26 Comments
Aug 28Liked by Sophie S.

You can’t un-domesticate all at once!

I’m imagining our ancestors and their horror and shock at watching the new Aliens movie. Nightmares for them for life.

On buying firewood. You have to weigh the pros and cons of doing the work to get it. We have a wood stove here in Canada, and our winter is probably longer and colder than yours. To gather the seven cords of wood I would need for winter is weeks of hard work. So we buy it.

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You're so right, it's a process and it can't be done all at once. I can't even imagine what a Canadian winter would be like, I'm sure I'd be buying wood too then 😅

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Aug 28Liked by Sophie S.

The work gets easier as you acquire the right tools.

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So are you working in an office during the day and living off grid by night? Wondering because you mentioned emails and things during the day. That would be wild a swing! I imagine it would make you look at your work differently. So interesting to read about all the little shifts happening as you recalibrate to a different, more natural way of life.

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Yep it's like living a double life really!

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This was a lovely read Sophie. I enjoyed the part you mention you have the chance to reconnect more with nature and follow the natural life cycles. We are indeed so overdomesticated and so disconnected from nature. I love to read about this lifestyle of yours. Yes, it is not perfect. Yes there is a lot to learn and unlearn but it must be so rewarding and fulfilling.

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It's definitely rewarding and fulfilling. So much to learn, but that's the fun part!

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I enjoyed reading this Sophie, especially your recalibration of pace. How good to have begun your transition during winter, and to have spring and summer ahead.

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Thank you! We already survived a summer there 😊 this was our first winter though.

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I want to live amongst the birds.

I hope to move in a couple of years. My husband and I are now trying to live this life in California. It's still too 'noisy.' Until then, I will live vicariously through you, Sophie.

Thank you for the beautiful writing.

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Where are you hoping to move to Neela?

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Looking at Thailand (my best friend lives there) or Costa Rica.

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Oh Costa Rica was one of the options that briefly crossed our minds as well!

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You know I will keep you posted 🤣

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Happy Weekend in advance Sophie 🙌

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Really interesting! I like what your neighbour said haha they seem to have unlocked the secret of life I feel. Do they approve now? Haha

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I think they do actually 😊

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Yay!!

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Really interesting, plenty of things to think about but interested to follow your journey.

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Your lifestyle sounds lovely and relaxing - especially with the fire going and a bit of wind outside. I'm also imaging a fully stocked fridge and fully usable pizza oven.

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A pizza oven is definitely on the wishlist!!

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Un-learning and re-wilding is a slow process… but so worth the while!

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Our egos give us a bunch of shitty emotions when we are unable to do what we want to do. But slow living is the cure for that. It humbles us and gives our ego a lesson to learn and rest a while, as I understood from your story.

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It really does, slow living and just connecting with nature is the solution

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Most of us in modern society are over-domesticated! It's my long-held belief that this is the source of so much of our societal troubles--anxiety, depression, disconnect, self-involvement, etc. Spending any amount of time in the natural world (or in a subsistence community) will help you down-regulate your nervous system, decrease stress, increase immunity, enhance physical and mental wellbeing, increase creativity, boost happiness, etc. To off-grid life!

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I cannot agree more 😊😊 Being out in nature really is the solution to a lot of our (or at least my) troubles

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