After three years living off-grid on a forested mountain in Spain's Alt Penedès region, about an hour from Barcelona, one family says the experience has been defined less by Instagrammable fantasy than by the hard realities of day-to-day living.
Here's what to know
Writing on Reddit, the poster, who said they previously lived off-grid on Canada's Gulf Islands, described water as the biggest issue. They added that four large rainwater tanks stand empty from June through September, leaving the well as "my most precious resource."
The poster noted that winter is when the workload really shows up, since staying warm means cutting trees, splitting wood, and hauling logs regularly. They also said dry toilets need to be built thoughtfully for a family of four and visiting guests, with proper sealing and ventilation.
Commenters echoed those concerns.
"The water thing is the part that scares me most about going off-grid," one wrote. "Four empty tanks for months at a time is a whole different level of planning."
In the same thread, another off-grid resident in Mediterranean Spain said a self-built solar setup powers their well and allows 13.5 hours of summer irrigation for orchards and a vegetable garden.
More background
The poster said one bright spot is that "power is getting easier and easier," as they build up capacity.
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On the permits front, the poster revealed they were lucky a run-down house was already on the property in Catalunya, because that made renovation possible.
Location and access also stood out. The OP admitted their own remote location made it "frustrating" when they needed an essential in a pinch.
What can be done?
Their advice was to prioritize water over gadgets, assume summers will keep getting drier, make sure the road can handle a water delivery if needed, and keep basic needs ahead of luxuries.
Under that approach, extras like saunas, hot tubs, and Brazilian hammocks come later. The OP said the practical version of that is planning several seasons of firewood in advance and building a dry toilet with strong odor seals and a vent fan. It's not glamorous, but rewarding in its own way.
They summed up the tradeoff in one line: "It's not a complicated life, it's a simple life. But a simple life is a hard life. But a hard life is also a good life."
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