Life is full of those “a-ha” moments. I had a big one last week.
I had outpatient surgery last week. No big deal and I’m all healed up now. Anyway, if you’ve ever had an outpatient procedure, you know that they bring you in a couple of hours early to “prep” you.
During that time, laying on my surgical gurnie in a very attractive hospital gown, I couldn’t help but just….observe.
All around me, the walls were covered with equipment, humming with activity. Some of the apartatus was standard, others were life-sustaining, yet all of it had one thing in common….they were all attached to an electrical outlet.
Doctors and nurses, busy caring for their patients, buzzed around computer screens to check medical histories, recent medications and care instructions, all dependent upon electricity.
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The very light that guides the steps of each patient and employee was electrically-dependent. Stoves and ovens that cook the food served to employees and patients require 220 volts of power.
Even the mechanical bar that releases you from the hospital’s parking garage is electric.
All of it, every single working thing, other than perhaps the stethoscope, requires electricity.
“So what?” you say? ”That’s just American life, we like our electricity!”
To be honest, I like my electricity, too. The convenience of electricity in our homes, offices and hospitals can’t be matched. There’s just one little issue….
I don’t have any control over it. Electricity can be taken away from me at any moment without my consent and I don’t like that.
For something to control a significant amount of my comfort and ability in life, I would prefer to have a bit more control over it.
I suppose that’s why nearly 750,000 Americans today prefer to live off-grid, a number that continues to rise each year.
Some embrace “alternative” methods of obtaining power, others prefer to learn to live without modern conveniences. Yet even more find a combination of the two ideals can work in their lives and area of the country.
Crave independence from the power grid? You’re not alone. Where do you begin?
First, I might suggest that we get honest about our addiction to convenience. Yes, I called it an “addiction”. How else would you describe it?
I want light in the room…..flip the switch and I receive instant gratification.
I want to cook….flip the switch.
I want to do laundry…turn on the switch.
I want to be entertained….turn on the switch.
Sounds like an addiction to me, and I’m the first one to admit that I’m addicted as well. So, here goes…
“Hi, my name is Kelly Morris and I’m addicted to convenience.”
Let the recovery begin.
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I already “like” you on facebook. Would love to win this book. Been looking for alternative “convenience” for a while now and read several books. “The Last Light” was the first one and got me started thinking about how our world operates.
I already won a copy of this book earlier, but I just wanted to chime in and say how much I enjoyed reading this post!!!! I”m always looking for some ways to reduce the amount of electricity that I use!! Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather
Heather,
I’m always so glad to receive your big, California hugs!
I already ‘liked’ you on Facebook, and I get your newsletter. I didn’t think I wanted this book because I do love my electricity (wash clothes by hand!!? ugh!), but you make a good point…. we need to know how to live without it and to be prepared, just in case. Thanks for your fun site!
Thanks for your comment, Marsha!
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looking forward to the next newsletter . . gee . . if you’re wanting to live without so much dependence on electricity . . . will the newsletter come via snailmail?
Pamela,
Actually, I’ve hired some carrier pigeons to deliver the newsletters…..lol.
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I already subscribe to your newsletter. I am learning so much. I would love to win this book.
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I would have facebooked you a long time ago….if i had it. But on another note I’m sure my family would love to thank you! You have inspired me to move on things faster. We have switched out a number of our electric appliances for hand crank. We have gotten a few solar item and some oil lamps. Our new house rule is after 5:30 no lights. We use oil/solar lamps. And in march our first chicks arrive. For me it’s been an exciting and freeing beginning…..for my family well they are going along with it and little by little liking it.
I love that they are willing to try! Thank you Kelly.
Abigail,
That’s incredible! Thanks for sharing! It’s one step at a time but it sounds like you are doing great! Congrats!
