Comments on: Introducing Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/ renewable energy,survival,save money,self build,Green homes,Solar power, cheap power, 12 volt, Solar panels, Wind power, peak oil, Batteries, Inverter, Generator, Rainwater harvesting, survivalist, prepper, self-sufficient, vans, yurts, yachts, RVs Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:39:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219892 Wretha Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:11:03 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219892 <strong>Mayberry</strong>, I didn't write that message, it's a glitch, if you are not signed in, you will see that message and it has my name on it, if you are signed in, you will not see that message and it's not attributed to me, don't know why that is happening, I am trying to get it taken care of... the best thing to do is go ahead and sign up with Off-Grid.net, that way you will be sure to see all my current ramblings. Thanks for coming over, I like seeing familiar faces here! :) Wretha Mayberry, I didn’t write that message, it’s a glitch, if you are not signed in, you will see that message and it has my name on it, if you are signed in, you will not see that message and it’s not attributed to me, don’t know why that is happening, I am trying to get it taken care of… the best thing to do is go ahead and sign up with Off-Grid.net, that way you will be sure to see all my current ramblings. Thanks for coming over, I like seeing familiar faces here! :)

Wretha

]]> By: Mayberry http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219889 Mayberry Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:25:28 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219889 Hey Wretha. Tried to comment on the "no tax credit for off gridders", but had to register and log in, and now I can't find the post!!! Anyhoo, here is my comment on that topic: That's because "they" WANT you on the grid. "They" WANT you dependent on "them". You see, off gridders are too independent for Big Brother's liking, y'all make him nervous.... Congrats on your new gig! Hey Wretha. Tried to comment on the “no tax credit for off gridders”, but had to register and log in, and now I can’t find the post!!! Anyhoo, here is my comment on that topic:

That’s because “they” WANT you on the grid. “They” WANT you dependent on “them”. You see, off gridders are too independent for Big Brother’s liking, y’all make him nervous….

Congrats on your new gig!

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219875 Wretha Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:37:54 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219875 <strong>JoniK</strong>, we connect to the internet via WiFi, we have 2 microwave towers close by, you have to be line of sight and fortunately one of the towers is right across the valley from me, right in line with our cabin. You are right that we do not have a hard wired phone line, we do have a phone though, it's through the internet, VOIP, the one I use is called <a href="http://www.magicjack.com" rel="nofollow">Magic Jack</a>, it works pretty well, not perfectly, but better than my cell phone ever did out here. The only other option for internet is to use a satellite, but it's expensive, around $600.00 for the equipment and setup, the monthly fees run around $70.00 and they meter your bandwidth, if you go over your allotted bandwidth, they cut you off. With the WiFi setup, they do not meter my bandwidth, I can download (and upload) as much as I want. Setup and equipment was less than $200.00 and the monthly fee is $42.00 per month. I can't use an air card where I live, we don't get a very good signal for that. Thanks for your comment! :) Wretha JoniK, we connect to the internet via WiFi, we have 2 microwave towers close by, you have to be line of sight and fortunately one of the towers is right across the valley from me, right in line with our cabin. You are right that we do not have a hard wired phone line, we do have a phone though, it’s through the internet, VOIP, the one I use is called Magic Jack, it works pretty well, not perfectly, but better than my cell phone ever did out here. The only other option for internet is to use a satellite, but it’s expensive, around $600.00 for the equipment and setup, the monthly fees run around $70.00 and they meter your bandwidth, if you go over your allotted bandwidth, they cut you off. With the WiFi setup, they do not meter my bandwidth, I can download (and upload) as much as I want. Setup and equipment was less than $200.00 and the monthly fee is $42.00 per month. I can’t use an air card where I live, we don’t get a very good signal for that.

Thanks for your comment! :)
Wretha

]]> By: JoniK http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219864 JoniK Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:57:43 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219864 Hi Wretha, Could you tell me how you connect to the internet living out where you do? Are you using satellite or a mobile card? I assume you don't have a phone line. Thanks Joni Hi Wretha, Could you tell me how you connect to the internet living out where you do? Are you using satellite or a mobile card? I assume you don’t have a phone line.
Thanks
Joni

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219831 Wretha Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:41:16 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219831 <strong>cizzi</strong>, hmmm, I don't know about the other states, in Texas all you have to do is get outside of the city (I believe that is correct), the quickest way to find out is call a realtor, they can tell you if there are areas that do not require building permits. <strong>Scavenger</strong>, glad you found me! <strong>Betsy</strong>, where are you located? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, I'm just curious where your island is? Wretha cizzi, hmmm, I don’t know about the other states, in Texas all you have to do is get outside of the city (I believe that is correct), the quickest way to find out is call a realtor, they can tell you if there are areas that do not require building permits.

Scavenger, glad you found me!

Betsy, where are you located? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, I’m just curious where your island is?

