Not them, the people people looking for free stuff. And yes Bengal I'm with you, just want to be far enough away, that I can see it coming.
I'm pretty sure I live in the same neighborhood or one over from martin's parental units. There are a couple of hood neighborhoods not all that far away but they don't cause much trouble other than now and then some hood rat kids stealing bicycles. I'm not going to move out to the wilderness and live in a van down by the river. If you plan on living in a 100 square foot dwelling that's essentially what you'll be doing. You have a wife? Before a month is up you will be obsessing about ways to kill her and she will be having the same thoughts about you. How far away do you have to be to "see it coming?" Don't you have a TV and the internet? I've never been to St. Louis but there are probably nice places to live not too far from Ferguson. I have been to Baltimore and the entire city is basically a ghetto but once you get outside the city there are nice suburban areas and even rural spaces. The only reason to go into the city would be to see a Ravens or Orioles game.
I didn't bring up the 100 square ft thing. i think Martin did. I only asked Martin about his intent to move off grid. That started this line off conversation. My intent is simple, become self sufficient so when shit does hit fan I and my family will be able to survive it. I assume you know people that lived through the depression as I have. Speaking with those people provide great insight into how bad things can get. And that was when we were a more polite society.
OK, you want to be off the grid. Not having to pay an electric bill is cool, but what first grabbed your interest in this thread was the toilet. If you need a chemical toilet does that mean you have no running water? How do you bath, wash clothes and get water for cooking and cleaning? Are you going to build a cistern and depend on rainwater?
I have power from grid, well water and a septic system. The toilet didn't catch my attention your mistaken on that point. What caught my attention was Martin stating he wanted off the grid. Which is a goal I share. I do intend to put up my own electric system wind and solar but it will take time. in addition we are building ways to collect rain water for our garden and animals. Like I said I don't consider my self a prepper, but you might. I consider myself someone who sees only one possible outcome of our current political system, and it ain't good. Therefore it is prudent to be self reliant.
Not a chemical toilet, but a composting toilet. Essentially a complicated bucket that covers your poo with peat moss, that blows air from the bucket to outside, dehydrating the poo to a tiny fraction of its volume for emptying like bi monthly. Dried poo is a non stinky powder. I would need to either run a hose to city water or harvest rainwater from the roof. Like this woman has done with her container house: Also I would take my laundry to a local Chinese woman, much like I do now, it is returned folded and delightful for like 17 dollars.
I only want off the grid as a fun project, not because I fear doomsday. If anything I expect the opposite, I expect everything to be cheaper and better and easier/cheaper than ever before. Also I get sick to my stomach when I watch hoarders and I am sort of obsessed with owning as few things as possible because I believe it's good for the mental health. Plus I believe that over the last 50 years the average American house has grown like 7x to a size that is way too much. All you need is a place to sit and read, and a place to sleep and a place to cook. 200 sq feet per person or so is more than enough. In Europe people still live in smaller houses and apartments and walk in their villages instead of driving everywhere like we do. Our car-centric lifestyle is unhealthy. I haven't owned a car in 15 years and it has been great.
One of us will be 100% incorrect, and for the record I hope it's me for all our sakes. I just can't see the path to that end.
most can be civil when everything's easy. 2 or 3 days without a meal changes everything. theyd have to go caveman to defend themselves from others. Or they could lay down and read their books.