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I already subscribe to your newsletter. I have this book and am reading it again along with Surviving Off Off-Grid for the 3rd time. We live on a 12 acre homestead with three Jersey girls we milk, chickens, garden, etc. But we still have so far to go. I would love to be completely free (out from under the slavery) of the grid. One step at a time. Thanks for the great blog.
Robin,
Good for you! Yep, “Surviving Off Off-Grid” is somewhat addictive, I’ve read it so many times I can’t count, marked it up, bent pages, etc.
The road to “off grid” and “sustainable” takes years and years, so be sure to enjoy the journey!
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Hi! At church this weekend we talked about fasting from electricity for lent..a great place to start.
Kathy,
That just blows me away, good for your church!! PLEASE keep me posted about that, ok?
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Kelly, we’ve lived the no public electricity lifestyle and my kids still say that it “builds character.” We “cheated” and still had a generator for 3 hours a night but we cooked and heated with wood, had a gravity fed water system and basically lived off the grid for several years. Our entertainment was the public library and occasional rented videos. I sewed all the clothes I could including prom and bridal gowns. It was a learning and interesting experience, one which our kids now say has prepared them for the zombie apocalypse! And, all my kids, including the girls, know how to skin and butcher wild game and farm raised animals, which I remind them would look so interesting on a job resume. Regards!
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Funny I saw this blog…(love it by the way, I’m subscribing when I finish commenting) we are looking into solar.
Thanks for the great blogpost!
Fairchild Farmgirl
Just signed up for the newsletter. I’m excited to learn from your family!
I “liked” you on Facebook! Janeen Brown
I signed up for the Newsletter. I should mention that I found you today via Cooking Traditional Foods’ Traditional Tuesdays Linkup. I’m glad I did! We’re actually thinking of selling our home and moving to some remote property. We’d be living in an RV for awhile while we build a home from scratch, put in permaculture and a garden. We’ll be heading toward an off-grid existence, and we’ll need to really cut back on our electricity use! I’m relishing the idea of the experience, but also nervous. I’d love to read this book!! Thank you so much for the generous giveaway, and I cannot wait to read more of your blog (which I’ll be doing poste-haste as soon as I’m done commenting on this fabulous post!)
Janeen,
I’m so happy that your dreams are unfolding before your eyes! It’s a journey, enjoy it!
Google + requirement complete, although I must admit that I’ve only just signed up and I am completely addicted to Facebook (just keeping it real).
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I subscribe to your newsletter- I love the comments! I like all of them… As we try to do as little with the grids, we find our lives easier in the simple ways… we love family more. and see the beauty of the world. I love this time of year when you look at a hillside and see it changing from the winter purples and greys to the vibrant greens of spring!
Thanks for the drawing…
I share all these things with the Stone Soup group- who is NOT on line and they really save more electricity…
We try to keep one solar light in the bathroom, conserve our town water, collect what we can, share what we can and recycle as much as possible.
Still turned the lights on this morning, one baby step at a time!
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I went excitedly to your website. This is something that I have wanted to do for over 40 yrs and never had the backing of a partner to help me. I couldn’t do it alone then. I still really would love to live a self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle. Husband is only on-board as far as having 16 solar panels put on the house and a few solar panels put on our camping bus. Any other changes from his comfort zone get shot down. I hope to learn from your journey and incorporate small, important changes to our life that he won’t even realize. lol. Good luck to me!
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i love your blog.we are hoping in a few years to move to a small farm and become more sustainable.your book would allow us to begin with small things now. thanks for the information.
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OK,…er …uh…..Everything in moderation…Nibble off chucks, of varying sizes. I’ve a small system….140 watt solar panel….A controller with readout indicating charge level( would you believe a battery is at 50% at 12.2 volts)controller is upgradeable for 2 more panels…..oops off track….2 pair of 6 volt batteries(golf cart batteries)…..This is the most basic USABLE system that I’ve come up with…Plenty of room to grow, as long as you plan ahead with the controller….do not skrimp on quality or expandablity.