Julian Kjellberg

Thank you for answering my lengthy list of questions, I really appreciate the help.

And I agree, visiting would probably deepen my understanding of the reality there a lot. I’d genuinely love to come visit someday.

I’ll definitely get in touch again when I’m able to do so — that’s a really generous offer.

Your reply honestly surprised me because Lugo/Galicia is almost exactly the area I had just started seriously looking into 😄

I hope you don’t mind me asking more questions, because it’s rare finding someone actually living this way in the exact kind of climate/region I’ve been researching.

I’m especially curious about the “real world” side of long term offgrid life there:

- What kind of solar/battery setup do you use?

- Roughly what did the system cost?

- How much battery storage do you have?

- Do you happen to know roughly how many kWh your system produces during different months of the year? Especially winter vs summer. I’m trying to get a realistic understanding of what daily life and electricity usage actually looks like there long term.

- During bad winter weather, how often do you realistically need the generator?

- What’s the longest period you’ve had with very poor solar production?

- Have you had major repairs or failures yet?

- Is there anything you wish you had designed differently for easier maintenance or future repairs?

- Did you renovate an existing house or build something yourself?

- What type of house works best in Galicia’s wet climate in your opinion?

- Do you have issues with mould or humidity indoors?

- Do you work remotely / have income online, or are you mostly self-sufficient now?

- How expensive does daily life realistically feel there?

- When you say you grow around 50% of your food, what are the main things you still buy regularly?

- Do your chickens/pig mostly live off your land, or do you still buy a noticeable amount of feed?

- How much land do you personally think is enough for a comfortable low-stress setup?

- How much water storage do you have, and how reliable has the well been over the years?

- How stable is internet access there?

- What ended up being much more expensive than expected?

- What has been the hardest part emotionally or practically about living there long term?

- And what turned out much easier than expected?

- What are the biggest beginner mistakes you see newcomers (if you’ve seen any others) make in Galicia?

Also, your comment about nettles made me smile because I’ve actually heard they’re incredibly useful for compost, mulch and nitrogen-rich fertilizer teas 😄

I’m trying to build a realistic picture of what daily life there actually looks like long term, not just the dream version of it.

Thank you, this was honestly one of the most grounded and useful replies I could have hoped for.

The August advice especially makes a lot of sense. I had already started realizing that spring visits can probably give a very misleading impression of water availability and general conditions.

Your point about legality also matches my instincts. I understand why some people gamble on “hidden” setups in forests, but long term I would much rather build something stable and legal than constantly worry about problems later.

The fire safety point is also something I completely understand. I think many people underestimate how serious Mediterranean fire conditions can become.

The Castelo Branco region actually sounds quite interesting to me. I’ll definitely spend more time researching Portugal alongside Spain.

Really appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed response.

Hello everyone,

I’m from Sweden and I’m researching long-term options for a future offgrid / low-overhead life somewhere in Europe.

Spain is currently one of the places I’m most interested in, mainly because of the stronger solar potential, longer growing season and better conditions for food production compared to Sweden. My main concern with Sweden is the lack of winter sunlight, which makes reliable offgrid electricity much harder unless you have a very rare property with usable year-round running water.

I’m still in the planning and research stage, so I’m trying to understand the reality before making any big decisions.

For people with experience in Spain or similar climates:

How difficult is it to get permits for simple rural/offgrid living, small structures, wells, rainwater systems, solar systems or renovation projects?

How serious are the drought and water issues in different regions?

Are there areas in Spain where water access is more reliable, but solar and growing conditions are still strong?

How do locals generally feel about foreigners, especially someone from Sweden, buying rural land and trying to live a quiet self-sufficient life?

Are there specific regions you would recommend or avoid?

And if Spain is not the best option, are there other European countries or regions you think are better for this kind of life?

I’m not looking for a fantasy escape. I’m trying to understand what is actually practical: water, permits, solar, soil, local acceptance, and long-term stability.

Any real experience or location-specific advice would be very appreciated.

184cm
Straight

Hello!  

After years of dreaming about an offgrid life, I decided around two years ago that it was time to seriously start working toward it and saving money for the startup costs. The process is slow — but I imagine finding the right partner for that kind of life may take even longer, so I figured I might as well start now.  

So far I’ve mainly focused on gardening, soil health, and learning as much as I can about self-sufficiency and what this lifestyle realistically involves. I tend to be introverted in crowds, but around people I truly connect with I become much more energetic and outgoing.  

I believe in monogamy, though I’m not religious. I also tend to dive deep into details and prefer being well prepared before making big decisions — and something as life-changing as offgrid living deserves time, thought, and planning. Things like location, climate, finances, compatibility, and what both people bring into the relationship matter a lot to me. Ideally, I’d like to build toward this with a solid financial foundation so the experience feels exciting rather than constant stress and survival.  

I’d love to get to know someone slowly and genuinely over time. Once the “best version” masks fall away, that’s when you really find out if two people can build a lasting life together. To me, relationships are about commitment, communication, patience, and accepting each other for who we truly are.  

I hope this doesn’t come across as intimidating — only honest. We would potentially be building something deeply life-changing together, and I think that deserves sincerity from the beginning.