QUESTION OF THE WEEK #25: In what ways is living off grid the answer to the many consequences of coronavirus?

@ecotrain has a good question for this week, that I wish to answer in this post as it's important. Please read here -> QUESTION OF THE WEEK #25: In what ways is living off grid the answer to the many consequences of coronavirus?

The answer to this particular question is not a Yes or No. In order to answer first let's see what off grid living means exactly.

Off Grid

Off-the-grid or off-grid is a characteristic of buildings and a lifestyle designed in an independent manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. The term "off-the-grid" traditionally refers to not being connected to the electrical grid, but can also include other utilities like water, gas, and sewer systems, and can scale from residential homes to small communities. Off-the-grid living allows for buildings and people to be self-sufficient, which is advantageous in isolated locations where normal utilities cannot reach and is attractive to those who want to reduce environmental impact and cost of living. Generally, an off-grid building must be able to supply energy and potable water for itself, as well as manage food, waste and wastewater. source

This is the definition of off-grid given by Wikipedia.

For those of you who are not following @eco-alex, he's trying to go off grid, building his yurt and creating his well. I've been reading his blog and following the evolution of his work and trust me, it's not easy.

Going Off Grid

This crazy pandemic has done a lot of damage and it's far from over, I believe the worst is yet to come. The lockdown has been hard on many of us and it looks like the chance for a new lockdown is huge, in some countries there's a lockdown happening as we speak. If you live at the countryside, not much is changing, that's what those people say (I've spoken to a few and they say every day it's business as usual), but for city people staying in a tiny apartment for months is pretty difficult.

Right this very moment thousands of people are packing their bags and leaving the cities, headed to more rural areas and countries. They have decided enough is enough and are willing to take a brave leap into the unknown.. to make a new life in a way that they can have their basic human needs and rights fulfilled and protected. source

This is a nice thing, it's definitely a solution to escape being locked between four walls but it's not for everyone. Off grid living may look like easy, may look like the perfect solution but has its challenges some may not see. You may argue that people were living off grid in the past, which is true but those people were not raised in the city. Let me give you an example to make you understand what I mean.

One of the lockdown measures was closing all the restaurants, and food shops. Those who used to eat at these places or order, got a big slap on their face as all of a sudden they were left without their usual lunches, dinners. Needless to say how many people have no clue what to do in the kitchen, they don't know how to prepare a simple meal because they were not forced to learn that. Why waste time with cooking, when others can do it for yourself, right?

Growing your own food is not only tiring but difficult as well. If you want to have a good harvest, you need to learn how to do it, be there day by day to take care of the garden and livestock as that's a 24/7 job. You need skills and tools as well to be able to survive. Things need to be done in time, there's no procrastination if you want results. No matter how tired or sick you are, things need to be done.

Is Living Off Grid The Answer?

In a way it is if you only look how to avoid contamination. Social distancing at the countryside is way more easier than in the city. If you're self sufficient, you don't need to leave your property, you can live there happily. However, that's the ideal scene people picture in their head when they think off grid living.

Reality, however, is quite different. Living in a modern era has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantage is that you can't live without medical care. There are doctors who you can see but they can't take care of every medical issue, sometimes you need a well equipped hospital and specialists.

The other thing you most likely would need is internet. If you're here, on Hive, that means you need internet, which you can't provide for yourself, you need an internet provider and that's not off grid living anymore. These are only two examples, maybe the most important, or not.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say here is that people born and raised in big cities have no idea about how life is at the countryside. Those won't leave the city and even if they do, they are going to face a hard time surviving. Unfortunately life in the city is very different than at the countryside, you don't even realize it, you only do when something you are used to is taken away from you and you don't know what to do.

Many have lost their job so homesteading may seem like an option, I can understand that but you need to be willing to make the effort this lifestyle requires, you need to be willing to learn and sacrifice a lot. You realize how many things you had only when you don't have them anymore.

I can't see myself opting for going off grid. I'm familiar with that life as my dad has a property at the countryside but I can't see myself living like that. But I wish good luck to whoever is willing to live like that. It becomes easier after some time, or not, it depends on the person.