Although the idea of living off the grid has gripped many people but most of them tend to develop a completely different viewpoint. They believe that living off the grid is all about peace and serenity. However, what they do not know is that there is much more to prepare for such a lifestyle than it is to live with an on-grid system. Furthermore, most people completely fail while transitioning to living off the grid simply because they are not aware of what to do. Therefore, if you intend to transition, there are some common mistakes you should avoid.
Common mistakes of living off the grid
Ignoring weather conditions and radiation threats
When it comes to living off the grid, you cannot ignore the weather conditions and radiation threats. It might seem all peaceful and secure from the outside but you would not know until you dig deeper. For instance, if you decide to live somewhere near the Fukushima reactors, you should know that the radiation has already polluted the water and everything else in its’ 100-mile radius. This is not only going to make it dangerous for you to live but worthless as well.
In addition to that, ignoring weather conditions is another silly mistake. You cannot expect to fight tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes each time they occur. With speeds ranging from 150 Km/h to 300 km/h, you better choose a safe location.
Not having a means of income
Another major mistake made by those who choose to live off the grid is that they completely break all ties with the outside world. Although living off the grid can cost you a bit of money but you should never lose contact with the outside world. Spending your entire savings on a huge piece of land does not certify living off the grid unless you are able to make some money as well. The reason is that you need to be prepared for the worst times. Once it hits, you cannot expect to sell everything and move to another location.
Lack of underground food growing experience
One common mistake you will observe amongst those living off-grid is the lack of experience with underground food growing. An underground shelter is not only going to protect you from nuclear radiation but from almost any natural calamity such as earthquakes and floods etc. Furthermore, if you manage to build a proper underground facility, it can last for generations to come.
However, you need to consider the lack of light as well as moving air. If you are not familiar with and aware of growing underground food then you need to develop those skills first and then transition to this lifestyle.
Inability to communicate or generate power
Living off the grid does not mean that one should cut off communication, as mentioned earlier. Some of those who plan on living off the grid think that they can follow the Amish traditions of never being used to petroleum and electricity-based fuels. However, that is not the case. Since the world has become a global economy, you cannot ignore what is happening in the rest of the world.
Furthermore, you need to remember that it is not only you who wants to live off the grid but thousands of others as well maybe millions. But unless you know what they are doing and how you are going to survive without basic necessities, it is better to steer clear of the idea.
Lacking the ability to manage sanitation issues
Poor sanitation leads to major disease outbreaks and the chances that your area or location is properly sanitized will be unknown . When living off the grid, you should consider what needs to be done with the bathwater, toxic chemicals, disposal of old paint, and other nuisances.
Overall, you need to carefully plan out your sanitation habits and focus on recycling as much as possible without using toxic or dangerous animals.
Lack of medical knowledge and skills
Living off the grid means that you have to look after yourself. What this means is that you should develop healthy eating habits and make better lifestyle choices. Of course, you cannot have the luxury of having hot dogs everyday but you need to be aware of potential remedies if a health risk was to pop up. Additionally, if you are someone who smokes and consumes alcohol, you might want to drop that as well. Instead, focus on educating yourself more about emergency medicine and herbal remedies, etc.
Final Word
Living off the grid can be easy if you were to train and educate yourself prior to shifting to that type of lifestyle. You need to balance what you can and cannot live without. There is no denying that off the grid living offers many opportunities and rewards, but it is important that you do not depend on others’ repeated failures.