Welcome to the magical world of transformation…

Last week I visited my sister her husband…

and their daughter…

…up in Oregon.  They live off the grid, which means that they are self sufficient in every way imaginable.  They create their own energy, tap into a well for water, and they even dump their own trash.  Yup, no garbage men off the grid.  Thank goodness for cell phones, satellite tellie and internet; otherwise, they’d not only be off grid but out of their minds!

It was so nice to simply hang out with my sis, her hubs, and their 2 year old daughter.  We’ve been building a new relationship over the last couple of years and it was great to reap the benefits.  We went shopping, swimming in the river, watched movies, and I even helped my sis set up Google Analytics and Feedburner.  Yeah, there were a few tense moments, but they weren’t weighted down with old hurts and unresolved arguments.  They were simply tense moments in a 2 bedroom cabin housing 6 people in 110 degree weather (yes, there was a record breaking heat wave during our visit!)  Those moments came and went as quickly as the air rushing through the 6 fans we had running 24/7.

Anyhow, I thought my visit would be a nice break from all of life’s stresses.  But, now that I’ve been back for awhile I realize that there are just as much stresses living off the grid as on…they are just different.  I worried about using too much power so I continually turned lights off.  I stressed about the water line breaking again and tried to hold me pee as long as possible.  I tried to drink less water despite the heat because all drinking water has to be brought in.  And worst of all, I scrutinized every step outside for fear of accidentally stepping on a rattlesnake:

As you can imagine, my sister has struggled in the transition to life off the grid ~ she’s a huge bug-o-phobe! ~ and after experiencing it first-hand even I thought I would want them to move back to Barrow, Alaska.  But, strangely enough, I don’t.

Because it’s not about where they are.  It’s about how they are.

I want them to create their best life.  I want them to feel safe, secure, and fulfilled.  I don’t care if that’s in the Oregon backwoods, the arctic tundra, or even as missionaries in South Africa.

We differ in so many ways, but one thing will always remain true and indisputable: I love my big sister and her family.  I support them if they decide to stay off the grid or not.

Click here to view all the photos from my trip

Tags: Family, family vacation, fear, life, Relationships, sisters, stress