Reasons We Live Off-Grid

JRHill

There are just so many, many reasons. We love the big and little creatures and some of them are tasty too. But we've also had cougar, bobcat, bear and the occasional skunk. Like some other posts we have zero utilities except satellite TV and internet and 2 bars of terrible cell service - if you're near the booster.

The building project was a chore. No concrete truck would climb the logging trail to get here. The foundation was built by a company as a novelty project during a slow time. Their crew had a ball - most of them camped on site. Getting two semi flatbeds of logs and materials here was another project. On and on it went. But finally it is 98% done and the project started 12 years ago.

A big one is the noise or the lack of noise. We see some planes at altitude on they're way to and from SeaTac or PDX. So society is still (mal)functioning. We have some geese and kunekune pigs and that has changed the sounds of the forest.

We don't own a lawn mower. We don't have a security system except for three Catahoula dogs and some long range zone alarms. We can sight in a rifle off the front porch. Permits and inspections? Never had the need and they don't want to come anyway. I could go on for quite a while.

Zooming

Man that sounds like the dream. 12 years though—that's some serious patience.

The no lawn mower thing hit home. I moved out to 10 acres a few years back and realized half the "normal people" chores just disappear. No HOA, no neighbors complaining about stuff, no noise except what you make.

Three Catahoula dogs as security is legit. Those things don't mess around.

You ever have issues with the logging trail washing out? We get heavy rains here and my road turns into a mess every spring. Been thinking about putting in culverts but... you know how that goes. Another project for "someday."

JRHill

That trail has been here since the early times and was made by logging dozers and skidders for log trucks. There are stones, huge rocks and boulders from the the canyon side pressed into the whole length of the 10mph steep trail with switchbacks. No, it doesn't wash out, not that a F250 or F350 would notice. But it's amazing the damage a few city folk of ATV/UTVs and dirt bikes can do over a weekend Or the ditwad with the lifted 4WD who won't lock is front axle cause spinning tires is fun! It's a private road through a bunch of 40/80 acre parcels and the rural rule is that the land owner maintains their part of the road. But there really aren't any 'homes' except for us, just a few cabins on stilts and rodent filled RVs. So everyone thinks I'll do all the repair, maintenance and remove the dead fall. Heh-heh... right. The worse the road gets the more it discourages people from coming here with their front wheel drive city cars.

Patience? That's the wife. It's now 16+ years and still not done - it'll never will be officially 'done'.

What I can say is officially done is our power system. Swapping lead for LFP04 allowed me to fully retire from anything to do with that stuff. Except for the generator in the winter, of course.

Wheelman55

Enjoy “retirement”!

Our journey is similar to yours. 

We laid our slab in November of 2013. Now 12+ years later we finally arrived at the “Dun Enuf” stage a couple of weeks ago. 

It’s down to repairing things that break now, and the occasional improvement. 

With Dave A’s help we were early adopters of LiFePo4 batteries. Our first 130 AH Discover battery was $7,000 in 2018. Times have changed😊

JRHill

Has that first 130 AH Discover battery changed at all over time? How soon after the first did you add the other two?

Wheelman55

The first battery had a glitch with the internal wiring. Discover replaced it with a new batt and I bought 2 more from NAZ. So I’ve got 3 now, all built around the same time. Model 42-48-6650. 

A neighbor has 2 additional that I might be purchasing, so we’ll have 5 x 130 ah. 

BTW. I gave the original battery to our local solar guru and he’s been running it closed loop with I think two other batteries. He’s been running that battery since 2022. 

JRHill

"I gave the original battery to our local solar guru and he’s been running it closed loop with I think two other batteries"

Just recently I saw where a guy wanted to expand storage of 2 Tesla Powerwall 2 units with a good deal he saw for some LFP04 blocks on Amazon. He didn't say anything more than that. I only mentioned to be careful of combining batteries of a different brand, amp-hours and age. I didn't mention chemistry but if I recall correctly that may apply - maybe I'm thinking about the cars. Anyway, I got roasted for not knowing what I'm talking about.

A battery is a battery is a battery so I should just keep my trap shut.