I just moved to live alone (a couple of months ago) in a small village in northern Patagonia. I live off grid in a cabin, with no electricity and water from a spring. I charge my phone and computer and my external batteries with a portable solar panel and sometimes walk a couple of kilometers to charge them with electricity from my neighbors (on rainy days with no sun), I wash my clothes by hand, my shower is outside the house, my kitchen works with firewood and my WC is outside (a few steps from the house).
Since I arrived a few months ago, much of my time and energy has been invested in improving the house (built for summer) and preparing for winter (with many snow days and freezing temperatures). It is true that living alone is not easy, you have to learn to use your time well, use the resources you have wisely, be strong and above all, trust yourself!
Here people always ask me "are you alone? Do you do everything by yourself? aren't you afraid of living here alone? And I answer yes, I am alone, I do everything by myself and no, I am not afraid, I am very happy! :) ...and I am!
At the beginning the neighbors looked at me with distrust and disbelief (a girl from the city comes to live alone in the mountains, it will only last a few weeks, for sure) but a few months later they realized that I am a strong woman and that yes, I can live alone! They have been integrating me into the community and have shared their experiences and knowledge with me (just a few days ago I received a 25kilos bag of potatoes, as *payment for help them with the harvest).
On the house I have also tried wool as an insulator, I will do some tests with earth and straw in some walls (I am a builder and I specialize in building with natural materials). There is always a natural material around us to work with! ;)
I think the hardest thing about living "alone" is facing those inner fears. The voice in our head that tells us hat we can't do it. To come face to face with our fears, with our insecurities...
But it's also okay to accept when we need help!
Luckily we live in times of internet and we have these support networks, I don't have electricity but I have excellent internet and phone signal that allows me to call my friends and families whenever my strength is failing or just when I want to share my love with them.
Thank you Purity for your words, truly inspiring! And thank you all for sharing your experiences!
Hugs from the South of the World
Claudia
