Millions of people do it, no bid deal.

Living without a connection to the grid, and mainly the electric grid is a significant lifestyle change.

As a lifelong explorer and survival enthusiast, I’ve always hoped for the best but prepped for the worst.

In most Western countries, fundamental commodities such as electricity, running water, well-maintained roads, and a wide range of goods and services are conveniently accessible. However, life is quite different in other parts of the world.

• Travel with me

For instance, when my family and I relocated to Mozambique in 1996, basic provisions like sugar and cooking oil were exceptionally scarce. Similarly, when we moved to Ethiopia in 2004, dairy products and sugar were also in short supply.

Not only that, but during our time in Cape Town (South Africa), Maputo (Mozambique), Algiers (Algeria), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and (very briefly) Cairo (Egypt), water scarcity was a prevalent issue, particularly during the summer months.

In fact, we used to get up at 4 AM to fill up our water tanks and jugs.

Unfortunately, water shortages are still widely common, and some fierce battles for control over water have already begun.

• Water wars

Take the above-mentioned region of East/North Africa for instance. The Nile River is at the heart of an ongoing battle for water.

Indeed, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Burundi are all entangled in a high-stakes discussion that could reshape their destinies.

Long story short, Ethiopia’s audacious endeavor, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), an engineering marvel rising on the mighty Blue Nile has cause a lot of discussion and anger in that region, rightfully so.

Such an endeavor endangers both Egypt and Burundi, who fear the ripple effects of such a grand project.

• An electricity-free lifestyle

Now, in a perplexing paradox, frequent power outages were extremely common in Ethiopia, and I mean several-times-a-week common, even though Ethiopia possesses ample electricity to meet its population’s needs.

Surprisingly, this occurs because the local government chooses to export their energy to neighboring nations, leaving their own citizens in the dark.

I spent over four years (teenage years) in Ethiopia, over four years of persistent power cuts, so I learned a thing or two about adaptability and ingenious hacks to beat the system.

1. First of all, I hate artificial (street) lights. One of the things I miss the most about Africa is the tranquil stillness of the night. I always found the incessant intrusion of artificial lights aggressive. 
   With that being said, I love candles and oil lamps with all my heart. They embody a charm that captivates me entirely. Indeed, candles and oil lamps are a gentle alternative to artificial light, as they gracefully replace it without imposing their presence. Their warm glow is synonymous with coziness, while their soft illumination remains pleasing and comforting to the eyes. Perfection!
2. Many of us rely on electric utensils and stoves for cooking, not in Africa (not back then at least). 
   My family always opted for non-electric cooking methods like gas or an outdoor wood-burning stove. Dutch Ovens are also pretty awesome if you want to cook bread and pizzas. No power, no problem.
3. Food storage: This is a big one. “How did you survive without a fridge?”. First of all, we did have a fridge, it was just turned off most of the time. Since we never had an underground cellar storage (that would’ve saved us the hassle), we had to relearn about ancient cooling techniques, like pot-in-pot coolers (or clay pot coolers). 
   Here’s how they work: First, you’ll need two terra-cotta pots. Place one (the smaller one) inside the other, allowing for an approximate 3 cm (1.2 in) to 4 cm (1.6 in) gap between them. Fill the gap with sand, then saturate it with water.
   Finally, place your fruits and veggies inside the small pot and cover everything with a wet towel.
   As the water slowly evaporates from the cooler, heat is taken from the clay pots, keeping the temperature of the food cool inside. 
   But that’s not the only way to store food, you can also learn about preservation techniques like canning, pickling, and drying.
4. Heating and cooling: Africa isn’t as hot as they say in movies, it actually gets pretty chilly over there, depending on where you are.
   Fun fact: You can ski in Africa. In fact, there’s so much snow in Algeria, Morocco, and South Africa that they have their own ski resorts, with approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) of ski slopes. 
   Anyway, one of the most efficient techniques to regulate indoor temperatures is known as “passive solar design”. Passive solar homes use natural ventilation and insulation techniques to regulate the temperature indoors.
   However, in colder climates, wood-burning stoves and passive heating methods like thermal mass and efficient insulation are common. 
   In hotter climates, shading and natural ventilation were our go-to, with evaporative techniques coming in handy (with battery-powered fans).
5. Water supply: As stated above, we had tankers (or water tanks) in all of our homes. Our water tanks were always placed above the house, allowing for gravity to do the rest.
   However, in total transparency, we still relied on an electric current (and water pump) to get the water up there. We used it once to twice a week. 
   Other methods we used were conventional water wells, hand pumps, and rainwater collection systems. I used to LUHV elaborating and kidgineering rainwater collection systems around the house!
6. Communication: Well, most of what I’m telling you here went down between 96 and 2010, so iPhones were pretty much nonexistent (for the most part). 
   However, I did have an MP3, then the first iPod, on which I watched hundreds of movies and my favorite bootlegged series. I used to charge my electronics at school or on our drive home.
   We also relied on our landline a lot back then.
7. Speaking of entertainment, the reason I spent so much time kidgineering and playing outside was that I had no other choice. Video games were a big no-no till I was 15 or 16, so reading, playing board games, puzzles, biking, and pursuing outdoor hobbies was all I did.
   I also read the newspapers. No, this wasn’t the ‘70s ^^
8. Hygiene: Have you ever washed your clothes by hand? And I mean ALL your clothes, not just a pair of socks? Well, I have, and most people still do. It’s no big deal, it’s pretty fun actually.
9. Human-powered appliances: My grandma (who obviously didn’t live with us) had the best appliance ever made: A hand-cranked coffee grinder. 
   I loved that thing!
   I genuinely believe we need more of this stuff today. It makes life so much more fun. 
   On a personal level, I’ll always favor an old-school kettle or manual food mill & grinder over new, electric ones. Also, I never owned a microwave.

• Final Thoughts

Technology is convenient when used properly and I believe electricity is a blessing to humanity.

However, we ought to reduce our reliance on modern tech and learn how to live simply. As you can see, living without one of the most important inventions known to man, electricity, is doable, though it requires careful planning, resourcefulness, and adaptation to alternative methods. Assessing one’s specific needs and resources is paramount for such an endeavor, but it’s manageable and within everyone’s reach.

Self-reliance is the future.

Thanks for reading.

Peace.

Teekay.