by Jeannie Newell, Crested Butte, CO

With my 20/20 hindsight, I have seen a few things I would do differently for ‘off-grid’ living if I had to do it all over again.  I would definitely consider buying a second solar panel ($150 a piece) so I could plug in the fridge - we have a cooler / fridge that can be plugged in or not.  It would be easier than carting frozen water in milk jugs back and forth to the camper every other day.  This worked well in May, but July proved to be much more of a pain

Also, I would have known that our handmade tarp based awning would be no match for the Colorado winds, and would have bought something more durable, because moving our wooden chairs and dog beds in and out of the camper during the daily rains is also a pain.  I might find a little something extra for storing things - the truck occasionally gets filled with crap that we don’t have room for in the camper, and so is annoyingly full when we are driving ourselves / our dogs / our recycling around.  Bigger waste water tank — we use a pretty small one, and dish water fills up the tank so fast, emptying it is a weekly job.  Bi-weekly would be nicer.  Its funny experiencing all of the reasons people sought to live more comfortably and conveniently in the first place.  Let’s see, I would buy  travel size bottles of shampoo & other toiletries, because I need to keep them in my backpack at all times and they can be re-filled by the bigger bottles as needed.  They can be kept for future travels, too!
I would have a back up toothbrush and deodorant.

Just some random thoughts about this so-far adventure that I hope will continue through September.

The summer is coming to an end here in Crested Butte. ‘The monsoons’ roll in this time of year, cooling things off.  The camper and truck have been getting nice ‘n dirty from muddy dog paws and just from mud in general!  I now have cows on my street.  Apparently ‘the cows come home’ - seriously - around this time of year.  They drive them here in trucks and drop them off!  sometimes we drive too fast around a bend in the road and get startled by a big mama cow standing in the middle of the road, hanging out.  I am bummed that I still ride my bike less, but at least I carpool with Michael, and I vow to live somewhere (even if it’s here, just in town) where I can bike everywhere.  I would still bike with toiletries and stuff, I think, just because.

Right now I really need some rest.  I’ve been working sooo much lately.  My sister and her friend, Patti, were up from Boulder this weekend and I was busy working a lot of that time.  Also, our little dog Django has been very sick this past week, and we are waiting to hear what the vet thinks about his condition.  Please send prayers and thoughts if you can…

Love and peace,

Jeannie

(Due to living off-grid, Jeannie is posting on Monday this week - enjoy! Tao)

by Jeannie Newell, Crested Butte, CO

This is what I know this week:

Riding your bike everyday can make you feel great!  I have recently joined the ranks of the carless, and it definitely has its challenges, but is absolutely not without rewards. Living outside of Crested Butte, I ride my bike 6 miles into town most days.  I do share a car with a friend, so three days a week I have transportation.  The days that I ride in, I feel so good!  My mood is better, my outlook is better and life is grand. The first time I rode my bike home at dusk, I was leery of bear and mountain lions and all the scary things people told me I might run into.  The second time I rode my bike home late, I felt the most amazing connection to the forest where I live.  Always a chicken, sissy, afraid of everything person, I felt safer than ever.

Changing the subject briefly - I’ve met some people here who don’t work.  They are an attractive, fun, well-spoken couple who don’t have jobs (that’s right - they don’t have jobs.)  They sold their home and their cars and their ’stuff’ after 10 years of working for Intel and being professionals. Fed up with office life, they invested their money and now live on less than $20,000/yr.  They volunteer and do all sorts of creative things to make ends meet. They’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and have biked all over the country. In a couple of weeks they are biking to a bluegrass festival that’s at least a 5 hour car ride from here. Last year they spent some time biking around France. I personally crave the structure that a job provides, but they are finding creative ways to have the life they want.

A friend of mine told me she recently read an article in a literary journal that specifically discussed Crested Butte and the reasons that people here report higher levels of happiness than many Americans do. It’s a hard town to make money in, and is expensive to live here. Lots of people work 3-4 jobs to make ends meet. It’s freezing in the winter - one of the coldest places in the lower 48.  So why so happy? The trade-off is, there is a connection to the community here.  We know each others names, we chat in the grocery store and other spots around town.  We see people we know at every gathering. People know each other and support each other. People smile. Many people create work trade opportunities for themselves and find ways to volunteer, work and be creative about living cheaply. Also, people here have a much greater connection to nature. Most camp, ski, hike, walk, kayak, and get all kinds of exercise. People are riding their bikes. I’ve been outdoors so much more since I got here. I’ve lost over 5 pounds and I’m happier and friendlier. I’m camping for the summer and I’m far from alone. Lots of locals camp out for the summer just because they like it.

Some people say that getting lots of exercise balances your Chi.  Some say it releases endorphins.  The experts say we should get in an hour every day…that it’s more effective than antidepressants and it lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and all those other benefits we know we can glean from getting outdoors and playing hard.

What I’m taking from this is that whatever happens in my life, I always want to ride my bike and talk to strangers.  And find ways to live on my terms, because other people are doing it and I know it can be done.  I’m living in a town of role models, and camping in the woods nearby…