If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my spouse, TS, is that writing is a skill. If I do not practice writing, I will lose that ability. I like blogging because I treat it as a way of self-regulation. It’s a stream of consciousness. If I can articulate what I’m thinking and feeling and noticing, maybe I can promote constructive and helpful thoughts and feelings, and give nasty feelings and thoughts a nice swift kick in the gonads!
Blogging reminds me that I’m a special snowflake, like every other damn snowflake on Earth. Perhaps someone will learn from my mistakes laugh like hell and then make the exact same mistake again.
I also want to document the build that we are doing up here near Gillies Lake. I remember reading a book called Little House Off The Grid and it was an inspiring read (Cam and Michelle Mather, Ontario, Canada, 2011). They used the then-current technology so the young couple could live off grid and still enjoy the benefits of telecommunication and civilisation. Mrs. & Mr. Mather provided me evidence that one can live comfortably off-grid — provided I had the right mindset. I’ve tried my best to identify the myths and fallacies that I had coming into this project. And honestly, there were plenty of assumptions I made on my part (cringe-worthy example: there would be no issues with getting financing, as TS & I were well-paid public servants with robust pensions, and we owned land [clear title]… wrong). The electrical system DE is installing is significantly more advanced than expected (~250 amperes safely enclosed within those white boxes [Tesla Powerwall, eat yer heart out]).
end of august 2024 construction updates
Thank you to the following companies showcased in these images: Design Electrical Design ([DE] Owen Sound). Peninsula Septic Service (the cleanest rental toilets I have ever experienced). Rydall Construction (driveway construction, site suggestion, construction waste bins [Lions Head]). Schneider Electric Canada (our system is managed by Nathan Vanderschot and his company, Design Electrical).
And yet more kudos to the following 3 entities that have been part of our journey: Evolve Building Group (Guelph, Ontario [for being THE developer for our home in the woods… I still remember what Chris Magwood mused about the company… yeah, they’re ‘corporate straw-bale’…yep & I wouldn’t have it any other way!]). The Endeavour Centre ([we took that 1-day workshop VERY seriously, read Chris’ Sustainable Building Workbook, and did that questionnaire… with it being shared with Evolve] Peterborough, Ontario).
BCB&B, neemtree, bdb, and blog 