#3/#4 - honestly, I was in the military, extended field training is/was as far off grid as I care to get. And, I’m old now and I’m too damn spoiled to live off grid, but I promise, when you get your eco-resort up and running, I will be your first and best guest!
Yay, that would be so gorgeous!! I love that you've lived both experiences well and can live in a daydream that works best for your current needs. Thanks so much for being here and sharing with us!
I’m so, so glad I found your words! So beautiful and instantly inspired to think through my own future selves via the lovely lives your friend and you are imagining and building for yourselves.
The way I cackled reading “I want an unsettling amount of mosquito netting.” Because MOOD. I need some for these southern summers here in the US too! Thank you for sharing bits of your daydream with us. I loveeeee daydreaming especially about the perfect life. Maybe I’ll write mine here one day. I use rosemary mint castor oil on my hair and it’s 100x healthier so I’m happy you got some goodies for your locs!!!
For real though ahahaha because I want to sit with skin unbothered, I can't bathe in tea tree oil forever lol. Thank you so much for being here sweet. I love that you're a daydreamer too. I gratefully wait to read what you will share. Rosemary is really incredible, I'm so glad I've arrived at this stage of my loc care <33 Asli really changed the game for me. Also! I have this thing where my memory always associates scents with some of the places I've visited. I feel like rosemary will forever be associated with this new chapter of living in Belize so that's also a sweet memory marker.
I felt physically calmed after reading this. What a wonderful life we can live when we unplug and reconnect with our roots. Please continue sharing and living so brightly. You've inspired me to book a trip to visit Belize this summer with my lover. Looking forward to it!
Thank you and I shall and I hope you will too. Glad to have provided some ease this Friday, that is all I want. Also - YESSSS to a trip to Belize!! You will both love it here!! Let me know when you start to plan your trip some more, I'm soo excited for you, this little country doesn't disappoint ❤️
Beautiful as ever Amara. The conversation around living off grid always fascinates me - because my immediate reaction is I can’t do that, and I always feel I have to challenge why that’s my first thought. Because I don’t want to? Or because I’ve been conditioned to only think being in productive society is the only way to live? Maybe I just want both haha. I definitely don’t desire stress though (who the hell does?!)
Have you always desired ease or are you finding it’s developing the more you grow up and travel? I’ve been watching Ben Fogles most recent series of ‘New Lives In the Wild’ (there’s not much on UK tv rn especially when you live with your parents) and it is very interesting and the perspectives of these individuals very compelling, sharing their reasoning for why they live off grid and what that looks like for them. I always admire people who go off grid though - I think it’s bravery in lots of ways that most people actually don’t have to go against the grain.
I do really want to live by the ocean though - not the UK ocean (god forbid) but elsewhere. The water / human connection is so real and I think I’d get a lot of happiness from it.
Thank you love. Appreciate your insight as usual. I feel you about your initial reaction to living an off-grid life. I mean look at the hyper-productive, anti-slow land we were born to lool. I feel that ease has always been something I've been pulled to (calm, peacefulness at first) but I would say during the pandemic when I had to work from home, I really started to question what ease means to me. That allowed me to sit with my current reality and challenge where I could center wellness and ease to the highest priority. Leaving my office/Marketing job and not having to force extrovertedness also encouraged this. Traveling to coastal places too. Everyone who lives by water is just so much more receptive to ease I've noticed. As you mentioned, the ocean really is a source of deep happiness. I think we should move to a non-UK coast (God forbid we live on pebbles lol) and beach for the rest of our days.
That TV show you mentioned seems super interesting, I also am looking for podcasts on off-grid living so I can slowly think about how this would, one day, materialise.
We certainly do come from the hyper-productive anti-slow land! Often I don’t think people realise how much they believe that is tied to their self worth until they are removed from it? And perhaps some people never realise? Idk when I became sick and was forced out the rat race it was (after initially being highly distressing) incredibly interesting to be existing in a way that wasn’t included in any of the conventional norms of ‘worthy citizen’. Despite wanting to go back to normality one day, I also don’t want it? Maybe ill unpack this in my next email too you as this could be a LONG comment lmao.
Pandemic working from home is such a recipe for questioning what the hell you wanted out of life - I hear that. And admire you re-centring! People who live by water are so much more relaxed I agree. How can you be stressed w such beauty around you? I think we should be on a beach for the rest of our days too. God forbid the PEBBLES! Lmao that’s not the beach ease we’re after that’s beach pain x
Yeh give it a watch! It was 18 seasons which is nuts but the 18th is the most recent I’ve been watching. It shows a real variety of off grid living in lots of different places and styles? I definitely believe it could be a slight source of inspo for you to help the dream materialise. X
Hahaha yes me and you are Queens of the long comment (are you also a long voice note person?). I look forward to receiving your thoughts in time love!
Also, 100% I can see the difference in leaving the rat race and being taken out of it and how that may cause some dissonance and initial discomfort in different ways. I love your point about reconsidering the norms of existing as a 'worthy citizen'. The middle space of existence once you leave is interesting, you're so right. It's kinda fertile ground for rebecoming/recentering.
