The Horrible Misconceptions of Getting Off The Grid!

reply to post by Unity_99


We both see eye to eye on this one, I have looked into this and realized that there is more to the land owning. I am currently looking into land patents, so that under NO circumstance my home or land can be taken from me.

I live in the mid-west and in the local paper everyday there are people selling acres of land for about $1000 per acre. I currently reside on a little over 1 and a half acres, and am looking to buy 2 mobile homes (fixer-uppers preferably), and connecting them to make one giant residence all connecting by a small bridge between them all.

If people are concerned with yearly taxes on multiple homes, mobile homes (not trailers) are not considered "homes", but are considered "mobile" homes, so the amount you would pay for your car, is about the same as your home.

These are just small things that can be done. I have a friend now who live in NYC, who is buying one acre at a time, by working in the city, and purchasing land with the money, so that he can make one move, and have everything he needs here.

Even if someone isn't ready to fully live in the country there is nothing stopping people from buying little bits of land. Even if nothing comes about, its a very well spent investment for your future and the future of your family. You may not want to raise your children in the country, but knowing that there is a little piece of land for them just in case, to me helps me sleep better.

Peace, NRE.

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
reply to post by jiggerj

 

Actually by raising my kids this way first, they can live anyway that they choose, always knowing that their options are wide and vast. They can see the grid anyway that they choose and will be wise enough NOT to fall for the traps that they know are luxuries and not necessities.

They will buy land, before entering a bank to buy a home they can afford. They will buy food from a local market, as opposed to food from a major chain. They will take care of themselves before being allowed to be over-medicated, and most of all they will know that under ANY circumstance they are survivors not consumers.

This IMHO is the best gift that I can give them, and in my passing they will find strength in the fact that their mother taught them well, and will be proud to teach their kids the same.

Peace, NRE.

Sorry, I just don't agree. Take a man that grew up in the city and looking to become successful in a large corporation. There's competition in business. So, if he were up against a country bumpkin for a promotion, I'd bet on the city boy everytime. What kind of friends would a country bumpkin have at college. I'm betting he/she will be looked upon as strange, un-citified. He will be lonely, misunderstood, and develop quite an inferiority complex. No, in today's world I don't wish a child to be pulled out of mainstream society.

But, good luck to you and your kids.

WOW

I had to look up "country bumpkin" and I am sure that you realize that though this does not apply to me, it is extremely offensive!

If you would have noticed from the OP, I am from the South Bronx in NYC, I came from the streets, and decided to give my kids an opportunity to have something we never would have in NY, and thats a home, peace and quiet, and a chance to not have to live on crime ritten streets.

They have the street smarts and country smarts that most people couldn't imagine. I am giving them a chance to grow up debt free, owners of land and homeowners in their teens, this is something that most people teach their kids they have to be ruthless for, when in other places its practically free.

And while most parents are telling their kids that college is a must have, they are signing them into years of impossible debt. If anyone thinks that they can judge a book by its covers as far as my family and I are concerned, I welcome the challenge, my son can physically handle himself, build a fire in the snow, fish with a string and a can, built a pit for warmth, and cooking, as well as most first aid... and can still get a metro card ride the train, live in the projects, and go to college, it just so happens... hes smarter then that.

NRE.

Also depending on someones abilities to find land and build or buy a home, they also vary. Like these.













These are "today's" homes that those that want to live efficiently, and even off the grid strive for.

NRE.

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
reply to post by Nana2

 

Thank you, you nailed it on the head!

I do understand that some people just cant do it, and thats ok, but there still are little things that can be done, its not that hard.

Peace, NRE.

edit on 26-3-2012 by NoRegretsEver because: (no reason given)

yep, there are little things that can be done. For example, before I lived "in the country", I spent multiple hours and multyiple years researching natural remedies, food and medicine grown in my own yard, naturally.

For example, most people do not know that the humble little damdelion is loaded with Vitamin C, that its leaves of early spring can be eaten, and that it is highly medicinal. Most people nowadays do ewverything they can to rid it of their lawns.

