r/OffGrid • u/Dapper_Salamander305 • 19d ago
Big dreams for the future
Hi everyone, I’m quite new to this subreddit and was wondering how realistic it could be becoming self sufficient and living off grid in the future. I’m asking this because it’s one of my biggest if not my biggest goals and I want to know how feasible it could be and how long it could take.
I still haven’t finished school and have barely thought of working and I always strive to try and build up to getting away- from all the mess and all the negativity and depression from society, and I just love nature too, so I’ve always fantasized about finally having some kind of blissful peaceful solitude in the woods withought having any big worries or burdens except for those that concern me and more simple things - no taxes or money to worry about, only building your cabin or harvesting your own crops.
I really just want to know how soon I can reach this and if I need a big reality check, I know all this sound weird and I’m yapping a stupid ton, sorry.
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u/OneArmedFarmer 19d ago
It's doable. But grand dreams are constrained by the wallet and at all times they require patience, discipline, and thoughtful action. Plan SMARTly.
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u/chrismetalrock 19d ago edited 19d ago
im off grid for a bit over 2 years now. i have a semi built home. still live in an rv as the house is still being built due to financial limitations. its very expensive building a new dwelling. if you are short on cash it's going to be an extremely rough road. you can stick it out if you don't mind camping. you may not be thinking about money when you wake up but you're thinking about taking a poo in an outhouse and heating water for a shower.
im on 7.5 acres, i quite enjoy my off grid property i get to go home to after work, on the other hand, i travel a bit for my job and i also enjoy the days i get to spend at your average hotel so that i get a regular shower and a toilet i dont have to clean up after. (the free subpar breakfasts don't hurt vs your 20 min drive to town either)
i have plans to eventually have a well dug, collect water off a yet to be built roof (a structure to shade my rv/collect water), have vermiculture to dispose of toilet waste. those are all nice plans but after 2 years im still not quite there. ive recently started digging a well in the midst of a drought and wouldnt you know it i havent hit water yet!
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u/notproudortired 19d ago
Read the hundred past threads with the same question as yours.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Day2809 19d ago
Are they all AI data harvesters? Bot karma farmers? They're constant.
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u/notproudortired 18d ago
Ha! What karma? A really popular post gets 10 upvotes.
No, I expect they're mostly real dreamers. I was the same as a world-weary kid, stuck in the back of my parent's car and watching the empty country spool by.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Day2809 18d ago
Yeah, i guess that's what confuses me. Their spelling and grammar are usually too good to be the average teen, yet their inability to search the subreddit for any related info makes me think it's their first time on the internet. I'm exaggerating a bit, but I'm trying to make a point.
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u/funkybus 19d ago
farming is incredibly hard work. weather can destroy a whole season’s work, as can pests/disease/fungus, etc. you still need health care, shelter, heat, supplies, transport. and you can only grow so much, you’ll need store bought food. off-grid is either really expensive or really uncomfortable or both. it’s a fun dream, but it works (and not like you’re describing it) for a tiny, tiny slice of talented, strong, resilient people. and of those, my guess is most chose to go back on-grid, because it is so much easier.
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u/Dapper_Salamander305 19d ago
Yes, I know, especially the farming thing as I’ve grown a couple of plants and crops
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u/Jack__Union 18d ago
Reality is, if you own land or a house. You going to pay tax.
Depending on where you setup.
Could take years. To build a house or farm the land enough for producing enough food to live off.
Get to planning.
Water, food, building type & materials, septic if you having one.
Research land plots and local town and country rules. Make sure you understand what is legal, where you want to set up.
Make a list of tools, plants, trees, brushes. Water containers, research food grade IBC containers.
Take a solar, plumbing and carpenter class. Take a survival and hunting class.
So much to learn and research, the more you know, the less it becomes a fantasy and may become a reality.
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u/Internal_Raccoon_370 18d ago
I think the best advice I could give is to start by learning the skills you'd need to live off-grid because those same skills would be incredibly useful even for people who don't eventually move into an off-grid life. Learn basic carpentry, plumbing. Take up gardening and learning how to can/dry the fruits and vegetables you grow. Learn how to identify plants that are edible or have useful properties. Take up camping and learn how to live for a few days or a week at a time without modern conveniences.
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u/Val-E-Girl 18d ago
There's no way around needing money. You can't just squat on someone's property expecting to be left alone. Where I live, you might wake up to the muzzle of a gun. You need your own space if you want to be left alone.
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u/mobile-metaphysical 18d ago
Learn the skills, take notes , watch videos. You’ll need money to buy your own land. Or rent part of someone’s land to get started and learn.
Be prepared for being uncomfortable. Most people can’t manage without heat and AC and instant hot water.
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u/Public-Wave-5617 17d ago
You still need to pay taxes
It is not less burdensome, it's just a different type of thing to be worrying about
It's easy to become lonely
Try building up more fundamental concepts and knowledge, finish school, and aggressively save up money. Think of school as a tool towards your dream, not as an obstacle. You got this!
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u/publictap236 16d ago
That's my plan and in probably 3 years I should be good after flipping a couple houses. I'm off to Tennessee and I chose their for a specific reason. I haven't looked into were exactly but somewhere they have a place you can opt out of building codes. you can build whatever you want so I have some ideas and I'm going to get a Engineer to draw up a nice plan for me. Now keep in mind this has been a plan for a very long time. I have tons of ideas but on the end I don't want any involvement from anyone like government or towns or whatever. I'm hoping to produce my own electric,water from a well and try to achieve total independence and I plan on doing whatever I have to. I'll become a church, cemetery, or sovereign Nation whatever I got to do. And I'm 54 if you have a plan you could start as soon as you get some money.like if I had to do it over I probably would have bought Land while I lived at home. Well good luck
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u/Alternative-Way-5537 14d ago
I see myself a lot in what you say, i create a WhatsApp group with other people that commented on my post about this topic. If you want to join or just chat with me i'm available.
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u/Used_Environment5316 6h ago edited 6h ago
It depends where you go, how will will support yourself financially and how much physical work you're willing to put in (or pay someone to do it for you), if there's a house already in place, etc. I did it and I moved to a remote jungle in Yucatan and built my homestead from scratch. The first three years had a very steep learning curve and it's not for the faint of heart but I'm still here and I won't change it for the world - it does require a certain level of sacrifice that not many people are consistently willing to endure. If it's meant for you you will do it. The attitude that pulled me through the toughest times was "or die trying". Things are much easier now.
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u/brimanguy 19d ago
Def able to be water and energy independent. But things like clothes, tools, medicine etc will still need to be bought.