22 Comments
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Claudia Kollschen's avatar

Sending lots of sunshine your way, Sophie! ☀️

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Daniel Appleton's avatar

" I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain - comin' down on a sunny day ? " - Credence Clearwater Revival. Just popped into my head when I read this. 🌦️🌧️🌈

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Love it, thanks Daniel!

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Michela Griffith's avatar

You’ve turned the practicalities of daily life into something rather poetic. And I love the idea of Croky revelling in his long showers. Thank you Sophie.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

thanks Michela, he loves his showers 😁

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Heather Briann's avatar

Sophie: I love your side note about the electricity jargon. As I was reading that paragraph, I was thinking: “wow! She knows all of this — I don’t think I could ever maintain info like this.” And then, you shared the side note. Ha! I am right there with you.

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I am back in the PNW, where I lived for 11 years and your account of all the rains brings fond, cozy and challenging memories of living in such a climate. I hear you sister! All the rain 🌧️ a gift and a challenge when living off-grid.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Everytime we have electricity conversations I have to tell him "I don't understand what any of it means" 😅

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Heather Briann's avatar

That would be me too! In one ear out the other. Yet, trying to listen and follow and then .. “nope” just nope!

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Julie and Lurko in Mexico's avatar

It's so funny how we're experiencing the same thing, but opposite: here in Mexico, the rain has just started, but it's summer not winter. Our off-grid setup has no laundry facilities, just a clothes line, a mop bucket with a wringer, and a plunger. (I do take sheets and towels to the laundromat in town; we're not savages after all.) We save all that solar energy for air-conditioning, which uses an embarrassing amount (1080 watts per hour) and must be rationed during the cloudy days. At night we run it on a timer, in search of the perfect balance between sleeping cool and not setting off the low battery alarm.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

I'm glad we don't need aircon! But I can imagine if you're in Mexico you couldn't do without!

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Mario Da Silva's avatar

I do love reading your stories about seasonal changes Sophie. In each one of them can teach us so many lessons about life. The impermanence of things, to accept things as they are and being grateful for what you have are some of the ones I can think of right now

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Thanks so much Mario, glad it resonated with you 😊

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Love your seasonal reflections Sophie. The seasons have so much to teach us. I hope you're getting some of the beautiful winter sun this week as we head towards Matariki and the shortest day ✨️

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Sophie S.'s avatar

We had some sun yesterday and Matariki weekend is looking to be dry and sunny! Looking forward to getting over the hump day of the year 😁

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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Mānawatia a Matariki 😊

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

I saw a birdie :)

Croky!

He's living his best life with unlimited shower time.

I'm guilty of rushing through the uncomfortable parts, Sophie.

Thank you for sharing both the struggles and the beauty of living so intentionally.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

I think we're all guilty at times of rushing through the uncomfortable parts! Makes us human.

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

You are right

Happy weekend Sophie :)

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Miha's avatar

Thank you for sharing the not-so-glamorous part of your life, it keeps things real. Plus it's hard to imagine what it actually feels like to live off the grid when one doesn't have that experience, and you're describing it so vividly. And thank you for the reminder, that there is beauty and power in finding contentment in the right now.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Thanks Miha, that's my aim, to give a real view of what it's like living this way 😊

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Louise Tilbrook ✨'s avatar

This is so fascinating to read, thank you. I loved finding out more about your setup and really admire your commitment.

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Thanks Louise, glad you liked it 😊

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