The Campfire Trail: October 24 - DIY Homestead

October 24, 2022

Day 388 of the Adventure

This morning I'm being graced with mild temperatures and a light drizzle of rain at the campfire. We had planned more siding work but the rain predicted for this afternoon got here much earlier. It's okay though, I'm sure we can find something productive to do with ourselves.

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I saw an interesting question posted on social media this morning. It was this; What advice would you give yourself looking back at the moment just before starting your off-grid living journey? I believe this is a question that many have on their minds. at least to some degree, before taking their first step into the unknown of an off-grid or homestead life. I think it's a legitimate question. After all, for the most part, "off-grid" and "homestead" lifestyles are probably considered highly alternative and fringe type lifestyles by most. It's odd to me how the lives that our ancestors lived to settle this country are now looked upon as strange and out-of-place. Yes, I agree that modern lifestyles are mostly more convenient, maybe safe (but maybe not), more suitable to civilization the way we know it. Still, anyone with a passion to live a life more in tune with a self-sufficient, rural experience shouldn't need to wonder if it's possible or even acceptable. In a lot of ways, it's natural.

I thought back upon our decision to make the move to a homestead and partially off-grid living choice. I still don't know exactly how far we will pursue the "pioneer" style of living. Honestly, probably not much. We enjoy many modern conveniences. We are old enough to be okay with building out our cabin and property, but the strain of a completely off-grid life doesn't feel like it fits with our priorities that well. I think my point is, when asking the question "What advice would we give ourselves?" It's pretty simple. Don't view it as something strange, complex or "socially unacceptable". View it as just another form of lifestyle that's different than what most everyone else chooses. The main goal of our choice is to increase our Self-Sufficiency abilities, not necessarily to disappear from society. In a little over one year, we've reduced the costs of energy consumption to roughly 30% of what we had been experiencing. We've set up a triple redundant back up system of electrical supply including some grid, some solar and a couple of generators all tied together in a priority use system. As we extend our self-sufficiency into food production and preservation, those activities will help define our lifestyle as more of a "homestead" life.

I guess my point of this post is to enforce the idea that we all choose the lifestyle we decide to live. Some choose to own a big house with the corresponding mortgage and upkeep. Buy everything from grocery or department stores. Work the best jobs they can find to keep the wheels of their lifestyle machine turning. While others choose something much more simple. Spending their time and energy creating a life less dependent upon others whether that comes in the form of food supply, energy supply, housing, income generation, or anything else. Viewing your choice of lifestyle is your business and whether you choose life A or life B, it's still life and each option carries with it, pro's and con's. Each has benefits and challenges. Choose your pathway based upon which benefits and challenges you want to avoid and which you want to align yourself with. Highly "civilized and modern" life comes with difficulties. Highly simple life comes with difficulties. Choose your "Difficulty" wisely...........

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.” ― Shannon L. Alder

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Woods (Colombia/Costa Rica blend)

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