad and without the cost of a house and living on the proceeds from the sale of their homes. For a while I envied their courage of taking the plunge but 10 years later I am so grateful we weren’t enticed to do the same. As we have gotten older and my husband health has deteriorated I shudder at the thought of being in their shoes now. They say they have no regrets but I do feel they will find it hard as they do get older. The money they made on the sale of their homes would not be enough to buy a new home now. And as many people have pointed out they don’t pay council tax and what they do is actually illegal but they use close family members addresses in order to get around the fact you can not legally live on such sites as their main residence . Overall though I envy people who are brave enough, especially younger people who want to take a step away from the fast pace of life people seem to be living these days.

I host Helpx volunteers and have done since 2008.

There's a film made 2007, Into the wild which inspired quite a few of
young people I met to try living off grid.

In the film an A student on the brink of a brilliant career, takes off to travel
from mid USA to Alaska and shows his adventures but also disasters on
the way. spoiler: it doesn't end well

Personally, the nearest I've ever been were our camping holidays on Scottish islands when our 4 DC were young. Some were wonderful, others so cold and wet, we had to pack up early.

My DS in NZ has a van for their trips but it's just for holidays. They choose the basic sites run by DOC (department of conservation) to be as close to nature as possible.

Very interesting nanna8, quite a brave thing to do eschewing the comforts that many young people expect. Does your grandson rent the farm?
We know someone who lives completely off grid at her sustainable glamping business. We say that’s where we’re going when society goes ‘tits up!’

It sounds like a really interesting way to spend time in your youth. I imagine it would build resilience as day to day life can't be smooth sailing.

There are many people around the area I live who, if they don't live life quite like your grandson nanna, do live with a very light touch on society. Many older people (young retired age) who've saved enough money to opt out of mainstream life, trade skills and services and reuse, recycle, do casual work and make ends meet by leading a frugal but contented life.

I do wonder how on earth people in Britain are supposed to buy houses now and I guess it's very much the same in Australia?

Also it's very clear that the majority of people with "loadsa money" (think Gates for instance) have not exercised good morals in the getting of that money. I wouldnt know about him personally - but many of them are pretty expert at evading tax etc to suit themselves.

I had one heck of a job back in my era being able to buy a house - due in my 20's but didn't turn up until a major stroke of luck in my mid 30s' (as I was both single and poorly-paid - as I always have been). But I can see clearly it's much more difficult/downright impossible these days and that it's probably the minority of employers that provide a job pension etc. All round - I don't honestly know what I'd do if I were young again - in order to get my house and job pension etc etc and wonder whether I'd have to land up living in a van/working "cash in hand/barter/etc" type jobs etc to manage and have a strong suspicion that is what I'd have to do if I were a couple of generations younger than I am. The way I'd look at it if I had to live like that would be "Well - what am I supposed to do if Society is preventing me buying my house/having my job pension/generally living a normal life?" and - put like that - I'd take the view of "I owe Society nothing - as they're putting all these obstacles in the way of me even having the basics for myself. Once Society accepts I need things like a house of my own/that job pension or a good State pension etc and recognises that it has obligations to me if I'm genuinely doing my bit/working etc = then I will think in terms of what obligations I owe to Society".

I honestly would think that way if in that generation. Though, in my own generation I was well aware of "doing my bit/paying my taxes/being 'responsible' " as I (finally) managed to get these things from Society. So yep - I'd feel the same responsibility towards Society as it felt towards me. They wouldnt get it both ways, ie of me having obligations towards Society but it having none towards me in return.

It would not suit me, if he were my grandson I would worry. Having said that hes’s happy living life on his terms, what else could we wish for anyone,

There is a serious problem with affordable housing in Australia especially for young people or those on reduced income. They are trying to persuade people to take up cohousing or living in apartments.
www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/lifematters/cooperative-housing/105060420

There’s a man on instagram I follow who lives in his van going all around Scotland who works offshore so he does pay his taxes and travels when he’s on shore. I really enjoy watching his posts he showcases Scotland at its best. If my bone’s weren’t so painful I’d give van life a try.

Good on you TheWeirdoAgain1 I would have loved that in my younger days. My grandson also sees lots of wildlife, kangaroos, wallabies etc and they come close because he is part of the furniture now - it’s been a couple of years. As well as being off grid there are not too many roads there, either though he has an old farm vehicle he travels around in. Sometimes I think we are all too regimented and boring, we need a few who live in a different way.

TheWeirdoAgain1

I lived from my van for 3 years after voluntarily quitting the flat I was renting at the time. I parked in the woods at night and on on verges during the day.

I had camper stoves and little kettles etc, had a army Basha canvas so when it was winter I'd attach it to the top of the van and the other end over trees and it made a really cosy tent!

I had a porta-loo which I emptied at official destinations and had showers at 24/7 trucker stops.

There was all the glorious wildlife during the day/night in the countryside too.

In nice weather I'd bring out a little fold-up table for meals and could have them in the cab or the back of the van.

The only bills I had were keeping the van going/legal etc. and personal expenses.

I loved the road!

Were you makng any ocntribution to the councl for the roads you drove on and the pariphenalia of police and bin men , and medical services and all the rest that provided roads for you to drive on, a safe state, and the health service you would have relied on if you had been ill.

How old is he? Did he leave school as soon as he was able?

He’s obviously picked up plastering and carpentry skills so would he be interested in gaining qualifications in those for when this off grid life loses its appeal, which it surely will?

It sounds good to me.

Gap years and wild camping. Not for me, but no reason for negativity.

Good for him, too many people live the way they ‘should’ rather than the way they want to.

I lived from my van for 3 years after voluntarily quitting the flat I was renting at the time. I parked in the woods at night and on on verges during the day.

I had camper stoves and little kettles etc, had a army Basha canvas so when it was winter I'd attach it to the top of the van and the other end over trees and it made a really cosy tent!

I had a porta-loo which I emptied at official destinations and had showers at 24/7 trucker stops.

There was all the glorious wildlife during the day/night in the countryside too.

In nice weather I'd bring out a little fold-up table for meals and could have them in the cab or the back of the van.

The only bills I had were keeping the van going/legal etc. and personal expenses.

I loved the road!

DS lives in Aus. and teaches. He's working on a van with the view of 'van life' to save a fortune in rent. We'll have to wait and see whether or not he actually does so.

Living the life he chooses while he can nanna and as long as he's happy, why not .

There a whole communities of youngsters living like this, Van life is now a bit of a trend, most work but can move as they please. Of course if you have to purchase anything you pay tax. No life is tax free unless it is a full cashless barter system which is unlikely and not illegal.