I admire you for what you a re doing. You will be the person who the naysayers, like some on this thread, will come to and beg you to feed them when the grid is no more... Your children are lucky to have such wise parents.

What , exactly, is the big advantage of raising a child in main stream society these days? What exactly can they learn that will benefit them the most in the world we live in today. Sorry, but that piece of paper hanging on the wall will be good for nothing except to start a fire with to keep warm, should the need arise.

If the need never arises, in that the grid stays intact, what harm have you done? On the contrary, you have equipped them with more knowledge, useful knowledge than any school ever could.

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
WOW

I had to look up "country bumpkin" and I am sure that you realize that though this does not apply to me, it is extremely offensive!

Oh no, I'm so sorry! I just checked myself. I actually thought it was an endearing quality like those characters on the Newhart Show. Not ignorant, but these characters would be swallowed up by a big city.

reply to post by jiggerj


Whether you meant it that way or not you are still underestimating an entire group of people just based on what you know nothing about.

But I will say this based on your assessment of "these" types, you have been in a thread sharing and discussing your views with one of these people, and I can assure you that in NO way, can I be mistaken for anything other then informed.

Peace, NRE.

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
reply to post by jiggerj

 

Whether you meant it that way or not you are still underestimating an entire group of people just based on what you know nothing about.

But I will say this based on your assessment of "these" types, you have been in a thread sharing and discussing your views with one of these people, and I can assure you that in NO way, can I be mistaken for anything other then informed.

Peace, NRE.

I'm not arguing that point at all, dear. Actually I'm not even arguing. Just offering concerns for your kids. Now, you write with the clarity of a college graduate. I don't know how old your children are, but will they grow up to (let's put it this way) know the world as you do? Will they, and THEIR kids, write and speak on matters in an informed manner? I have to ask because, to be honest, my experience with people that have been raised on country farms has been a bit of a shock.

My nephew married a country farm girl. And, when my nephew was growing up he was tested and determined to be a genius (but don't ask me why he married this girl, lol). Anyway, whenever they visited on holidays our family would gather around the kitchen table and we talked about all kinds of things. Not so for my nephew's 25 year old wife. She would roam the house alone, and every now and then she would pass through the kitchen and blurt out, "I love pigs!" Of course, she meant the animal. And that was the extent of her conversation. She wasn't mentally challenged, but SOCIALLY challenged.

reply to post by jiggerj


I am not a college graduate, barely finished school at all. The things that you speak of, including your nephews ex-wife, is not a country problem.... but a people problem. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people out there that are highly medicated, due to having "social" problems.

I am sure there are plenty of people that went to Harvard, or are scientists that cannot be social, actually there is a television show that actually makes this quite apparent in the "scientific" community ( Big Bang Theory).

Something that is frowned upon in most of society these days is individualism. Hive mind rules, and if you look around there aren't many people or children out there today that cant act even socially acceptable in the eyes of those in or out of the country life.

Part of being a parent it to teach your kids from your mistakes, to make things better for them, and to make sure that they have all advantages in life. My idea of that just happens to be, live debt free, make good choices, make good friends, choose wisely, and heaven forbid something in this crazy world goes wrong, you are a survivor, and not a victim.

Now if you can take a look at the society that you seem to be so fond of, and see if you can find a child that has this mindset, is above their statistical (government rated) age group in both intellect, and behavior, can be a leader in any group due to their leadership, enthusiasm, and generosity, and choose to be fluent in sign language, and at least good at a trade or skill, and be under the age of 14, then by all means go ahead, but I can bet you not even 1 in 10 kids can pull that off.

I am aware of our difference in our views, and the way that I express myself here, is the way that I teach my children to express themselves as well. They understand that freedom in this world is not just a right, but a gift (even as few as there still may be), and only those that know it well can truly survive.

My children can be anything they want, and not because a teacher in an underfunded school told them, but their mother told them... and then she showed them how to do it.

My oldest daughter wants to be a writer, and artist. She doesnt want to be Lady Gaga, or Miley Syrus (not sure if I spelled that right), her hero's are in books, and documentaries, not on toon disney, there is no one here to tell her what she can and cannot be or do, she knows that he words and her actions are one in the same, and if she decides that this isn't the life she wants when shes older, that is her decision and she will still be stronger for being here first.