Wretha

]]> By: betsy http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219826 betsy Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:28:08 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219826 Hi, Wretha - thank you for the gracious welcome! I went back and read some of your older blog posts, and very much enjoyed them. I especially smiled when you wrote about not running the fridge too much because then you can't do as much with the computer. That's exactly the equation we always are balancing! Sometimes I'd opt for just slightly warmer milk, if it meant that I could complete an online project or watch a DVD on the laptop! But now it's cool enough that we don't need to use the fridge at all, so that makes it easier. Finding this website inspired me to write a blog post about our experience of living off the grid. Here in the northwest, where 3/4 of the year it tends to be damp and chilly, what came to mind when I sat down to write was being warm. A woodstove in a 650-square-foot house is the purest luxury I can think of. So my blog post about living warm is at http://www.bendingtreearts.com/blog/2008/10/29/off-the-grid-living/ But maybe I'll write more. I actually had kind of lost track of our lifestyle as being anything out of the ordinary, and your blog kind of refreshed my perspective! I linked to Off-Grid.net in my blog's list of interesting websites, by the way. -- Betsy Hi, Wretha – thank you for the gracious welcome! I went back and read some of your older blog posts, and very much enjoyed them. I especially smiled when you wrote about not running the fridge too much because then you can’t do as much with the computer. That’s exactly the equation we always are balancing! Sometimes I’d opt for just slightly warmer milk, if it meant that I could complete an online project or watch a DVD on the laptop!

But now it’s cool enough that we don’t need to use the fridge at all, so that makes it easier.

Finding this website inspired me to write a blog post about our experience of living off the grid. Here in the northwest, where 3/4 of the year it tends to be damp and chilly, what came to mind when I sat down to write was being warm. A woodstove in a 650-square-foot house is the purest luxury I can think of. So my blog post about living warm is at
http://www.bendingtreearts.com/blog/2008/10/29/off-the-grid-living/

But maybe I’ll write more. I actually had kind of lost track of our lifestyle as being anything out of the ordinary, and your blog kind of refreshed my perspective! I linked to Off-Grid.net in my blog’s list of interesting websites, by the way.

– Betsy

]]> By: Scavenger http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219824 Scavenger Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:11:25 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219824 Glad to see you have found a new home of sorts. I always enjoy your thoughts and views and will follow you where ever you try to hide. haha!! Chris Glad to see you have found a new home of sorts. I always enjoy your thoughts and views and will follow you where ever you try to hide. haha!!

Chris

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219819 Wretha Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:13:36 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219819 Thanks <strong>Betsy</strong>, you explained things much better than I did! Wow, living on an island sounds like a dream! I've been told that where I live is considered a sky island, but we definitely aren't surrounded by water. Your artwork looks great, I am an artist, as is my hubby, we both have artists in our families too, it's wonderful and a curse at the same time (you KNOW what I mean...). Thanks for commenting, I love each and every one! <strong>Rio</strong>, Thanks for following me here, don't know how big of a celebration we will have, though I do want to do something, if the weather is anything like it was the night we arrived, the biggest thing we will be doing is trying to keep warm. :) Maybe we'll celebrate with a big steaming cup of hot chocolate. Wretha Thanks Betsy, you explained things much better than I did! Wow, living on an island sounds like a dream! I’ve been told that where I live is considered a sky island, but we definitely aren’t surrounded by water. Your artwork looks great, I am an artist, as is my hubby, we both have artists in our families too, it’s wonderful and a curse at the same time (you KNOW what I mean…). Thanks for commenting, I love each and every one!

Rio, Thanks for following me here, don’t know how big of a celebration we will have, though I do want to do something, if the weather is anything like it was the night we arrived, the biggest thing we will be doing is trying to keep warm. :) Maybe we’ll celebrate with a big steaming cup of hot chocolate.

Wretha

]]> By: Rio Arriba http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219799 Rio Arriba Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:53:08 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219799 Dang, I just get you on my blogroll and you go and change the address. Oh, well, not to worry. I already made the change, and you are on now with this new address. Good luck with your new location. Bet you'll have a big celebration on your first anniversary in your new home. I hope it's a good one. This will be my fourth winter on the high plains and in a perverse way I am looking forward to it. Winter is a good time to get things done that get bypassed when the weather is good. I'll be around. Dang, I just get you on my blogroll and you go and change the address. Oh, well, not to worry. I already made the change, and you are on now with this new address. Good luck with your new location.

Bet you’ll have a big celebration on your first anniversary in your new home. I hope it’s a good one. This will be my fourth winter on the high plains and in a perverse way I am looking forward to it. Winter is a good time to get things done that get bypassed when the weather is good.

I’ll be around.

]]> By: cizzi http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219797 cizzi Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:37:11 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219797 Wretha.. What states in the US still allow builkding without permits? I'd love to live in AZ for example.. and how do I go about finding land that doesnt require permits or is it the whole state? Wretha.. What states in the US still allow builkding without permits? I’d love to live in AZ for example.. and how do I go about finding land that doesnt require permits or is it the whole state?

