$$$$$?

Many people live as if there is no end to the available electricity in our world.

Some refuse to even consider the thought of turning things off. When you ask yourself the question, “what do I want?” You have to be honest.

What do you use electricity to power right now, and can you afford a system that will maintain that level of power consumption? Just think for a minute about what a typical home might use.

These are things that I would call “normal” power consumers or “loads”.

A. Well for water
B. Lights
C. Refrigerator
D. Kitchen stove
E. Furnace
F. Air conditioner
G. Washer and dryer
H. Microwave Oven
I. Hair dryer(s) - plural if there are multiple women
J. Curling iron
K. Big screen TV
L. DVD player
M. Stereo
N. Misc. small kitchen appliances: Blenders, mixers, juicers etc.
O. Alarm clocks
P. House phone with message machine
Q. Desktop or laptop computer(s)
R. Computer printer and other office machines if not an “all in one”.
S. Multiple tablets and cell phones
T. Water heater

What are some other things in your life that you might need?
* Welder
* Table saw
* Router
* Planer
* Skil Saw
* Band saw (for metal or wood)
* Grinders
* Drill press
* Belt sander
* Cement mixer

The tool list can go on and on and if you are the craftsman type. your use of tools is probably not limited to your job. You may spend a significant amount of time using all of your tools around your home. Having and using your tools may have to be “non–negotiable” as they are for me. You will need to be honest with yourself when you ask “what are MY non-negotiable things?”

Most of us don’t want to live like hermits in a cave and living off grid doesn’t mean you have to. This site is not about living an extreme off grid experience, this is about what I think most of us would call “normal living.” There are always some who want to go to an extreme and that’s fine if it’s what you want to do. For our family, we wanted to live as normally as possible but we understood that we would need to make some adjustments and we were willing to make them.

~Compromise and adjustments are a part of life, learning to be flexible is a bonus, living off grid is just plain cool!~

Next up: "Who will do the work?"