I live in Ottawa, ON, and am currently feeling pretty urgent about acquiring a suitable location to work with before my options are swiftly lost to me. But I don't even really know what I'm looking for. I don't know what areas of BC are appropriate for this, and what living situations would the the most plausible and suitable. And the balance of transporting a large amount of non-perishable food to that location, versus acquiring it at that location through current infrastructure, versus being limited in both those regards and having to rely on self-sustenance earlier rather than later. Or which living situations are actually affordable, and accessible to me as some stranger from across the country. Whether a farming town would work, or if it would need to be a much smaller and more remote community, or handful of people.
Please give me some insights on the reality of these things, thanks.
Hi L Wilson and welcome to IPN. Reading your post leaves me with some questions that would help with the discussion moving forward.
1) are you looking at relocating permanently or you just want to have a place to fall back if required?
2) why do you have BC in mind?
3) what is your current work situation? Are you Retired, a tele-worker or will you be seeking a job where you go?
4) do you have special needs and wants such as being closed to medical services or you enjoy entertainment and culture?
After answering all this excellent questions I would recommend to visit somebody that lives off grid to see what is involved.
It is lot of work and lot of sacrifices .
Henry
There are a number of off-grid areas in BC. From memory, Clayoquot Sound and Lasqueti Island are two. I think many of the islands off the BC coast are off-grid, but it depends on how far you want to be from 'civilisation'.
Look into http://www.wwoof.ca/home Maybe give you a sample of what you are looking for.
Hi L Wilson and welcome to IPN. Reading your post leaves me with some questions that would help with the discussion moving forward.
1) are you looking at relocating permanently or you just want to have a place to fall back if required?
2) why do you have BC in mind?
3) what is your current work situation? Are you Retired, a tele-worker or will you be seeking a job where you go?
4) do you have special needs and wants such as being closed to medical services or you enjoy entertainment and culture?
1) Fallback, I still struggle to justify a higher degree of commitment at this point both to myself and my mother whom I partially rely on financially
2) BC basically for more moderate climate to work with, and possibly more overall fertility and (edible) greenery, though not completely sure on that
3) I'm actually on disability for a persistent anxiety type issue that interferes with consistent wage work, which could potentially hinder my contribution to a community to some extent but I'm optimistic I'd be able to be a useful hand, and even expect to make personal progress with such a robust lifestyle
4) I'm taking some medication but not something that makes a huge impact, and I don't consider close access to medical services necessary. Also willing to leave behind all electronic luxuries and entertainment, I'm sure I can occupy myself with day-to-day work, training in personal interests, and some mind-expanding literature. I've already lost much interest in electronic entertainment after becoming aware of the increasing threat of SHTF.
So overall I'm fairly flexible, I may be able to take a trip there to make some connections, return to Ottawa, then retreat as I see fit. I have a bit of money saved up, possible extra support from my mother, and could possibly apply for disability in BC or something. I could even consider moving there indefinitely, it might be compatible with my current situation anyway.
After answering all this excellent questions I would recommend to visit somebody that lives off grid to see what is involved.
It is lot of work and lot of sacrifices .
Henry
That's a good idea, maybe I can visit someone closer to where I live to try it out.
There are a number of off-grid areas in BC. From memory, Clayoquot Sound and Lasqueti Island are two. I think many of the islands off the BC coast are off-grid, but it depends on how far you want to be from 'civilisation'.
Sounds fine to me, being far from other people is a plus if SHTF, especially islands.
Look into http://www.wwoof.ca/home Maybe give you a sample of what you are looking for.
That actually looks quite nice and clarifies my thinking, thanks.
There are a number of off-grid areas in BC. From memory, Clayoquot Sound and Lasqueti Island are two. I think many of the islands off the BC coast are off-grid, but it depends on how far you want to be from 'civilisation'.
For some reason I actually moreso had interior BC in mind. I guess I thought there would be more to work with landwise, and more buffer from any starving hordes, but maybe the coastal islands would be good. I have some relatives there as well.
There is show on TV called 'ALONE" where person is put in remote area in bush to see who lasts the longest. One of the first to quit (after 2 days) was
wilderness survival instructor. I am telling you that to say that lot of people believe that living in the middle of nowhere / off grid is very romantic.
As a little kid I grew up with no hydro and I remembered only the romantic moments myself. Now I am using very little of hydro and being self sufficient I see it very differently. (still love every moment ).Took me many years of prepping be ready for that life style and it is still very hard 7 days work.