]]> By: betsy http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219793 betsy Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:09:00 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219793 One more idea about building permits: What some people do is they familiarize themselves with the applicable regulations, and (to the extent reasonably possible) try to follow those regulations when they build their house. They don't apply for any permits, but they have a backup plan in case the permit office finds them someday. (In general, I don't think permit officers go out on scouting expeditions. But Wretha is right about NOT talking to anyone about the fact you didn't get a permit. Just be vague and act like "of course it's permitted." ) If the permit department people do come around, they will give a list of what has to be upgraded or changed. If your stairs and woodstove installation (for example) are already built to code, then in the unlikely instance that you're busted for not having a permit, you won't have to tear your house apart to make it compliant. Also, if you're really in the boonies, the permit department people will probably notify you ahead of time. So if, for example, you know you have more square feet of windows than are allowed, you could hide them behind removable chunks of fake wall. And then put everything back to normal once the inspection is finished. It's been done... I just found this website and wanted to say hi... My husband and I lived off the grid from 1990 to 2002, and after a hiatus of 6 years in the big city so our kids could go to high school we're now back in our little house in the woods. We live on an island, and there are no stores here, no paved roads or (of course) public utilities. But we can now get internet via aircard, which makes a huge difference in what's possible. Anyway, I enjoyed meeting you through your post, Wretha. I'd be delighted if you feel like visiting my blog. It's a random eclectic mix of art and musings and political rants and bits about our lives. It's at http://bendingtreearts.com/blog I'll come back here and check in from time to time... Betsy One more idea about building permits: What some people do is they familiarize themselves with the applicable regulations, and (to the extent reasonably possible) try to follow those regulations when they build their house. They don’t apply for any permits, but they have a backup plan in case the permit office finds them someday.
(In general, I don’t think permit officers go out on scouting expeditions. But Wretha is right about NOT talking to anyone about the fact you didn’t get a permit. Just be vague and act like “of course it’s permitted.” )

If the permit department people do come around, they will give a list of what has to be upgraded or changed. If your stairs and woodstove installation (for example) are already built to code, then in the unlikely instance that you’re busted for not having a permit, you won’t have to tear your house apart to make it compliant. Also, if you’re really in the boonies, the permit department people will probably notify you ahead of time. So if, for example, you know you have more square feet of windows than are allowed, you could hide them behind removable chunks of fake wall. And then put everything back to normal once the inspection is finished. It’s been done…

I just found this website and wanted to say hi… My husband and I lived off the grid from 1990 to 2002, and after a hiatus of 6 years in the big city so our kids could go to high school we’re now back in our little house in the woods.

We live on an island, and there are no stores here, no paved roads or (of course) public utilities. But we can now get internet via aircard, which makes a huge difference in what’s possible.

Anyway, I enjoyed meeting you through your post, Wretha. I’d be delighted if you feel like visiting my blog. It’s a random eclectic mix of art and musings and political rants and bits about our lives. It’s at http://bendingtreearts.com/blog

I’ll come back here and check in from time to time…

Betsy

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219791 Wretha Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:24:14 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219791 <strong>Hey Seth!!!</strong> Glad to see you here, thanks for saying "hi"! <strong>Cizzi,</strong> there are still places in the USA where you do not have to get permits to build, and fortunately where I am located is one of those places, the only thing that has to be checked is if you dig a well and if you put in a septic system. I have no problem with that because both of those activities have the potential of messing with your ground water. As far as to how to get around it, the only thing I can think of is getting far out away from any town and hope that your inspectors are not too adventurous. Oh, and you have to keep anything you do private, don't tell your neighbors, or anyone, the more people who know about what you are doing, the more risk you take of someone tattling on you. <strong>I am not suggesting to anyone that you should do anything illegal, what you do is your own choice and you are responsible for your own actions.</strong> Hey Seth!!! Glad to see you here, thanks for saying “hi”!

Cizzi, there are still places in the USA where you do not have to get permits to build, and fortunately where I am located is one of those places, the only thing that has to be checked is if you dig a well and if you put in a septic system. I have no problem with that because both of those activities have the potential of messing with your ground water. As far as to how to get around it, the only thing I can think of is getting far out away from any town and hope that your inspectors are not too adventurous. Oh, and you have to keep anything you do private, don’t tell your neighbors, or anyone, the more people who know about what you are doing, the more risk you take of someone tattling on you.
I am not suggesting to anyone that you should do anything illegal, what you do is your own choice and you are responsible for your own actions.

]]> By: cizzi http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219790 cizzi Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:51:33 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219790 Nice article, I am very interested in living off-grid. I have the solar energy part figured out and am saving to buy an acre or more of land. However around here (Canada) we need permits to build a cabin that you can live in. Did you have to get permits? Is there ways around this? Nice article, I am very interested in living off-grid. I have the solar energy part figured out and am saving to buy an acre or more of land. However around here (Canada) we need permits to build a cabin that you can live in. Did you have to get permits? Is there ways around this?

]]> By: sethbrat http://www.off-grid.net/2008/10/27/introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-219788 sethbrat Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:49:24 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=2194#comment-219788 Hey Wretha.....i got your back...lol wouldn't go a day without stoppin by to see what you guys are up to. Seth Hey Wretha…..i got your back…lol
wouldn’t go a day without stoppin by to see what you guys are up to.
Seth

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