The Pros And Cons Of Living Off The Grid

When I was younger, I always dreamed of living off the grid, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the pollution, the noise, and the stress. I wanted to be closer to nature, to live simply and sustainably, and to be independent from the unreliable and expensive electricity grid. That's why I decided to move (a portion of every year) to a remote jungle area in Cambodia, where I built my own off the grid home, installed solar panels, dug a well, planted numerous vegetable gardens and bought a small handful of farm animals.

It was not easy at first. I had to learn how to survive in the wilderness, how to deal with the heat, the rain, the insects, and the wildlife. I had to adapt to a different culture and language, and to make friends with the local Bunong tribal people who lived nearby. I had to face loneliness, boredom, and isolation. But I also experienced many joys and benefits. I enjoyed the beauty and tranquility of nature, the fresh air and water, the organic food, and the freedom and simplicity of life. I felt more connected to myself, to others, and to the environment. I learned new skills and gained new perspectives.

One of the most important aspects of living off the grid is trading with my neighbors. Since I don't have access to markets or shops, I rely on exchanging goods and services with the people around me. For example, I trade some of my vegetables and eggs for fruits, local bush meat (wild caught-not farm fed), and other necessities. I even trade some of my solar power on occasion (albeit small amounts) that can be used for charging phones or internet access for things like fruit or vegetable trees that I can grow on my family's land. I have also traded some of Sophorn's (my wife) and my labor for tools or materials. Trading helps me meet my basic needs, diversify my resources, and build relationships with my community without having the need to go to town and spend extra unnecessary money.

However, trading also has its drawbacks and challenges. Sometimes, I feel like I get the raw end of the stick. For instance, some people try to take advantage of me or cheat me by offering low-quality or overpriced items. Some people don't honor their agreements or don't pay their debts. Some people don't respect my property or privacy, such as stealing over 200 feet of fencing and calling it an accident, which required, by the way, pulling it out of concrete and removing staples before they could remove it. Who is on the hook for that? My wife and I are responsible, as she is married to the only foreigner in the area. Sometimes, I have conflicts or misunderstandings with my neighbors over different values or expectations. Sometimes, I have to compromise or sacrifice something that I want or need for something that they want or need.

But such is life. Living off the grid is not perfect or easy. It has its pros and cons, its joys and sorrows, its rewards and risks. It is not for everyone, but it is for me. I love living off the grid and trading with my neighbors because it makes me feel alive, authentic, and fulfilled.

Some of the pros and cons of living off the grid and trading with my neighbors can be seen below. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can inspire you to consider living off the grid yourself or at least appreciate its benefits and challenges. And, do not let yourself get bogged down by the negatives, just put a smile on your face and move on.

Pros of living off the grid:

* You save money on electricity bills, taxes, fees, and other expenses that come with living on the grid.

* You reduce your environmental impact by using renewable energy sources, conserving water and resources, recycling waste, and growing your own food.

* You improve your health by eating fresh and organic food, drinking clean water, breathing fresh air, getting more exercise, and reducing stress.

* You enhance your skills by learning how to build, repair, maintain, grow, harvest, preserve, cook, and trade.

* You enrich your knowledge by learning about different plants, animals, cultures, languages, customs, and histories.

* You expand your network by meeting new people who share your values or interests or who can help you in times of need.

* You increase your happiness by living according to your principles, passions, and preferences.

Cons of living off the grid:

* You face difficulties in accessing basic services such as health care, education, communication, transportation, and entertainment.

* You encounter dangers such as natural disasters, wild animals, diseases, injuries, and crime.

* You endure hardships such as extreme weather, lack of comfort, isolation, and boredom.

* You deal with uncertainties such as crop failures and equipment breakdowns that take an excessive amount of time to repair because of your physical location.

* You cope with conflicts such as disagreements, misunderstandings, resentments, and rivalries without the rule of law and sometimes common sense.

* You make sacrifices such as giving up convenience, luxury, variety, and security.

Pros of trading with neighbors:

* You meet your basic needs by exchanging what you have for what you need.

* You diversify your resources by acquiring different types of goods and services.

* You build relationships by establishing trust, cooperation, friendship, and loyalty.

* You learn from others by gaining new insights, ideas, tips and feedback.

* You support others by offering help, advice, encouragement, and gratitude.

* You enjoy yourself by having fun, sharing stories, celebrating events, and creating memories.

Cons of trading with neighbors:

* You get cheated by people who offer low-quality or overpriced items.

* You get indebted by people who don't honor their agreements or don't pay their debts.

* You get invaded by people who don't respect your property or privacy.

* You get conflicted by people who have different values or expectations.

* You get compromised by people who want or need something that you want or need.

* You get disappointed by people who let you down or hurt you.

Overall, the positives do outweigh the negatives and when the cons start adding up, all I can do is smile and laugh it off (with a bit of frustration). Living off the grid and trading with my neighbors has been a gratifying, but challenging experience for me. Let's face it, I have learned a lot, grown a lot, and enjoyed a lot. I have also faced a lot, endured a lot, and suffered a lot. But I don't regret my decision. I think living off the grid and trading with my neighbors has made me a better person and a happier person. I hope you can envision the pros and cons of living off the grid and trading with your neighbors and decide for yourself if it is something that you want to try or not.

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Original story (created by me) published on Medium.com. Any changes and/or updates that have been added on Vocal.media are for content consumption purposes.

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