I'm About Ready To Live OFF THE GRID...

[High_Plains_Drifter]

I usually start my mornings watching local and national news, check the news online, check twitter and facebook, but anymore... everything is reaching such fever pitch coming from the left, this absolute tidal wave of hysteria, lies, hypocrisy and double standards, and what I see as leftist anti Americanism, I'm right to the point where I don't even want to hear about it anymore. Sunday and Monday I didn't watch any news at all on TV. What I got online was enough, but I turned the morning news on this morning and quickly realized that I'd had the tv on mute for probably 45 minutes, so I turned the channel. So I'm at this point where I might not watch any news at all except some local evening news, and then just to catch the weather. What I see on TV I don't even consider news anymore. This 24/7 stuff where a talking head speaks for maybe a minute or two about an actual even, then says "let's bring on our panel," is where I either hit mute or turn the channel. I don't need an analyst, or pundit, or any other sort of person paid to simply give their opinion, to tell me what they think. I heard what the intro was and I can decide for myself what to think. I don't need it analysed and I don't need to hear their opinion. And these talking heads all must be cut from the same mold, because invariably they ALL start out their diatribe with "LOOK."

So... I'm just about on FULL when it comes to this toxic state of affairs in America. I think the left is unhinged, and I just don't want to hear about it anymore. If it ever boils over to the point where it reaches my front door way out here in Podunk, WI, then I'll deal with it the way I see fit. I'll protect my own hard earned little chunk of America that I've worked and sweated to build with every fiber of my being.

[darin]

Right there with you. Already saving for my off-grid lifestyle...few farm animals. need a spring on the property. Basic solar. And plenty of booze, honey, ammo. It's getting ridiculous.

[NightTrain]

It's easy to burn out. Sometimes you have to unplug for a while.

When I had Jim up at the cabin last month, I asked him a few times if he'd like to check the board on my laptop tethered to my cell.

"Nope!" was the answer every time. He was happy to quietly sit & watch the river go by sipping coffee, almost in a meditative state. He was digging the off-the-grid thing, bigtime.

[jimnyc]

It's easy to burn out. Sometimes you have to unplug for a while.

When I had Jim up at the cabin last month, I asked him a few times if he'd like to check the board on my laptop tethered to my cell.

"Nope!" was the answer every time. He was happy to quietly sit & watch the river go by sipping coffee, almost in a meditative state. He was digging the off-the-grid thing, bigtime.

I had no interest at all, which was VERY unlike me. I was just too happy, content, relaxed, whatever you call it.

You're on the grid if you want to be there, but I think the best part of being there is the quiet, not having to deal with people, congestion, noise... I can't get relaxed even here at home like I was up there.

[Gunny]

I had no interest at all, which was VERY unlike me. I was just too happy, content, relaxed, whatever you call it.

You're on the grid if you want to be there, but I think the best part of being there is the quiet, not having to deal with people, congestion, noise... I can't get relaxed even here at home like I was up there.

Shirker

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Right there with you. Already saving for my off-grid lifestyle...few farm animals. need a spring on the property. Basic solar. And plenty of booze, honey, ammo. It's getting ridiculous.

Yup... I have about an acre an a quarter near the end of a dead end road, no one living on two sides of that, have my own well, which has a conventional plug so I can plug it into a generator, have my own septic system, have a real nice wood burning stove in the shop so I wouldn't freeze in the winter if power was ever interrupted, have stores of emergency food such as WISE, dried things like beans and rice, canned stuff, SPAM of course, etc, all stock piled, probably enough for six months maybe, and I have my weapons with ammo for all, and thousands of rounds for the AK-47. I also have two generators, one small 2.5KW that I can easily cart around, and a big 9.5KW with electric start that I can plug into my service entrance via a transfer switch and power up my entire property.

Ya know they used to laugh at us prepers... I don't think many are laughing anymore.

[NightTrain]

Yup... I have about an acre an a quarter near the end of a dead end road, no one living on two sides of that, have my own well, which has a conventional plug so I can plug it into a generator, have my own septic system, have a real nice wood burning stove in the shop so I wouldn't freeze in the winter if power was ever interrupted, have stores of emergency food such as WISE, dried things like beans and rice, canned stuff, SPAM of course, etc, all stock piled, probably enough for six months maybe, and I have my weapons with ammo for all, and thousands of rounds for the AK-47. I also have two generators, one small 2.5KW that I can easily cart around, and big 9.5KW with electric start that I can plug into my service entrance via a transfer switch and power up my entire property.

Ya know they used to laugh at us prepers... I don't think many are laughing anymore.

Got a DC plant planned yet? If not, I'd be happy to explain how I have my cabin wired for 12 volt fed by 2 battery strings, each fed by their own solar panel - that way if a battery goes bad, it doesn't take down my whole DC plant.

Also, Propane Lighting is extremely efficient and as a bonus, gives out quite a bit of heat. Redundancy is the name of the game. Mine has AC lights, DC lights and propane lights, with multiple 12v outlets around the cabin for charging phones/tablets/computers. A small AC/DC fridge also sits in the kitchen.

9.5kw Genny is a beast! Mine is a little Honda 2.5, with my backup being a 5kw Briggs fired genny in case something happens to the Honda.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Got a DC plant planned yet? If not, I'd be happy to explain how I have my cabin wired for 12 volt fed by 2 battery strings, each fed by their own solar panel - that way if a battery goes bad, it doesn't take down my whole DC plant.

Also, Propane Lighting is extremely efficient and as a bonus, gives out quite a bit of heat. Redundancy is the name of the game. Mine has AC lights, DC lights and propane lights, with multiple 12v outlets around the cabin for charging phones/tablets/computers. A small AC/DC fridge also sits in the kitchen.

