- 2 months ago
Hector Vladimir 2023, 2025
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00Simplify your life. Living off the grid is largely about simplifying your life or shedding the unimportant. You are to decide what is important to you. To me, the unimportant are property, habits, and energies that you are not immediately employing for the well-being of yourself and loved ones.
00:18So let's define these. Property can be material and immaterial. Material property are the things you own and are stored somewhere. They take space, be light or heavy. Immaterial property can be in digital form stored in a hard drive like documents or photographs.
00:36Habits are actions that take time from your day. They may be routine, random, or seldomly done. For example, smoking, exercising, and going to a place of worship are habits.
00:47Energies are available means to energize something. Money is a type of symbolic energy. In money, we must agree that it has the power to generate voluntary labor and be accepted in exchange for a finished product, like a chair.
01:00Energy is also what we accept as the conventional types, electrical, pressure, chemical, mechanical, etc. For example, we may store electrical energy in batteries or chemical energy in tanks to have them ready at a point of dispensing, like an electrical socket or a spigot.
01:19Simplifying your life entails discarding those things, habits, and energies that are not being actively used for good.
01:25It is up to you to define what actively using means so you can better determine what things in your life qualify as unimportant.
01:33To me, unimportant things are those that are collecting dust in a closet, sitting in paid storage, under a pile of other things, forgotten and out of sight, out of easy reach, with no practical or emotional use, etc.
01:46There are many other qualifiers for unimportant to list here, but you should get the point.
01:52Unimportant habits may be, time-wasting habits, harmful or unhealthy habits, habits that are depriving others of your attention, or habits depriving you of needs and wants, etc.
02:04By wants I mean the things you don't need to live, but they are legitimate and reasonable goals that allow for greater happiness.
02:10Shedding the habit of using excessive energy is a big part of living off the grid.
02:15You should share excess energy away from you if you cannot use it efficiently and productively.
02:21That excess energy should be offered so that others may use it, or it should not be produced in the first place.
02:27For example, if you plan to grow food, only produce that which you can consume or share.
02:32Any excess may cause waste.
02:34Also, if a wealthy individual lives on 10 acres of land, while at the same time there is a severe homelessness crisis in that community, that individual has stored excess energy in the form of space.
02:46Unless the land is being actively used for living, food production, or other, it is being wasted.
02:52In cases of land use, many others may benefit greatly if landowners were to parcel and donate most of their land, for example to homeless individuals willing to move in.
03:01Likewise, having too much electrical charge stored in your solar battery is an example of a waste or overshoot.
03:08Overshoot indicates that you went well over your needs, in this case, on electrical production and storage.
03:15Again, in this case, you should direct some of the resources spent on the system elsewhere as needed.
03:22Simply put, simplifying is attempting to do just enough good, with just enough resources.
03:26I understand this is an idea, a goal, a concept that may never be perfectly achieved.
03:33But, it is worth trying, and to constantly attempt to find that balance.
03:37And, as long as you are in the ballpark, you should be proud and satisfied with your efforts.
03:43Some of us may be more demanding of ourselves and push efficiency closer to optimal.
03:47But, these limits and goals aligns to be drawn on an individual basis.
03:51I believe that doing more with less promotes personal peace, because it brings more organization to your mind.
03:58You can declutter to the point that mind clarity can enable deeper, accurate, and sound decisions, which will surely yield more productive and advantageous results.
04:07Some may call this, consistent good decision making or wisdom.
04:11This may bring peace through your continued just and reasonable judgments.
04:15As a result of your reliable and consistent positive outcomes, your peers may be attracted to your methods and ask for your help.
04:23Just remember to keep yourself modest and efficient, and resist any influx of excess energy in the form of personal power.
04:30Again, today's society is set up to give excess power to those that make sound decisions.
04:35And, that excess begins to contradict the off-grid, sustainable lifestyle.
04:40How does living off-grid promote world peace?
04:43The other type of peace in the context of living off-the-grid is world peace.
