We don't need nearly as much as we think we do, at all.
In fact, all we need is sustenance and a roof over our heads, honestly.
My name is Emma Christensen.
I live in the beautiful state of Montana in the Northwestern part, in a tiny cabin in the woods.
My family has always kind of been into off-grid stuff.
It took about two years.
The opportunity just simply presented itself, and I had to say yes.
This cabin is 100% off the grid.
It is powered by solar panels.
It is heated by wood heat.
Ever since living out here, my eyes have been opened to how much I don't need, especially with limited space, because I just have four little cubbies over here that hold pretty much everything, winter clothes, summer clothes, all my clothes.
My solar setup was probably the biggest expense, and I think it came in, by the end of all of it, around $1,300.
It was the biggest expense, but it's a one-time expense.
And then you are simply free to never have to pay a utility bill, as far as power's concerned, in your life.
In the summer, I'm able to just get up, get ready for work, make a cup of tea if I want it, on my little burner that I have.
Whereas in winter, my daily routine is I have to get up extra early to start a fire, and then also be able to give myself time to get all the snow off.
So I have to give myself probably an extra two hours to accommodate those things in the winter.
And I would say that's the biggest difference in my daily routine in the summer versus the winter.
The least glamorous part, and not necessarily the least liked part, I would say is when I have to go take a shower I have to pump water into a bucket.
I have to pour that bucket into a pot, which can be boiled on either the wood stove.
I pour it back into the bucket and then I have to wheel that bucket over to the shower area, where I either scoop the water onto me, or I have this little battery-powered rechargeable shower head that can be dumped into the five gallon bucket, and I can just kinda shower off regularly.
I would say that's one of the least glamorous parts, but it's one of my most favorite because it's so calming and peaceful to take a shower out in the middle of the woods.
I am so much more able to enjoy nature and just go outside and listen to birds, and it's beautiful.
Like listening to birds over car horns is such an incredible thing that I didn't know I needed until I moved out here.
I was very unsure in the first couple months just because I was still getting used to being in an off-grid situation, but ever since living out here and having the hang of it, I love it.
I never want it to stop.