Peace, NRE.

I too would love to get off the grid. I envy all those that have done it. Unfortunately the money just doesn't go far enough to achieve that for us. We could afford to buy the land, but not with a house on it. Any house and land deals in Australia, even far out west are too expensive. If you do manage to find a house that is affordable, there are a lot of renovations to be done on it ie replace the roof, the floor etc, and we would have no money left over to do anything. I guess I will just have to retain it as a dream. One that I will never achieve. Sigh!

reply to post by Truthandinfo


I wish I knew more about Australia, hopefully someone here on ATS will read your post and may give you a few tips, good luck to you!

Peace, NRE.

reply to post by NoRegretsEver


Interesting NRE you always seemed serious about this whole off the grid thing to me, and I did enjoy your other threads about it to. And it seems that you are off the grid, well at least compared to some of us. I say more power to you NRE, but as you know there is off the grid, and then there is off the grid. Don't go all loco eh and way to extreme with it, taking things to extremes does not a good temperament make, and don't be a stranger, keep in touch if even by the computer.

You know this thing is always in the back of my mind, but there are just to many distractions and things pulling me back in the grid. Harder to get off the grid, then it is to get out of the mafia.


And people and the media say lots of things, but its all just hot air blowing in the breeze. If it works for you, and you like it, and you ain't hurting anybody, then they can go suck on a lemon for all I care.

Not to beat this issue of "country bumpkin", etc to death, but having lived in the south my whole life I can tell you that we are often painted with that image, of stupid, ignorant and not too awfully "worldly- wise". Especially if we choose to live in the country. Simply stereo typing.

It's a picture painted by TV, media, movies and more. But that does not make it a fact! Anymore than what some think of city dwellers and "northerners" in that they are self absorbed, selfish and pushy.

Recently my husband spent 4 days in New York and then had to go on to Ohio to complete a business trip. He said that he was amazed at how polite and helpful New Yorkers were and that in Ohio, most everyone he encountered was rude, and seemed miserable. That is not at all what I would have expected, based on just "sterotyping".

Originally posted by NoRegretsEver
reply to post by jiggerj

 

Now if you can take a look at the society that you seem to be so fond of, and see if you can find a child that has this mindset, is above their statistical (government rated) age group in both intellect, and behavior, can be a leader in any group due to their leadership, enthusiasm, and generosity, and choose to be fluent in sign language, and at least good at a trade or skill, and be under the age of 14, then by all means go ahead, but I can bet you not even 1 in 10 kids can pull that off.

I am aware of our difference in our views, and the way that I express myself here, is the way that I teach my children to express themselves as well. They understand that freedom in this world is not just a right, but a gift (even as few as there still may be), and only those that know it well can truly survive.

My children can be anything they want, and not because a teacher in an underfunded school told them, but their mother told them... and then she showed them how to do it.

Good debate, and I must say, you win. I can't argue with any of the above. My mindset is on just how desperate we are for scientists. In the next thirty years I see the world blowing up, or economic collapse, or hit by an asteroid, plagues, drought, war... There are just so many things that could (and will) go wrong in our children's lifetime and I cannot see turning families into survivor units as an answer.

But, you are 100% right in the fact that I'm not seeing a whole hell of a lot of geniuses walking the streets of my city. Again, good luck to you and your family.

reply to post by jiggerj


Actually this was a great debate, and I didn't win, we both did, believe it or not you have also opened my eyes to a few things as well. We both stood our ground and took something from it.

I was aware of a few things that people were concerned with about living off the grid (or as best they can), but I didn't think about what some of the other concerns were. But this is simply a societal problem, not an individual, in my opinion.

Thanks for your contribution in the thread, and even debate, its always welcomed NRE.

I remember when living "off the grid" simply meant you didn't need your home attached to their electrical grid. You generated your own electrical and water supply by whatever means.
I guess it has evolved to describe survivalist...excuse me, I meant "preppers", yet another title they slung around our necks.
Why do they fear us?