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Many find societal life to be stifling and unattractive. The limitations on personal freedoms can make the idea of relocating to a distant, isolated area, away from urban centers and mainstream culture, seem incredibly appealing. However, deciding to live off the grid and separate from society is a serious choice that demands thorough preparation. To turn this dream into reality, you must carefully plan your location and lifestyle in advance, as well as acquire the skills necessary to sustain yourself in the wild.
Steps to Follow
Assessing Whether You Should Leave Society
Explore alternatives before abandoning societal life. The idea of living “off the grid” is often glamorized, portrayed as more enjoyable and feasible than it truly is. If you're unhappy with societal norms, capitalism, or interpersonal relationships, there might be other ways to alter your surroundings without completely disconnecting from society.
- If a personal issue or challenge is driving your desire to leave society, seek alternative solutions first.
- Simply relocating to a different city might offer the fresh start you need to find happiness.
- If your job feels unfulfilling or lacks purpose, think about resigning and pursuing more meaningful work before deciding to leave society entirely.
- If your goal is to spend more time in nature, you don’t necessarily have to abandon society. If possible, take a break from work and dedicate a month to backpacking or hiking to see if that satisfies your desire for solitude.
Test the lifestyle by “dropping out” temporarily. Before committing to a permanent life in the wilderness, try it out for a month or a season. This trial period will help you assess whether this lifestyle truly suits you.
- For instance, if you’re considering living in the woods, find a legal location like the North Maine Woods where you can stay for a season.
- Bring essential supplies such as fishing gear, camping equipment, dried food, and a canoe. Live as though you’ve fully retreated from society, minimizing contact with others as much as you prefer.
Consider your financial situation. Living in a remote area without a steady income means your savings will eventually run out. You’ll need to rely on hunting, farming, and building to sustain yourself, which can be daunting for many due to the self-sufficiency required.
- Alternatively, you might find ways to earn a small income while off the grid, such as selling meat, vegetables, or canned goods.
Preparing for Your Exit from Society
Educate yourself before making the move. Invest in books about wilderness survival, available at your local bookstore or library. Beyond basic survival skills, you’ll need to master the essentials of finding food, water, and shelter, and plan accordingly.
- Learn how to forage and hunt for food in a remote setting.
- Prepare for extreme weather conditions like floods, lightning, or blizzards while living in the wild.
Select your destination carefully. Urban areas are unsuitable for dropping out of society, so research and choose a location with a low population and accessible food sources, such as fertile land for gardening or a nearby stream for fishing.
- Look for areas rich in vegetation and wildlife, as these indicate a sustainable environment.
- Ensure you have a reliable water source nearby, such as a river, spring, or lake. Clean, abundant water is essential for daily survival.
- Study the local wildlife to understand potential risks, such as encountering bears in a forested area.
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Acquire essential survival skills. Before leaving society, it’s crucial to master the basics of surviving in harsh or isolated environments. Begin by familiarizing yourself with fundamental tools and weapons, such as knives, shovels, rakes, hoes, and firearms suitable for hunting without ruining the meat.
- Your diet will likely undergo significant changes. In a remote setting, you’ll need to rely on hunting, foraging, or cultivating a small garden for sustenance.
- Additionally, learn techniques for preserving food, such as drying or pickling meat and vegetables, to ensure you have enough supplies during winter.
Master the art of building a shelter. Unless you plan to inhabit an existing off-grid home or rent a cabin, you’ll need to construct your own dwelling. You can either buy construction materials beforehand or utilize natural resources like trees from the surrounding area.
- Keep in mind that your shelter will require periodic repairs and upgrades. Ensure you have savings set aside for these costs.
- You’ll also need a strategy for securing land. The most straightforward approach is to purchase an affordable, remote plot. Alternatively, if you prefer not to own land or plan to move often, you may end up living on National Forest or private property without permission.
Surviving Outside Society
Create an exit strategy that reduces costs and luggage. If you prefer not to own a vehicle, use cash to take public transport to your wilderness destination. Ensure your off-grid living arrangements are prepared in advance to avoid carrying heavy luggage or construction materials.
- Maintain relationships when you leave. Inform family and close friends of your plans, resign from your job, and terminate your apartment lease responsibly.
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Determine if you can live without electricity. One of the toughest challenges of leaving society is adapting to life without power. However, if your remote home is spacious enough and you desire an energy source, consider investing in a small generator. Many off-grid homes also utilize solar panels, wind turbines, or hydroelectric systems.
- If you choose to forgo electricity, align your schedule with the sun—rise at dawn and sleep at dusk.
- Without power, cooking will rely on fire or gas stoves, or you may need to consume most of your food, particularly vegetables, raw.
Plan for waste management. Those living off the land often use buckets or dig latrines in the woods. Ensure waste is kept far from food sources and downhill from living areas. For men, urination locations are less restricted.
- If your budget allows, consider a composting toilet, available for around $1,000 at retailers like Amazon or hardware stores, which converts waste into usable compost.
- Sanitation also involves water purification, as unclean water can cause giardia or other severe health issues. Always boil water or use purification tablets or filters before drinking.
Carry a satellite phone. Even if you’re fully disconnected from society, having a way to communicate in emergencies is essential. If you spend an extended period in the wilderness and decide to leave, you’ll need a way to call for assistance.
- In case of a medical emergency, quick access to help is crucial.
- Bring your satellite phone even on practice trips, as dangerous situations can arise unexpectedly.
Consider the impact on others. If you have loved ones, disappearing without notice can be distressing for them. If you plan to live in an area without electricity or mail access, establish a way to stay in touch.
- Before leaving society, carefully weigh the consequences for yourself and those close to you.
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Be ready for every season! If leaving society means enduring a winter in the forest, ensure you’re prepared. Develop a solid plan!
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Stay open to change. After testing the waters with training trips, you might realize this lifestyle isn’t for you. There’s no failure in stepping back—it simply shows you’re more adaptable to society than you initially believed.
Important Warnings
- Living apart from society can be both challenging and hazardous. Risks include encounters with wildlife, like bear attacks, or the threat of starvation. Leaving society could significantly shorten your life expectancy.