Henry
I agree with what henry wrote. I'm one of those people who think that it would be so wonderful if we could revert back to a time where everything is off the grid and we all live off the land, kumbaya. But realistically, if I was on the show Alone, I'd be tapping out after one night, because I like my electricity and creature comforts. I think the reality of living like that is much different than we would expect. I probably wouldn't survive long, no matter how idyllic my brain thinks it would be.
Hi L Wilson and welcome to IPN. Reading your post leaves me with some questions that would help with the discussion moving forward.
1) are you looking at relocating permanently or you just want to have a place to fall back if required?
2) why do you have BC in mind?
3) what is your current work situation? Are you Retired, a tele-worker or will you be seeking a job where you go?
4) do you have special needs and wants such as being closed to medical services or you enjoy entertainment and culture?1) Fallback, I still struggle to justify a higher degree of commitment at this point both to myself and my mother whom I partially rely on financially
2) BC basically for more moderate climate to work with, and possibly more overall fertility and (edible) greenery, though not completely sure on that
3) I'm actually on disability for a persistent anxiety type issue that interferes with consistent wage work, which could potentially hinder my contribution to a community to some extent but I'm optimistic I'd be able to be a useful hand, and even expect to make personal progress with such a robust lifestyle
4) I'm taking some medication but not something that makes a huge impact, and I don't consider close access to medical services necessary. Also willing to leave behind all electronic luxuries and entertainment, I'm sure I can occupy myself with day-to-day work, training in personal interests, and some mind-expanding literature. I've already lost much interest in electronic entertainment after becoming aware of the increasing threat of SHTF.So overall I'm fairly flexible, I may be able to take a trip there to make some connections, return to Ottawa, then retreat as I see fit. I have a bit of money saved up, possible extra support from my mother, and could possibly apply for disability in BC or something. I could even consider moving there indefinitely, it might be compatible with my current situation anyway.
It seems then that you're open to a lot of possibilities. I was wondering if you were planning on maintaining your residence in the Ottawa area and simply have a retreat in BC, which I now understand isn't the case.
For the sake of discussion, have you considered other parts of the county? While I agree that BC's climate is conducive to agriculture, I see there are other issues, namely being prone to seismic activities, dense population along the delta etc. When you depart to the more remote places, then you loose the fair climate advantage.
There is show on TV called 'ALONE" where person is put in remote area in bush to see who lasts the longest. One of the first to quit (after 2 days) was
wilderness survival instructor. I am telling you that to say that lot of people believe that living in the middle of nowhere / off grid is very romantic.
As a little kid I grew up with no hydro and I remembered only the romantic moments myself. Now I am using very little of hydro and being self sufficient I see it very differently. (still love every moment ).Took me many years of prepping be ready for that life style and it is still very hard 7 days work.
Henry
Henry, at the risk of jumping in the proverbial rabbit hole... I think the challenge with that show isn't to be off-grid, rather it is to have to social connection with anyone and be without any equipment. If anything, it flies in the face of the bug-out fantasy of departing to the wilderness with a backpack and thriving there.
For the right person, being off-grid and unplugged would be heaven on earth.
Hey helicopilot .I agree with you THE RIGHT PERSON and if you read my post I said I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT (I live it). Off grid it also means being for long time alone (or with your partner) Your only entertainment is YOU and hard work.According to stats. 8 of 10 people fail trying it. I saw some with my own ayes .
Henry
I think you had lot of advice so I like to show you the reason people do it. Go to google and watch this short video:
SIMPLE LIVING. Ones Man's Prospective on Life and Dream Fulfillment
The first video.
Henry
My question when someone says they want to live off- grid is -- What do you mean by that? No garbage pick-up, no electrical lines, no central heat, no phone lines (or even towers for cell), no Internet, no water line, etc. We live off-grid but have solar panels and generator so we have frig, freezer, washer. We go once a week about 2 miles to get our water. We have a wood stove with no propane back-up so we don't go far in the winter. We have cell service and WiFi. We have a septic tank but also a backup outhouse. Doctor is about a half hour away. Aside from using more gas than I would like in the winter due to shortage of sunlight (I do live in a valley) and getting water, while free, is a bit miserable in the winter, I am more than happy with my level of off-grid. We all have our idea of what we are looking for and what we are comfortable with. First start with making a list and that may determine where you look.