Living Off the Grid in the City: New Series Introduction

Welcome to my latest and most definitive writing and podcast on the vast topic of sustainable living; called “living off the grid in the city”. Here, throughout 3 books of various sections each, I will expand on various topics dealing with the broad subject of sustainable living. It has been a subject of intense interest to me do to its potential to put us in a course of avoidance and recovery from the dire effects of climate change. It has the potential to correct many wrongs, stop abuse, and bring fairness to many aspects of our society. I became interested in the subject in 2009, during the US recession, and when I finally accepted the truth about the cruelty of our monetary system and its individual supporters, corporations, and the government. And, I became interested after realizing how several capitalist entities manipulate our actions as if we were pieces on a board game. Living off the grid allows one to become ‘awake’ and refuse to play a ‘game’ in which you were placed without your consent.In book 1; I introduce important defining terms and statements. There, I define what I mean by terms like grid, middle-people, various alternative or renewable energies, climate-related terms, statistical terms, as well as some assumptions and disclaimers. Then, I move on to the rationales for living off the grid, where many of the advantages of living off the grid are discussed. There, I hope to solidify belief in the reader about the clear and important reasons why living off the grid is necessary as an individual undertaking. One that will surely spread and evolve into a community undertaking and beyond, hopefully sooner than later. The climate, costs savings, personal independence and privacy, social and technical development, local and world peace, and disaster preparedness; are among the reasons to live off the grid.I painstakingly express my feelings and views on many of what I perceive to be abuses by the grid. I, beyond reasonable recourse, show you how the grid is a system that although began with noble aims; has decayed into a system of abuse, detriment, and damage to society. Excessively high costs of water, food, and energy, all of which come laden with rash fees and brazen taxes; are among the reasons the grid must go. And, I will introduce to you how the grid was actually ‘pushed’ upon you, often through coercion to keep you tied to it. For example, you are mostly given no choice but to connect to and pay for water, food, energy, and communications at very high cost to you.Throughout, while exposing the ills of the grid, I too share the advantages of taking the drastic but necessary steps to leave it. I demonstrate how leaving the grid will unlock personal and community potentials that are seldom considered. And, I dispel doubts and fears of what leaving the grid may do to modern society; were it to take hold.In book 2. I will briefly discuss many barriers to begin to get off the grid. As a preparation for the realities and difficulties you may face as a would-be off-gridder. Here, without qualms, I explore the several ‘resisting forces’ against the off-grid lifestyle; family, friends, and neighbors included.Finally, book 3 will dive into the technical aspects of an off grid and sustainable lifestyle. There, methods, technologies, and designs will be introduced and discussed as empowering tools for the would-be or the current off-gridder.It is my hope to inform, encourage, and demonstrate the off-grid lifestyle benefits, excitement, and power. The benefits to you as a person, to your community, and frankly; the planet. The excitement for it to provide self-sustainability, ever-growing efficiency, ballooning personal development, and unprecedented technical advance. And, the power for it to undo the many personal, social, and financial harms brought to us by a for profit and against-the-poor economic system.