9.5kw Genny is a beast! Mine is a little Honda 2.5, with my backup being a 5kw Briggs fired genny in case something happens to the Honda.

I'm kind of an oil lamp collector, have about 15 of them, 3 of them being my prized Aladdins for light. I like the flash lights too, and have lots of different ones of those including a couple very powerful LED, and I keep lots of batteries on hand. I buy those in bulk, all sizes.



I'm stocked on lamp oil. I have probably 8 gallons. I know it's not sustainable, but all the lamps are also full, and if I burn them one by one and actually run out of oil, then the power has really been out a long, long time, and America must have been blown to smithereens. We'll probably all be scavengers or dead by then.

[michiganFats]

Is that circus poster original or a re-creation?

[NightTrain]

I'm kind of an oil lamp collector, have about 15 of them, 3 of them being my prized Aladdins for light. I like the flash lights too, and have lots of different ones of those including a couple very powerful LED, and I keep lots of batteries on hand. I buy those in bulk, all sizes.



I'm stocked on lamp oil. I have probably 8 gallons. I know it's not sustainable, but all the lamps are also full, and if I burn them one by one and actually run out of oil, then the power has really been out a long, long time, and America must have been blown to smithereens. We'll probably all be scavengers or dead by then.

Interesting oil lamps. I've never seen that kind before, with that mantle there. Does it make it burn hotter & more efficient?

We still have a couple of old-school ones up at the cabin, but they're the wick kind that you dial up and down to get the right flame.

And, yeah.. those are extremely efficient. That fuel will go bad before you burn 8 gallons of it unless you put a bunch of stabilizers in it.

[NightTrain]

We have solar yard lights that we can bring in for good light. Where will you get propane when SHTF?

Probably the same place that we get gas!

Propane isn't a deal breaker, but it's a great redundancy system. We can convert the cabin to wood heat & cooking in short order if things go weird... but until then, I don't have any ambition whatsoever in chopping wood! Did that the whole time I was growing up and it's just not any fun.


We've got those little solar yard lights, too... they're pretty handy. And cheap!

[darin]

Couple things to consider -

One of those above-ground old school 200 gallon farm fuel tanks - the raised ones? you know what i mean?

Also

Your house isn't bullet proof. If it's wooden, consider finding a way to secure it - 5.56 goes through wood easily. And with sustained attack would penetrate most brick homes. Consider spreading your supplies in caches around the property and some with friends; include metal currency, sealed ammo, first aid, and...whatnot. maybe a spare pistol. Maybe look at a manual pump for your well. Can you secure your generators from theft? I dont need your answers but maybe things you can think about, if they help. Two is one, and one is none.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Couple things to consider -

One of those above-ground old school 200 gallon farm fuel tanks - the raised ones? you know what i mean?

Also

Your house isn't bullet proof. If it's wooden, consider finding a way to secure it - 5.56 goes through wood easily. And with sustained attack would penetrate most brick homes. Consider spreading your supplies in caches around the property and some with friends; include metal currency, sealed ammo, first aid, and...whatnot. maybe a spare pistol. Maybe look at a manual pump for your well. Can you secure your generators from theft? I dont need your answers but maybe things you can think about, if they help. Two is one, and one is none.

Sure enough a 5.56 will go right through a house, done it. The AK 7.62x39 FMJ will go through even more. Besides the many different rifles and shot guns I have, I have a couple pistols as well, a Taurus Raging Bull .44mag and a Ruger Vaquero Birds Head .45LC, my "Doc Holiday" pistol.

I have the generators locked up in the shop. The shop has double locked doors, two of which have inside clasps with padlocks. I don't leave anything out. Many, many people do around here. Small town, trusting folks. I just don't invite the morally challenged to steal any of my stuff by leaving it out.

Is that circus poster original or a re-creation?

Reprint, but still, a reprint from 1916.

[darin]

Sure enough a 5.56 will go right through a house, done it. The AK 7.62x39 FMJ will go through even more. Besides the many different rifles and shot guns I have, I have a couple pistols as well, a Taurus Raging Bull .44mag and a Ruger Vaquero Birds Head .45LC, my "Doc Holiday" pistol.

I have the generators locked up in the shop. The shop has double locked doors, two of which have inside clasps with padlocks. I don't leave anything out. Many, many people do around here. Small town, trusting folks. I just don't invite the morally challenged to steal any of my stuff by leaving it out.

Right - consider finding a way to protect your house - maybe make at least a safe room; use large furniture against the walls, etc.


@sassy - No, i do not.

[SassyLady]

Right there with you. Already saving for my off-grid lifestyle...few farm animals. need a spring on the property. Basic solar. And plenty of booze, honey, ammo. It's getting ridiculous.

Don't forget soap and spices. Good bartering items.

I need to get a solar generator and then I will feel better. Don't have as good a setup as I had in California ... my own water well and septic, 2 acres to farm and a basement to store things. Haven't quite figured out what to do with this place where I am now.

We are, however, prepared to live a few months of the grid.

Darin ... do you still have property?

Got a DC plant planned yet? If not, I'd be happy to explain how I have my cabin wired for 12 volt fed by 2 battery strings, each fed by their own solar panel - that way if a battery goes bad, it doesn't take down my whole DC plant.

Also, Propane Lighting is extremely efficient and as a bonus, gives out quite a bit of heat. Redundancy is the name of the game. Mine has AC lights, DC lights and propane lights, with multiple 12v outlets around the cabin for charging phones/tablets/computers. A small AC/DC fridge also sits in the kitchen.

9.5kw Genny is a beast! Mine is a little Honda 2.5, with my backup being a 5kw Briggs fired genny in case something happens to the Honda.

We have solar yard lights that we can bring in for good light. Where will you get propane when SHTF?