This Sustainable Life

Regular listeners know I started an experiment disconnecting from the electric grid. I began May 22. Then on July 22, I posted an episode that the solar panel or battery broke, or both. I didn't see how I could continue so said that after I finished recording, I'd declare victory, reconnect to the grid, cook lunch, and move on.Regular listeners and readers of my blog know that I posted about keeping going. What gives? Did I stop or not?I'd meant to record an episode explaining that I kept going without even solar power, though still using my "cheat" of allowing plugging my computer and phone at NYU. Recording my second episode with Michelle Nijhuis, I got to share that story, so I'm posting it here. She lived off the grid for fifteen years, so had plenty of relevant experience.Past posts on the off-the-grid-in-Manhattan experiment:586: My Kitty Hawk moment, on the way to a Moon Shot584: Freedom, continual improvement, fun, and curiosity: day three only solar in Manhattan593: How I disconnected from the electric grid in Manhattan for 2 weeks (and counting)609: Finishing My Off-the-Grid-in-Manhattan Experiment in Month 3

Where was Michelle Nijhuis all my life?She lived off the electric grid for fifteen years and I was about two months in, so we shared stories of the experiences. She did it much longer and her fiance had to assemble everything from scratch. I'm only two months in and can use off-the-shelf parts, but I'm in Manhattan, so can't set up a permanent system. Some similarities: connecting with nature, learning to respect power, living with less resulting in living more. Michelle shares her challenges of connecting with the human world when disconnected to a power grid, but I don't think you'll hear regret.I have to correct myself: I said kilowatt-hour when I meant watt-hour. My battery isn't 1,000 times bigger than I said.It's hard to put into words the benefits of living without electrical power at the touch of a button. I recommend turning off your power every now and then. I wish I had earlier.Michelle's home page, which connects to her book Beloved Beasts, other writings, connecting to her, and more

My proposal and rationale for the next amendment for the United States Constitution.It will sound crazy, impossible, and too hard at first, as it did with me. But the more you consider it, the more the objections will fade. It is the right tool for the right job. Nothing else is.I'll write more about it later. For now, just the audio.