Wonderful video, really enjoyed it ☺️. Thank you for sharing your little break away. Love the paintings too 🥰 x

Joanne, I’m not sure what things are like on your side of the pond, but here in the US, there are what some call communes, others call them intentional communities. They vary in philosophy, lifestyle, living arrangements, etcetera. I know of some here that are off grid. If you can dream it, you can eventually do it, in a shared setting as I’ve just described, or even on your own, with just you and your son. I know of a woman in Wales, I believe, who lives in a little hut she’s built, by a little stream, where she tends the land around her and has survived for many years. I’ve never lived quite so rural, nor do I wish to at this stage of my life, but I know people who have. While there are a great many challenges despite the conveniences to living in the “madness in the world”, an off-grid experience brings its own unique things to be concerned about. However and wherever you live, always follow your heart. If you really wish to shift away from how things now are, yet find yourself somehow unable to do so (an example here is that I love to hike, however my hips and legs no longer permit it), perhaps there are little things you can do to bring what you desire more into your daily focus. If off-grid is your dream, perhaps you can begin today to take yourself there, by replacing your electric appliances such as a food mill with hand-powered tools. Adding wardrobe items that are meant to be worn for years, rather than seasons (or even a single event), is another way to begin adapting your current lifestyle into how you truly wish to live. As you move forward in your process, remember to take notes & photos, at the least. You may find that filming or doing other art forms along the way will not only serve you as a record of where you’ve been, but that creative journey may itself inspire new ideas that can be useful as you manifest your dreams in this reality. What you end up with may indeed be quite different from what you expect. Imagine what a great adventure you’re in for! If you should ever suffer from memory loss, as I do, you might also find that these visual references you create as your life changes, will enable you to remember more about the steps that got you from there (however far back you wish to look, or however deeply you wish to dig), to here now, and onwards to where you’re heading. My husband and I had a similar dream - we have three sons - and while we might not have chosen an completely off-grid lifestyle, we did once have a 40-acre parcel, near North Pole, Alaska, that was 1/4 mile from the end of the road (and therefore, the end of the electricity), so we were working our way that direction, like it or not. That land was virgin territory when we purchased it. We never did get to live out there - two of our sons developed disabilities in their adolescence and to better take care of them, and get better medical care for them, we sold that dream and bought a new one in Nevada (‘normal’ home in a ‘normal’ neighborhood). Despite never having lived out our initial dream as we had planned, the work that my husband and sons did on that acreage helped to boost the value. The sale of that property helped us help our sons, and ourselves, to live where we now do. The moral of my story is this: Pursue your passions. When things go sideways along the way - and they always seem to find a way to do so - be prepared to pivot. Look at whatever situation you’re in, and as the singer, Fia, sings: “Ask the magic question: How can it get any better than this?” Don’t forget to listen for the answers. Your inner voice knows what your next steps should be, even when you think you haven’t a clue. Something in your comment triggered a mountain of memories for me, as I find myself nearly writing a book simply to encourage you on your way. I feel incredibly grateful that I listened to my own inner voice, years ago, which told me to start photographing what my family was up to. I did. I’ve got so many photos of our process. Nowadays, my legs no longer carry my far, but my photos and stories can help me take steps without walking, I believe. Perhaps the time has come for my own next pivot. Maybe there are a few people on the planet who could use a few extra encouraging words, and can see more possibilities by seeing how life is through my eyes. Thank you for inspiring my morning flow today, Joanne. I know that your comment was written 8 months ago, but so what? The tech tools we now have transcend time, space, and place, don’t they? I wish you all the best!

Heerlijk he?

MaryAnn Casale, yes, and don't you just feel like you are right there with them on the trip!! So cool!!

Thank you this makes me so happy to hear xx