04:47World peace is the broad term I use for peace external to your person.
04:51It begins with peace with the people in your immediate space or room.
04:55Peace is the absence of violence, forced control, abuse, or coercion.
05:00Peace is the allowance of life, health, and self-determination for others that live around you, and far from you.
05:06The logic is simple. Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you.
05:11So, world peace is the extension of this concept to all other persons, and animals.
05:17The right to exist, live, and carry a healthy, dignified, and self-ruled life should apply to you and others in the same manner.
05:25If these were respected, in all instances, I believe war and conflict would not exist.
05:30The living off-grid, efficient and just lifestyle, instigates us to live in peace if only so that we too can live in peace and carry our autonomy.
05:39You may ask, what is the ultimate source of peace?
05:42Who or what brings it about?
05:44And who or what enforces it?
05:46I believe that historical, scientific, religious, and moral teachings teach us the importance of an orderly and peaceful community.
05:53And, the drive to self-preservation should be the main driver to be peaceful with others.
05:58So, I believe we must be the source and enforcement of peace.
06:02If we require it, and agree to uphold it no matter the situation, then it will remain the norm in most instances.
06:08I understand nature is full of conflict and seeming chaos, but although other animals generally engage in killing and conflict because of necessity, I believe historically, human violence and conflicts have never occurred out of necessity.
06:23Historically, we have used aggression as the ultimate enforcer, and, I believe that arrogance, ignorance, greed, territorialism, racism, and more, best describe the reasonings of our past and present conflicts.
06:35I believe, nationalism, religious views, and racism, especially, have fueled our most recent and deadly conflicts.
06:44For example, World War II was largely fought over territory, resources, and fossil fuels.
06:50But, I believe, nationalism, racism, and religion were the real driving force.
06:55For example, Germany and Japan looked to expand into territories and resources controlled by other expansionist powers.
07:02This triggered the violent response of those other powers, which were engaging in colonialism long before them.
07:09I believe the ongoing massacre in Gaza has been fueled by racism and religion.
07:14Other past violent conflicts in Indochina, the Middle East, Africa, and much of the political crisis in Central and South America have been largely caused over fossil fuel resources or political views.
07:25Although racism and political and religious differences are problems we must address outside of the context of the off-grid lifestyle, living off-the-grid allows you to contribute to end the apparent need for wars over resources.
07:39Oppose conflict over fossil fuel resources.
07:42The living off-the-grid lifestyle I advocate here largely calls for
07:461. Transitioning to an extremely reduced use of energy and resources first, then 2. Transition into using alternative and renewable sources of energy.
07:56These two core steps reduce the demand on fossil fuel energy and resources significantly.
08:01Yes, I understand that even the leading alternative energy technologies require the use of some fossil fuels for their manufacture and transportation.
08:09But, even when accounting for these, if this strategy would succeed, the demand on fossil fuels would be only a fraction of what it is today.
08:17A growing body of studies have demonstrated this point, that the widespread manufacture and use of alternative energy technologies would, in fact, dramatically lower demand for fossil fuels.
08:28Accepting this, and lowering the worldwide demand for fossil fuels, conflicts over fossil fuel sources and extraction would, in theory, also significantly lower.
08:38I say in theory, because this argument is yet to be fully tested.
08:43I believe we are now in the rapid transition to alternative energy, and it remains to be seen if wars over oil turn into wars over lithium, cobalt, or manganese.
08:52I wholly believe it would be more peaceful under a renewable energy paradigm, but as ignorance and other abhorrent behaviors may increase with other factors, as many trends seem to show, that future is anyone's guess.
09:04There is little we can predict about the future nature of conflicts, gauging by recent developments around the world.
09:10And, there is a lot to be wished for, about the future human behavior over minerals and the remaining dwindling fossil fuel resources.
09:17Hopefully, there will be less than the current amount and severity of our conflicts, soon.
09:22And, hopefully, our approach to green energy resources is more mature than the ticket by any means necessary approach of our past.
