**Life Off-Grid: Balancing Busy Days, Solar Projects, and Event Prep**
Living off-grid in the New Mexico desert means constant adjustments, planning, and a bit of trial and error, especially when juggling daily responsibilities with larger projects.
### Busy Days on the Road
May days include a 90-minute trip to take Anne to work, navigating the desert terrain. Depending on whether we take the car or the pickup, the trip takes longer as we manage the dirt roads: the car averages 20-25 mph, while the pickup handles it slightly better at 30-35 mph. These drives are a reminder of how even the simplest routines are more time-consuming when living off-grid.
### Preparing for HORRORDAZE
Amid our daily tasks, we’re also getting Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band ready for their upcoming performance at the ** HORRORDAZE Extravaganza** on December 21 at Black Wall Arts & Productions . Rehearsals, equipment prep, and fine-tuning animatronics are all part of the process to ensure a memorable show.
### Tackling Solar System Challenges
One of our biggest ongoing projects is setting up a new solar system. Yesterday, Brent and I spent hours cleaning and reorganizing the Greenroom to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner with neighbors, but this effort also served as a reminder of the solar build we’ve been putting off.
We’ve debated several locations for the new system, each with its pros and cons:
– **Battery House Option:** Keeping the batteries in their current house avoids moving them (each over 100 lbs!) but makes it tricky to find a sunny spot for the panels without shading.
– **Anne’s Battery Setup Location:** This option means reorganizing the trailer and moving the heavy batteries again, a task we’ve already done more than once.
– **Behind the RV:** Placing the system behind the RV sacrifices some of our stunning views, which feels like a significant tradeoff.
– **Existing Panel Stand:** Adding the panels to the current stand may overload the structure and prevent us from adjusting them for optimal sunlight.
Another idea we’ve considered is creating a mobile solar system. Folding panels into a trailer would allow us to transport them as needed, but we’re cautious about adding unnecessary weight to our RV.
### The Balancing Act
Decisions like these take time, especially when weather, schedules, and other priorities like running Anne to work keep interfering. The key is committing to a solution and sticking with it, but with so many factors to consider, the decision hasn’t been easy.
For now, we’re focusing on small wins—like getting the Greenroom ready for Thanksgiving—and tackling one challenge at a time. Living off-grid may not always be simple, but the rewards of self-sufficiency and freedom make it all worthwhile.
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If you’re interested in off-grid living, solar power solutions, or unique challenges in the desert, stay tuned for more updates on our journey!
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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Tag: SustainableLife
Can You Handle the Challenges of Off-Grid Living? Solitude, Freedom, and Electricity as a Luxury
Is It Time to Call Off-Grid Living Quits?
Living off-grid is not for the faint of heart. It’s a lifestyle filled with challenges that often push people to their limits. Over the past four years, we’ve watched many try—and fail—to make it work.
Success in this lifestyle requires a willingness to simplify. It means learning to conserve water by skipping daily showers or reusing clothes to limit laundry. It’s about embracing solitude, silence, and the raw sounds of nature, like the wind howling or coyotes calling in the distance.
Electricity is a luxury. Unless you have a massive solar setup or rely heavily on generators, you’ll find modern conveniences like air fryers, electric heaters, and AC units impractical. Personally, I prefer the quiet over the constant hum of a generator, even if it means giving up certain comforts.
Having grown up on a dairy farm in rural Minnesota, I’m no stranger to isolation. Our nearest neighbor was a mile away, and the closest town with more than the basics was 45 miles from home. Surprisingly, moving to the New Mexico desert feels like I’ve moved closer to civilization. At least now, we can gather supplies without an hours-long journey.
Off-grid living isn’t easy, and there are moments when quitting feels tempting. But for those who treasure independence, self-reliance, and a deep connection to the land, the rewards far outweigh the hardships.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving #SustainableLife #SimpleLiving #SelfReliance #RuralLife #EcoFriendly #Minimalism #NatureLife #DesertLiving #FreedomLifestyle #SolarPower #Homesteading #OffGridCommunity #IndependentLiving #ReconnectWithNature
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 