Hello from New Mexico

**Kiltman** · 14th August 07, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Thebes

Hello, since I posted a response on another thread tonight, this feels like the right time to delurk. I normally don't join message forums, newsgroups, mailing lists, etc any more having seen far too many flame wars. But, the signal to noise ratio here is much better than most forums I've visited!

Welcome from Eastern Washington State. Yes, I agree, the signal noise ratio is much better here—one of the main reasons I stay on. Thanks moderators.

**Macman** · 14th August 07, 09:15 AM

Welcome to XMTS from Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada. Glad to have you aboard!

**ardchoille** · 14th August 07, 09:16 AM

from Seattle, WA.

And, as I have noticed, the folks who wear kilts are more mature than the majority of the planet, which is why these boards are so awesome

**JamesA** · 14th August 07, 09:17 AM

from Wyoming!

James

**Riverkilt** · 14th August 07, 09:31 AM

Weird, tried to add this to the above post and it just went to electronic limbo. Maybe can't add pics in an edit.

Anyway, went to your blog and the kilted men's room sign brought back a memory of my dilemna at the restrooms at the Hubbel Trading Post in Ganado on the Navajo Nation last year.

Ron

**DTrain** · 14th August 07, 09:50 AM

Welcome from Mississippi!

**starbkjrus** · 14th August 07, 10:05 AM

from Northern Virginia!

**Thebes** · 14th August 07, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by sorcererdale

I am interested in how you live, no electricity, etc. What kind of set up do you have? Welcome aboard.

DALE.

Well, since a couple of people have asked...

We have a small photovoltaic solar system. Three panels are hooked to a battery bank, and there is an inverter for mains type A/C current. Most of our lights are 12v. We make enough electricity that we have not needed the (broken) generator since January.

We are living in an old motorhome (caravan) and we haul our water and propane from town. We use a simple and effective composting privy and have presure water for limited showers and the like, though in the winter we couldn't keep the pipes thawed.

We are building a cabin for a small (neo-pagan) church we founded a number of years ago, and are building largely with recycled materials. The cabin roof will collect rain water to be stored in a cistern and well filtered. It will be heated by wood and passive solar.

As another mentioned, we are "living the dream", imho the only way to live. But it can be a hard life at times. Last night as I posted I had on the only light on for 4 miles and the stars shown as brightly as the far distant lights of town. There is very little out where we are aside from a few dozen other off-grid households. No mail, no stores for 15 miles, bad roads (make good neighborhoods), no services, virtually no government, and no utilities though we do have wireless internet and mobiles which is how we work. There are a number of neighborhoods like this in northern New Mexico, where people live off-grid and build their own things... probably a total of several hundred households.