09:29But, seemingly, we are already chaffing at the edges, noticeable on the recent Sino-American Taiwanese tensions which surrounded the high-tech chip industry.
09:37And, it can be seen that major world powers are swooping in into areas to secure resources for alternative energy technologies fast.
09:46Whether within the national territories or abroad, nations are acquiring and leasing lands for mining at a fast rate.
09:53With major industries moving clearly into electrification, like the automotive industry and utility energy.
09:59In tandem, countries and major corporations are moving fast to, one, secure sources of minerals for the many components of alternative energies.
10:07And, two, secure the technological and supply edge to secure an advantageous position in those industries.
10:14For example, solar panels require aluminum, silver, silica, arsenic, gallium, germalium, cobalt, and indium, among others.
10:24Wind turbines require aluminum and rare earth elements for powerful magnets.
10:28And, batteries, which use cobalt, graphite, lithium, and manganese.
10:33The demand for these, and other minerals and metals, has and will continue to increase as we move forward with these leading alternative energy technologies in several industries.
10:43As I estimate, from my humble individual viewpoint, we are moving so fast into these alternative energies.
10:49Because we may be trying to replace our current energy demand with green energy sources and technology.
10:55As said, I believe this is the wrong approach.
10:58If we don't simplify our energy consumption, lower it, then we may just replace our conflicts over fossil fuels with our conflicts over green resources.
11:06The demand must lower, to make the whole system sustainable, our resolve to remain in peace, in our neighborhood and in the world, should not be based on how much resources we think we need.
11:17Of course, peace should be accepted as a stand-alone requirement and a non-negotiable state, and, as a human right, which naturally follows from the needs of our other human rights.
11:27Life, expression, happiness, self-determination, choice, etc.
11:33Having stated this, our lesson dependence on all types of resources, together with our higher level of environmental and human consciousness, we should finally renounce our most violent and destructive tendencies.
11:44These abhorrent tendencies to conquer, expand, and control by force will perhaps soon be replaced by increased voluntary trade and amicable agreements, which are enforced not by force but by class action, meaning, by non-violent consequences decided upon by the collection of other players or nations.
12:02How does living off-grid promote freedom?
12:05Freedom has many definitions.
12:07In the living off-grid context, freedom can be described as being free from high costs, debt, forcible lifestyles, unreasonable taxation, etc.
12:16There are other, more traditional, definitions of freedom that are essential to being able to live off the grid, and that are also benefits of such lifestyle.
12:24In other words, some freedoms are required so that you can live off-grid, while other freedoms are the result of this lifestyle.
12:31These required freedoms must be extended to you, by your neighbor, community, government, etc. as human and civil rights.
12:40In turn, you must extend these required freedoms to your neighbors as well, and even your animals.
12:45Here, I will discuss the required freedoms of choice, expression, and the pursuit of happiness.
12:51Then, I will delve into the benefits of living off-the-grid, financial, time, mobility freedom, and freedom from employment.
12:59Freedom of Choice
13:00You must have, keep, and demand freedom to choose, if you are free and live in a truly free society.
13:07Choose how to do basic things like dress, behave, speak, etc.
13:11No one should demand of you how to behave, as long as it is not harmful to others.
13:16Furthermore, you should not be forced to make choices.
13:19Free people should be able not to choose from certain choices.
13:22If you are required to make a choice, you are not truly free.
13:25For example, choose to identify a certain way, religious or not, Catholic or Protestant, Democrat or Republican.
13:33If you accept to make a choice, then two or more viable and distinct choices should be provided to you.
13:39Oftentimes, in our society, we are coerced into non-choices, or a choice between a cherry-picked option,
13:45and another that will surely ruin you, making your predicament disadvantageous in multiple ways.
13:51For example, the choice between getting a set of vaccines and not being able to attend public school.
13:57I am not an anti-vaccine person, but a choice should give you viable options.
14:02To go back to your freedom to choose, the fact that you are required to make choices suggests a control-controller situation.
14:08That goes against freedom of choice, does it not?
