Here we are trying to find a way to escape the ravages of life in late-stage capitalism, a way to take a stand against the big box stores and passwords, the gmo food, the algorithm.
There is a part of me that wishes I had the courage and discipline to “get off the grid” and live THAT INTENTIONALLY. And even just reading about it gives me pleasure. Hooray for them.
I thought of that movie from my childhood, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." I loved the way these people had no qualms about going on YouTube for information but clearly did not scroll.
How lovely that I only got to reading this today, Sunday, so I got to read all the wonderful comments as well. Susie, I don’t know what to say about the wisdom that you have to braid and twist one thought into a very different thought that of course is the same thought. Especially loved your description of the family up north especially that they did all of that wonderful stuff with the help of YouTube. It isn’t about denying the reality that we live in, but I think using it in a way that makes our lives fuller, more peaceful and more respectful to the environment. Thanks for sharing your experiences integrated with your internal life. 💚
Those people were an inspiration. They really moved through the world with such a light touch and, as I said, they didn't force their worldview on anyone else. Also just loved what their space looked like....so orderly without being austere.
Susie, one more quick response: I have a dear friend in Oregon, age 71, with a 77 year old husband and they live as off the grid as makes any sense at their age. They grow almost all their own food and she spins her own yarn which she uses for weaving and knitting. They have internet but no social media and no TV. They do very little western medicine, no Covid vaccines - she's had Covid that keeps recurring. They do live on a paved road. She and I have a snail mail correspondence that I treasure. I think as much as they love their lifestyle it's becoming a challenge in ways they don't like.
I imagine as people aged in the past they relied on extended family to make that kind of living possible. Everything comes down to figuring out ways to avoid isolation, sometimes in the midst of people.
Yeah, no kidding. Isolation is the pits. Been there, done that. I'm thankful to have found a solution that works pretty well. Re my friend in Oregon: she and her husband actually have no local family. She's from Germany and her family still lives there. He's from New Mexico, and same deal. They worked as scientists at Oregon State University for a long time and still have some friends in the area. They're both very introverted. But still.
This is beautifully written and I admire these off the grid folks. I have known a number of much older ones as well. I seem to have some kind of primal love for the grid myself. Don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it’s a fondness for community (real world not virtual, and at least somewhat random) and maybe it’s simple laziness. I do love beautiful, peaceful surroundings and feel fortunate to have those.
Good question. I knew one of those who lived outside of Olympia, WA, where we lived for 20 years. I guess I thought of him as off the grid except for needing a lot of attention for doing so. He seemed to need to live off the grid AND the image of living off the grid.
Thoughtful words about squeezing squid arms and thoughtful lives, Susie. Thoughts as feelings and feelings as memories and back around again as I read. Thanks for the generous ride at your side.
Great read and, as usual, well-written. Our daughter, living on Hornby Island in BC instead of Vancouver, def leans in the direction of these folks. Hers is what I call a mix of politics. Can one be a libertarian leaning leftie anarchist? They are making it up. No faith that the system will hold.
Good conversation for more folks to start having. Thanks.
I think the libertarian and anarchist elements go very well together. Maybe an anarchist is a libertarian in Birkenstocks. Younger people did not grow up with a functioning system the way we did. Of course, there were always huge problems but, for example, the public school I went to two blocks from home was a bastion of stability, the doctors that we were connected to for decades made house calls. You almost have to make it up as you go along now because conditions change so rapidly.
There is a part of me that wishes I had the courage and discipline to “get off the grid” and live THAT INTENTIONALLY. And even just reading about it gives me pleasure. Hooray for them.
What struck me was how beautiful it was. There was nowhere that my eyes settled that didn't make me feel filled with peace and joy.
Thanks for this astute and timely essay, Susie. I love your description of the internet as a "giant squid (that) wrapped its arms around us."
I thought of that movie from my childhood, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." I loved the way these people had no qualms about going on YouTube for information but clearly did not scroll.
How lovely that I only got to reading this today, Sunday, so I got to read all the wonderful comments as well. Susie, I don’t know what to say about the wisdom that you have to braid and twist one thought into a very different thought that of course is the same thought. Especially loved your description of the family up north especially that they did all of that wonderful stuff with the help of YouTube. It isn’t about denying the reality that we live in, but I think using it in a way that makes our lives fuller, more peaceful and more respectful to the environment. Thanks for sharing your experiences integrated with your internal life. 💚
Those people were an inspiration. They really moved through the world with such a light touch and, as I said, they didn't force their worldview on anyone else. Also just loved what their space looked like....so orderly without being austere.
Susie, one more quick response: I have a dear friend in Oregon, age 71, with a 77 year old husband and they live as off the grid as makes any sense at their age. They grow almost all their own food and she spins her own yarn which she uses for weaving and knitting. They have internet but no social media and no TV. They do very little western medicine, no Covid vaccines - she's had Covid that keeps recurring. They do live on a paved road. She and I have a snail mail correspondence that I treasure. I think as much as they love their lifestyle it's becoming a challenge in ways they don't like.
I imagine as people aged in the past they relied on extended family to make that kind of living possible. Everything comes down to figuring out ways to avoid isolation, sometimes in the midst of people.
Yeah, no kidding. Isolation is the pits. Been there, done that. I'm thankful to have found a solution that works pretty well. Re my friend in Oregon: she and her husband actually have no local family. She's from Germany and her family still lives there. He's from New Mexico, and same deal. They worked as scientists at Oregon State University for a long time and still have some friends in the area. They're both very introverted. But still.
This is beautifully written and I admire these off the grid folks. I have known a number of much older ones as well. I seem to have some kind of primal love for the grid myself. Don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it’s a fondness for community (real world not virtual, and at least somewhat random) and maybe it’s simple laziness. I do love beautiful, peaceful surroundings and feel fortunate to have those.
There’s an article in today’s NYT about a guy in WVa who lives a DIY life and puts the whole thing up online. Is that on or off the grid?
Good question. I knew one of those who lived outside of Olympia, WA, where we lived for 20 years. I guess I thought of him as off the grid except for needing a lot of attention for doing so. He seemed to need to live off the grid AND the image of living off the grid.
Thoughtful words about squeezing squid arms and thoughtful lives, Susie. Thoughts as feelings and feelings as memories and back around again as I read. Thanks for the generous ride at your side.
I like to go in many different directions at once and hope they have some underlying connection. Very satisfying.
Great read and, as usual, well-written. Our daughter, living on Hornby Island in BC instead of Vancouver, def leans in the direction of these folks. Hers is what I call a mix of politics. Can one be a libertarian leaning leftie anarchist? They are making it up. No faith that the system will hold.
Good conversation for more folks to start having. Thanks.
I think the libertarian and anarchist elements go very well together. Maybe an anarchist is a libertarian in Birkenstocks. Younger people did not grow up with a functioning system the way we did. Of course, there were always huge problems but, for example, the public school I went to two blocks from home was a bastion of stability, the doctors that we were connected to for decades made house calls. You almost have to make it up as you go along now because conditions change so rapidly.
Beautiful
Lovely to hear from you, Deborah.
'They understood that we have a primal need to be the sculptors and the engineers of our own lives.'
Yes, I always read your posts first as I always find a sentence, if not more, that resonate.
Thank you, Mary. I wonder how many people have lost touch with this need.