Escapees November-December 2022

from the bookshelf

Off Grid RV Living: How to Live off the Grid Full Time on Your Own Terms—Solar Power, Water Collection, Gardening, Internet, Earning Money & Much More JACK LIVINGSTON, VALLEY OF JOY PUBLISHING PRESS 2020, ISBN: 979-8575701545 PAPERBACK: $12.75, KINDLE: $3.77 T his is not so much a book about traveling full time in an RV, but rather more about how to live in your RV while you boondock, homestead or look for a great place to settle for a while. raveling in an RV usually doesn’t include gardening and farming. Settling in the same place allows some of these things to happen. But staying in the same place requires some serious planning and this book covers those necessary plans in depth. Books for RVers By MARCELLA GAUTHIER #12371

factor in. Power options, communications, safety and security, water sources and the usability of the nearby land are just some of the issues. A lot to consider! There is a small section on making a living and working online. These topics have been discussed in many comprehensive books, and Jack does not have the space or personal experience to cover this in detail in this book. A very important choice is the buying of a suitable RV rig. This is not simply a vehicle that you drive from point to-point, but must be one that can help you be totally self-suf fi cient; this is essential if you plan to live free of any dependency on others for daily living. This is not a large book, but it is a great start for determining what you want and how to get it. Jack’s guidance about the pros and cons of living off-grid are invaluable. It may be that you don’t like living completely separated from others, and would rather live in commu nities of like-minded travelers.

Jack Livingston starts by asking you important questions to deter mine if off-the-grid living is for you. It is not the same thing as being a nomad who can stop along the journey and get groceries, medical care or maybe a much-needed hot shower in a health club. So, although living off the grid might sound attrac tive, you should carefully consider whether it is your cup of tea and what you must do to make it possible. cover everything each of the topics contains, he starts you in the direc tion of where to do your research. Since Jack’s mantra seems to be “plan, plan, plan,” he gives you a start. For example, one of his topics is with the legal issues of living This book has an incredibly detailed table of contents and although Jack cannot possibly

This is a beginning for thinking and deciding what you want and how you want to live. It may be that traveling around the country in your RV has lost some of its “Jack’s guidance about the pros and cons of living off-grid are invaluable.”

charm. Maybe settling down on a dedicated piece of land somewhere and growing a garden and enjoying the peace and quiet of watching the sun rise and set over your beautiful fl ower garden while your beloved pets frolic in the clean air is more to your liking. Who knows? It never stops being important to consider other ways to live a happy and ful fi lling life. If you are thinking about making changes, here’s the book to help you get started.

off-grid. He lists several states where some of the legal issues have been addressed. Of course, setting up your homestead or living in an off-the-grid location implies that there are a great number of considerations to

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ESCAPEES Magazine November/December 2022