as challenging as it may be to live off the grid, most off-gridders feel that the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. Jorge ad ella Alvarez, off-gridders in northern arizona say, "We love being off-grid. it's definitely hard work, but it puts everything in life into perspective. it's surprising to find just how much you can do without. Many people think we have a harsh and depressing lifestyle. Nothing could be further from the truth. We see living off the grid as a gift that has allowed us to be more in touch with nature and each other." this view is shared by Wendy Johnston, a mother of three, living off the grid with her family in ontario, canada. wendy recalls, "in the house i grew up in, we would leave lights on all day, the thermostat up at night, and water runnig without a second thought. i wanted my children to be raised with more respect for the environment and an awareness of the impact that they have on it. My children don't take energy for granted. i love the fact that they are learning how to take care of the earth while, at the same time, learning to be self-sufficient."
wendy admits that living off the grid has its difficulties. for example, the Johnton's power usually goes down a few times a year. however, wendy reflects, "the funny thing is that these often turn out to be some of our best times as a family. the power outage have an unexpected way of bringing us closer together. we read books and play games by candlelight, or we snuggle together and tell stories."
living out off the grid entail sacrifices, and is certainly not for everyone. But for the thousands of people who have made this bold choice, life off the grid is filled with rewards that can't be matched by the conveniences and luxuries of life on the grid.