14:11In fact, in a totally free environment, you select the choices to make the selection from.
14:16But, this is clearly not the world most of us live in.
14:19For example, when selecting housing, most working adults have no choice but to pay for it.
14:25Either pay, or choose homelessness.
14:27Other choices are just not viable, like temporary shelters, or camping out indefinitely.
14:32These are not viable choices because not many like the prospect of being homeless and suffer the many life-threatening consequences of it.
14:40Also, you are not choosing the candidates that run for office and practice, do you?
14:45Here in the U.S., political candidates often seem to be rolled out by the rich and powerful for us to vote for.
14:51Other non-choices, and our grid-tied lives, include buying food, working for an income, choosing where to live, choosing what to do for a living.
15:00These, and more, are often choices given to us with limited options, or even a single option.
15:06For example, if medical school is extraordinarily expensive in your state or nation,
15:11going to medical school is not a choice for the 99% of prospect students, with little to no income.
15:17Effectively, this is not a real choice for the poor, is it?
15:20Since it is practically and expectedly extremely unlikely to occur.
15:24Still many yell the opportunity and choice is there for everyone.
15:28Living off the grid grounds you to this reality, and its concepts encourage you to fight for your freedom of choice,
15:34and fight against the imposing of non-choices.
15:37For example, in most instances you have the choice to disconnect from the grid,
15:41but the alternative may be so dire and undesired that most of us don't even consider it.
15:46For example, if you live in a rented apartment and with a family,
15:50disconnecting from the grid may be forbidden by contract, or even local ordinances,
15:55or if you have children, in some locales.
15:58In such a case, you're not given a viable choice.
16:01Although, some valiantly determined individuals may still make the choice to disconnect,
16:05and fight an uphill battle in the courts and win,
16:08most people won't take such risk because the way the system is set up.
16:12This is another big reason for writing this book,
16:15to help you develop the methods that would make disconnection a viable choice.
16:18For example, I recommend that before plans for disconnection from the grid take place,
16:23you must ensure that the system will not fight your decision with tooth and nail at every step of your journey.
16:29In other words, make sure you have a reasonable shot at succeeding in your disconnection plans,
16:34under the ordinances and social environment you live in.
16:37If it is exceedingly difficult to make such a decision,
16:39then it may be best to vote with your feet and move to a more friendly environment,
16:43or simply remain connected and not use those services.
16:47Consider that, if moving is a better option,
16:49you may not have to move too far and change your entire life.
16:53Just further from the areas of high control or perhaps just another apartment or home
16:57with less stipulations on their contract or covenant.
17:00Again, you may make strategic and creative choices that yield the same or similar results.
17:05Like, if you are not allowed to disconnect from electric service,
17:08just, keep the connection and turn off your main breaker.
17:12This should yield similar results, perhaps with a small connection monthly fee.
17:17Remember, as a human right you have the fundamental freedom of choice,
17:20and you cannot be made to pay for anything.
17:23Unless the authority coercing you to pay is willing to pay for you,
17:26you cannot be forced to purchase any service, especially from any one specific provider.
17:31This is surely unconstitutional in the U.S.,
17:34and to my knowledge, is yet to be tested in the high courts.
17:37In your plans on how to live off the grid,
17:40you will have to find additional choices for the services provided by the grid,
17:44oftentimes on your own.
17:45Because the grid wants you to remain in your place,
17:48other choices may be suppressed or made difficult to find.
17:51As we've discussed, there are several choices for water,
17:54electrical, and communication services.
17:57As examples, you may catch, pump, or channel water to your filtering system,
18:01you may generate electricity from the sun or wind,
18:04and you may use radio and computer equipment to communicate freely.
18:09These are just some of the many other choices for grid services.
18:12But, the attempts by your government to control all things and people
18:15into a mold they've created, hide, and make alternative choices are often undesirable.
18:21But, as an off-gridder, you must break through the artificial barriers
18:24placed by your governments and the middle people,
18:27and valiantly behold the possibilities.
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