A Typical Day

 Alan wrote this example of a typical day our first week living off grid. It will be interesting to see how this changes as we make improvements and additions to our various off grid amenities. I have added my additional comments in italics.

Sunrise coming through the window along with the sounds of the woodpecker brigade, time to get up and start the day, since we turn in most nights 2 to 3 hours after sunset.

Fill the toilet tank, first of two daily flushings of the toilet! (These will increase as we improve our water storage.)

Grind the coffee, boil the water, press the press: Its the perfect cup
(sung to the tune from Robin Williams TOYS)

Gather up the solar powered items; radio, lantern, 18 volt tool batteries and place them out on the deck in pools of sunlight. Move throughout the day as required.

While it recharges, tune the solar radio to NPR and catch up on the news of the day. Fire up the Internet and check email, probably do some get-paid-for work.

Success! Finally got the well pump pulled; 190 feet deep!

While its still cool outside, don our Permethrin treated outdoor clothes and do the outside chores. Could be work on the well, or spraying noxious stuff on the ticks and spiders (still no snake sightings), work on the deck etc. Much to do, and the temp is climbing. (I tend to do more get-paid-for work and also catch up on packaging eBay sales for shipment if we are going to be near a post office that day.)

Now inside work; ripping out carpet, cleaning floors and cabinets, etc.

As the day progressed, needful things get added to the shopping list. It's now probably time to head out to get them (Hardware stores, here I come!). Toss all the empty non-potable water jugs in the truck to fill while we are out. Dinner (and bathroom stops) might be included while out!

Back home, unload, its getting dark. See if the kerosene lanterns need filling and light them. Move chairs out to the deck for a bit of relaxation (no mosquitoes!).

Sun is down.

Get back online, check email, and usually some more get-paid-for work (My usual hours to work on get-paid-for projects used to be late at night, going to bed around 2 or 3 a.m., now I am so tired I want to turn in around 10 at the latest.).

Time to turn in. Fill the toilet tank, second flushing of the day! Tick check! (By the end of the week, the war against ticks had been won, even when working outside pulling the well. etc. there were no ticks found. Tick checks are no longer necessary, but that doesn't mean they are going to stop. ;-) )

Good night!