A shift in sentiment is all it takes. An uneasiness about the way things are and where existence is headed—just enough of this will cause people to rise, revolt, or simply pack up and migrate to a place under the radar. This mentality isn’t new. I remember it surged after the economic downturn as the fated 2012 end of days grew nearer. It was, perhaps, the first time I thought about having property off the grid.

But just like any other fear-based consideration, it left me with the winds of change.

Living Well, Unplugged

I tried to remain unscathed by the pending doom and gloom projections for 2012. Some said our demise was written in the calendars of many an ancient civilization, the Bible, and prophetic visions from soothsayers, religious leaders, as well as world-renowned psychics.

Although, at the time, I didn’t believe we were facing an Armageddon, the thought of the solar flares from the Sun that were supposed to hit the Earth’s surface made my backbone shudder. Rumors of an underground Civil War happening weren’t very plausible to me either. But just in case, I found myself buying into a new ride, a Jeep Wrangler, that could take me overany terrain, if life as I knew it ever warranted a need to flee.

The Renaissance Life Isn’t for Sissies

The idea of living off the grid, away from technology, tracking systems, and the notion of forever getting lost can be downright sexy. Removing personal accountability from mainstream America is the kind of permanent vacation we could all find benefit in, from a mental health perspective.

There is a cost for this type of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it is on a completely different level. No matter the political persuasion (Dem, Rep, Libertarian) the threat of having our personal liberties being taken away is grounds for alternative action. Living off the grid may come to mind.

For the growing culture of doomsday preppers, these ideologies aren’t new. There are plenty of naysayers that claim off-the-grid enthusiasts are nothing more than fear mongers. Survivalist guru Tim Ralston has been touting for decades the need for preparedness (removes the fear) with an online store, new tools for off-grid safety and protection, and a strong following that came from his Nat Geo and BBC shows.

Get ready for living with a solo effort.

Deciding to remove yourself from a typical and accepted lifestyle and venturing into escapism as a daily mantra will require making some hard choices, most of which include letting go of materialism.

Living Off the Grid Requirements:

• Unplugging from the digital space

• Going mobile (nomadic) OR

• Buying unincorporated land

• Transportation

  • RV

  • Off-road vehicle

• Self-sustaining essentials

  • Water source

  • Food sources

  • Heat and cooling sources

  • Medical supplies

• Protection

  • Guns?

  • Gear?

• Old School Maps

• Reserves

  • Water

  • Food

  • Medicine

  • Gasoline

  • Batteries/Generator

  • Scrap Metal and Tools

Did the above list change your mind? At the very least, having a detailed plan in place will help lay out the essentials you need to get started. Having property that allows you to live off the grid is different than an extended camping trip. Marshmallows and toilet paper are luxuries.

Test Your Resourcefulness

In addition to the tangible items needed to survive off-grid living, our brain power and mental tenacity will be pushed to capacity. As most of us engage in a quick click, swipe, or an audio request for Alexa to help us find answers to anything and everything, this is one of many go-to solutions will disappear for you.

Living far and away from modern conveniences could bring out the MacGyver in you.

Keep a Journal

Before you dive in to investing time, energy, and money in an action plan towards a minimalistic lifestyle, keep track of your daily tasks and requirements.

Take note of everything you do to include:

• Financial obligations and potential setbacks

• Education or other learning tools

• Living space must-haves

• Prescriptions, vitamins, and
  supplements

• Emergency resources

• Work access, implementation, and delivery

• Communication channels

• Utilities

• Water intake

• Food purchases, storing, and meal prep

There is no YouTube in the wilderness. If your nickname isn’t Handyman Henry or Fix It Fiona, better make sure to include a knowledgeable contractor into your off-the-grid clan.

Once you’ve got a realistic handle on your day-to-day needs, it will serve as a reference for what you need to live off the grid, as well as the materials and behaviors to let go of beforehand. No judgment here, but your personal daily list in how you live today will further discern whether living off the grid is a viable option, or not.

Types of Property Off the Grid

How to best coexist with all that nature offers will depend on your comfort level and ability to shrug off bugs, slugs, and local habitat. What it may break down to is weighing the need for security versus transparency amongst the elements.

Storage containers have been given new life thanks to urban centers needing more affordable housing options. They may also do well in harsh conditions, depending on how they are equipped and where they are placed as extreme temperatures may be problematic.

A trailer or an RV offers the mobility needed to pick up and go whenever the situation arises. If you don’t have a set place to off-grid-it, these types of vehicles are great if the thought of being strapped to one place gives you the heebie-jeebies. Consider all-terrain tires to expand your travel options.

Extended cab truck with a long flatbed is for the true naturalist. With room for an air mattress in back, locked storage bin for tools, and hauling power for a trailer or other off-road quads, this could be the essential off-the-grid buy. Go big on the fancy tent!

Land ownership allows you the freedom to build upon what’s already yours. The type of dwelling you decide on can be affixed or mobile. But if owning land off the grid is just the place you escape to on occasion, be wary of adverse possession. This is a real possibility—when a person(s) can take ownership of your land just by living on it for a continuous and extended period of time, without your permission.

Bunkers have been around for years, though you may not know of where they exist. Anonymity is usually part of the strategy in having a bunker in the first place. Whether you want to construct this type of hidden living quarters on a piece of land or under the place you currently call home, a bunker offers varied levels of protection for a price. Celebrities are some of the biggest supporters of bunker ownership.

When Owning Off the Grid Is a Good Investment

In the past, the reasons for considering a lifestyle move off the grid were primarily embedded in fear of external unknowns: solar flares, asteroids, nuclear war, civil unrest.

While the reasons cited above may still exist, what is paramount today is the need to expand our personal space and accept the intermittent need for self-isolation.

Land ownership is desirable, though there are always the ebb and flow of real estate cycles that can impact marketability. Land does not depreciate. Beyond that, owning a piece off the grid can provide a what-if peace of mind which is invaluable.

REASSESS YOUR NEED FOR MORE SPACE