Fear motivates impulsive decisions. In the last two years fear has been the greatest threat to life and rational behaviour. When we first chose an offgrid life, 12 years ago, we were met with skepticism and eye rolling. Suddenly fleeing civilization has become a very popular lifestyle choice. If one could call it choice. When fear drives you to act irrationally; is it really a choice? Or an adrenaline charged instinct to flee. But how do you flee fear? And being fear motivated; how do you then live to thrive? Our area has been largely inhabited by generational farmers and more recently, hippie organic homesteaders - like us. It has been a popular holiday destination for cyclists, motorbike clubs and off-road groups. But life here is certainly not for the faint of heart and has never been a luxury vacation spot. Now, in the recent years, people have flocked to the area en masse, on a permanent basis.
Farms that stood abandoned for years are suddenly selling. Guest cottages are being leased by long term tenants. The more adventurous (and possibly more desperate) are putting up rustic dwellings. It saddens me that there is little forethought or planning or passion for the country that brings people to our secluded paradise.
Some places that were holiday destinations (let out a handful of times a year) now have permanent residents. Community type arrangements are igniting the proverbial fireworks. City people are trying to adjust to our harsh terrain and climate without relinquishing their city ideas. The conflict is unnecessary. It is also not resolved as those on opposite ends of the spectrum refuse to work together or live in harmony.
Why does it not work? Because fear is not the reason to make such a radical decision.
We have loved our journey to self-sufficiency but it has been fraught with danger, heartache and mistakes. Living off-grid is not as simple as buying water tanks, throwing up some solar panels and dropping vegetable seeds in the ground.
We have distant neighbours, 30km further up the valley, who have really captured off-grid but stylish living. The first time we visited we were blown away. The views are spectacular. The quiet is tangible. And the life they have carved out for themselves - literally - on the cliff edge is something to behold! Eco bathrooms with spectacular views. Luxury fire baths that double up as a splash pool in the summers. Solar lit pathways. A full kitchen that would cater for the top chef's culinary requirements and backed up by gas as well as solar. And even, the barest of signals for internet essentials.
Life can be beautiful. Life is beautiful. And wonderful. And inspiring. Simple, rural, sustainable living does not have to mean you give up everything. But you do need to make sacrifices and be prepared for a radical lifestyle change. Just never let your decisions be fear driven. Life is too precious, too fragile for that.
"Courage is mastery of fear, resistance to fear - not absence of fear" Mark Twain
"The fears we cannot conquer become barriers to our happiness" Karin Salmondson
"Everything you want is on the other side of fear" Jack Canfield