What does "off the grid"" mean to you? (install, system)
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For me, "off the grid" means no hardwire connection to any municipal utilities whatsoever -- power, water, sewer, phone, or cable.
Why I have it ... because places with public utilities also, by definition, have the public. The less people involved in my daily life, directly or indirectly (esp. indirectly!) the better IMO. Plus, I never want to rely on anything that I don't have a significant amount of control over and input into.
"off the map" is off-grid AND off any public roadways
Why I have it -- see above
"off the radar" or "off the network" means having no paper trail, no way to track you (esp. electronically) through various systems
This one is nearly impossible nowadays unless you are doing something illegal (i.e. tax evasion, working under the table, organized crime, living under a fake identity, driving without a license in an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, etc etc). But you can fly as low on the radar and make as small an imprint on the system as possible... the weenies can still find you if they wanted to, but it wouldn't be easy, and you wouldn't be sending up any huge flares drawing attention to yourself.
We were off the electrical grid but had County water in our last house. This one has electricity and County water. On our island, "off the grid" isn't so much as a choice as a condition of where they live. There are big parts of the island where you don't have a choice to connect or not connect since the electric lines aren't there to connect to. County water is actually harder to get than electricity on our island. A lot of folks have water catchment and have to depend on rain for their water supply. This is everyone in the area, mansions, shacks, everyone. So, I think the term "off the grid" will mean different things depending on where you are. Usually, around here it means you aren't connected to the public electric grid.
In the almost-four years we've lived here, the power has gone out exactly - twice. Even during a three-day-blizzard, with temps at -40 deg and steady north winds of 60 mph, few of us lost power. The cool thing is that we have an old push-button phone we keep hooked up for emergencies (doesn't need chargers and electricty like our central-house phones) and we used it to call the power company to let them know the power was out. They had a live person at the other end, who told us what had happened, where it had happened, how soon the crews would get there. They asked for our phone number - and called us backto tell us what the crew found and how long they estimated to get it fixed! The power came back on 15 minutes before they said it would.
Juxtapose that against the 20 years we lived on the East Coast, where every summer breeze would take out the power, and when severe storms threatened the power company would tell everyone via radio and TV that they were cutting the power "to avoid damage". Call them at any time of day or night, and you got a recording that asked for your location to file a report of power outage - nothing more. Most of our clocks were old fashioned windups, because you couldn't guarantee when you went to bed at night (even on perfectly clear and windless nights) that an electric alarm would wake you up. We had surge protectors and backup batteries on all of our computers as well as surge protectors on our refrigerator, water heater, and freezers, because the almost constant brownouts and blackouts damaged them otherwise. The power company made a LOT of money selling "whole house" surge protectors... making money off of their own incompetence.
We were "off-grid" more than we ever expected there - and far less than we expected here!
Most of our clocks were old fashioned windups, because you couldn't guarantee when you went to bed at night (even on perfectly clear and windless nights) that an electric alarm would wake you up.
You know, those old-time wind-up clocks and watches -- especially watches -- may take on a new life someday. Everything is electronic now, and either needs a battery, or an A/C plug. I'm constantly looking for old watches that wind-up, having them cleaned and fixed by a jeweler here who does watches as well, putting new straps on them, etc. I have a small collection of good ones, mostly mens', which DW can also wear. I inheritaed my grandfather's gold pocket watch, which I'll always keep. Now I'm on a quest for a good wind-up alarm clock. I have a small wind-up travel alarm, but don't like the tinny bell.
These items may end up being in great demand if the grid goes down long-term!
You know, those old-time wind-up clocks and watches -- especially watches -- may take on a new life someday. Everything is electronic now, and either needs a battery, or an A/C plug. I'm constantly looking for old watches that wind-up, having them cleaned and fixed by a jeweler here who does watches as well, putting new straps on them, etc. I have a small collection of good ones, mostly mens', which DW can also wear. I inheritaed my grandfather's gold pocket watch, which I'll always keep. Now I'm on a quest for a good wind-up alarm clock. I have a small wind-up travel alarm, but don't like the tinny bell.
These items may end up being in great demand if the grid goes down long-term!
In my vocabulary it means "not drawing power from municipal utility", also no water / sewer.
However we have a dear friend who uses the phrase to mean no bank account, no billing, no subscriptions, invisible to the government, untraceable, debt free, cash only, no paper trail, no computer trail, no government records showing where she lives or how to find her.
That particular friend [K] is a former NJ school-teacher; she works now strictly on a cash basis. Which is not uncommon here at all.
I see a lot of people around here who work, or market things, as cash only.
I sell farm produce strictly cash. The only farmers around here that I know who do otherwise are those who accept food-stamps.
Of course I do not mean to imply that anyone violates any laws. Everyone should do their utmost to comply with all laws, and file whatever taxes are appropriate.
To me off the grid means no pipes or power going from my property, no obligation on going to any job everyday, and to grow / raise your own food. 1800s style.
In my vocabulary it means "not drawing power from municipal utility", also no water / sewer.
However we have a dear friend who uses the phrase to mean no bank account, no billing, no subscriptions, invisible to the government, untraceable, debt free, cash only, no paper trail, no computer trail, no government records showing where she lives or how to find her.
In that extreme case I would add to the list no cell-phone or landlines. Satelites and the landlines are vulnerable to being shut off or knocked out. Unless they have a gift of telepathy, they should also have their loved ones nearby. Life is nothing without them.
Time will probably prove me wrong but I think thats extreme, I'm not that scared of the government or feds and subscriptions can offer valuable info just like the internet does.
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