How living off-grid has changed me

How living off-grid changed me…

I moved to Portugal almost 8 years ago, as I had wanted to live in a more sustainable and natural way for a VERY long time. So, when I saw what people were getting up to here it seemed like a dream come true!

I believe living off-grid here in rural central Portugal is potentially quite different from many other places. Live is slower, more old fashioned and there are not so many ‘authorities’ telling you what you can and cannot do (although this is changing now). As such my experience of living off-grid here is very positive, but I wonder if it would be anywhere else!?!?

Since being in Portugal I have lived off-grid on various farms (mine and others), in community, campervan, bus, yurt, geo-domes, cabin, normal houses and renovation projects. Some of these had toilets, running water, hot water, showers etc and many did not.

Living off-grid helps you to prioritise what’s really important, shelter, water, warmth and food. And, allows you to let go of the rest. It’s changed me deeply in so many ways and here are some of them…

No longer stresses about unimportant (or even important ha) things.

No longer cares what other people think of me or my home.
No longer needs to be superwoman and do it all, have it all and be amazing at it all.
No longer cares what I look like or am wearing (poor chicken see me in a right state sometimes ha).
Slowed right down to appreciate this life and take it all in.
Slowed right down so I no longer make loads of potentially costly ‘mistakes’.
Everything I own and am, is ‘rustic’.
Will leave a job half done if that means prioritising my health/back/energy/mood for that day.
See’s wonder in every tiny little thing (even when covered in chicken/goose/duck/lamb poo.
Deeply grateful and inspired by life every day.
Amazed I get to witness small animals being born, growing and thriving. And also to be there with them when things don’t work out. This life is so humbling!
Have let go of the need to be in control, as animals, weather and God decide what happens every day not me.
Now realise what ‘sustainability really means and how wrong I had it.
Fitter and stronger than ever before, both mentally and physically.
Happy to get up every morning and see what the day holds.
It gets on with my own day in my own way and stays away from drama.
MUCH more connected to my food, body, life, the earth and God.
More and more antisocial as I love life on the farm with my animals, ha.