A Guide to Getting Off the Grid

31 snips

Oct 19, 2022

Gary Collins, an off-grid living advocate and author, shares his journey from urban life to a simpler existence in Northeast Washington. He discusses the importance of decluttering and taking gradual steps toward off-grid living, including starting with an RV. Gary highlights the significance of choosing the right land, considering water sources and building codes, and emphasizes the benefits of disconnecting from social media for personal well-being. His insights offer a roadmap for anyone dreaming of a more independent lifestyle far from the city's demands.

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ANECDOTE

Gary's Transition to Off-Grid Living

Gary Collins, unhappy with city life and government work, sought a freer lifestyle.
He was inspired by his rural upbringing and disillusionment with urban systems.

INSIGHT

Defining Off-Grid Living

Off-grid living is defined as not being tied to any public utilities.
It's distinct from homesteading, though they can overlap.

ADVICE

Simplify Before You Leap

Simplify your life before going off-grid by decluttering and reducing debt.
This prepares you for a minimalist lifestyle and avoids bringing urban baggage.

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Note: For fall break, the McKays are attempting their first familial backpacking trip. Kate and I have been before, but we've never brought the kids, so this will be fun. While we're out of touch, please enjoy this rebroadcast with Gary Collins about going off the grid for a much longer period of time. Gary unfortunately passed away this fall, but he left a lot of great tips on simplifying your life in this episode.

Many dream of leaving the city and all its tethers and obligations and creating a simpler, more independent life farther from the mainstream population and entirely off the grid. But how do you go from that daydream to making such a move a reality?

My guest walks us through the process today. His name is Gary Collins, he made the leap himself and now lives off the grid in Northeast Washington, and he's the author of several books on off grid living as well as simplifying your life. We begin our conversation today with why Gary decided to leave his conventional, urban, 9-5 existence to find a freer lifestyle, and how he defines being off the grid. We then get into why Gary thinks you should make the move to living off the grid in a series of steps, the first of which is to simplify your existing life in three main ways. Gary then makes the case for why living in a RV should be the next step in your journey, before discussing the process of finding land for your off grid home, and the factors to consider in picking a locale. From there we get into how those who live off the grid take care of water, sewage, power, and internet, how they construct the house itself, and what to know about the start-up costs involved. We end our conversation with a discussion of getting off the grid in a more metaphorical way by quitting social media, and why Gary thinks you should pull the plug on those platforms, even if you're an entrepreneur.

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Resources/People/Articles Mentioned in Podcast

Living off the grid by Gary Collins MS, book cover.

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