Also, 18 seasons is greedy but I guess there is more to off-grid life than I realise. Maybe (surely) it will help me choose my flavour of off-grid ocean living lool x
I am, without a shadow of a doubt, a voicenote person! I’ll be pushing 30/40 mins sometimes with them looool what can I say my brain is brimming w thoughts always! I truly think reconsidering the norms of ‘worthy citizen’ can really be so hard if you’re not forced in some way shape or form to reckon with it. I think perhaps you could almost life a live without considering it under capitalism. I wonder if I ever would have if it weren’t for what happened. The fertile ground you’re left with is REAL for trying to re-centre (what a great way to put it!?)
18 seasons is soo greedy. But lots of ocean flavour to eat up among those 18 seasons I am sure xox
You win - I think 18 minutes is my record. You have an actual podcast. Hahaha but this makes sense because just from your newsletter I can sense that your thoughts are deep like every ocean and brimming and your generosity is appreciated.
And yes, I agree actually. I think it takes for something to awaken for you to actually notice the Capitalist cycle of existing in norms laid out for you. I hope the fertile ground keeps you dreaming and curious xx
thank you to you Yulani! It is so mutual, your posts are always a delight to read. Curtis Mayfield's music is for the old-schoolers, Sunday morning lovers + slow livers of the world <3
Thank you so much for sharing your partial daydream and inspiring me to indulge in my own. ♥️
absolutely!! <3 thank you for being here and sharing this post too
#3/#4 - honestly, I was in the military, extended field training is/was as far off grid as I care to get. And, I’m old now and I’m too damn spoiled to live off grid, but I promise, when you get your eco-resort up and running, I will be your first and best guest!
Yay, that would be so gorgeous!! I love that you've lived both experiences well and can live in a daydream that works best for your current needs. Thanks so much for being here and sharing with us!
You’re welcome, and thank you more!
I’m so, so glad I found your words! So beautiful and instantly inspired to think through my own future selves via the lovely lives your friend and you are imagining and building for yourselves.
This makes me so happy, I'm glad that you're finding time to dream up spaces for your future selves! we deserve that x
The way I cackled reading “I want an unsettling amount of mosquito netting.” Because MOOD. I need some for these southern summers here in the US too! Thank you for sharing bits of your daydream with us. I loveeeee daydreaming especially about the perfect life. Maybe I’ll write mine here one day. I use rosemary mint castor oil on my hair and it’s 100x healthier so I’m happy you got some goodies for your locs!!!
For real though ahahaha because I want to sit with skin unbothered, I can't bathe in tea tree oil forever lol. Thank you so much for being here sweet. I love that you're a daydreamer too. I gratefully wait to read what you will share. Rosemary is really incredible, I'm so glad I've arrived at this stage of my loc care <33 Asli really changed the game for me. Also! I have this thing where my memory always associates scents with some of the places I've visited. I feel like rosemary will forever be associated with this new chapter of living in Belize so that's also a sweet memory marker.
I felt physically calmed after reading this. What a wonderful life we can live when we unplug and reconnect with our roots. Please continue sharing and living so brightly. You've inspired me to book a trip to visit Belize this summer with my lover. Looking forward to it!
Thank you and I shall and I hope you will too. Glad to have provided some ease this Friday, that is all I want. Also - YESSSS to a trip to Belize!! You will both love it here!! Let me know when you start to plan your trip some more, I'm soo excited for you, this little country doesn't disappoint ❤️
For sure, will do! I was hoping you'd have recommendations and tips!
Yess I have many! I will get back to you with them
Beautiful as ever Amara. The conversation around living off grid always fascinates me - because my immediate reaction is I can’t do that, and I always feel I have to challenge why that’s my first thought. Because I don’t want to? Or because I’ve been conditioned to only think being in productive society is the only way to live? Maybe I just want both haha. I definitely don’t desire stress though (who the hell does?!)
Have you always desired ease or are you finding it’s developing the more you grow up and travel? I’ve been watching Ben Fogles most recent series of ‘New Lives In the Wild’ (there’s not much on UK tv rn especially when you live with your parents) and it is very interesting and the perspectives of these individuals very compelling, sharing their reasoning for why they live off grid and what that looks like for them. I always admire people who go off grid though - I think it’s bravery in lots of ways that most people actually don’t have to go against the grain.
I do really want to live by the ocean though - not the UK ocean (god forbid) but elsewhere. The water / human connection is so real and I think I’d get a lot of happiness from it.
Thank you love. Appreciate your insight as usual. I feel you about your initial reaction to living an off-grid life. I mean look at the hyper-productive, anti-slow land we were born to lool. I feel that ease has always been something I've been pulled to (calm, peacefulness at first) but I would say during the pandemic when I had to work from home, I really started to question what ease means to me. That allowed me to sit with my current reality and challenge where I could center wellness and ease to the highest priority. Leaving my office/Marketing job and not having to force extrovertedness also encouraged this. Traveling to coastal places too. Everyone who lives by water is just so much more receptive to ease I've noticed. As you mentioned, the ocean really is a source of deep happiness. I think we should move to a non-UK coast (God forbid we live on pebbles lol) and beach for the rest of our days.
That TV show you mentioned seems super interesting, I also am looking for podcasts on off-grid living so I can slowly think about how this would, one day, materialise.
We certainly do come from the hyper-productive anti-slow land! Often I don’t think people realise how much they believe that is tied to their self worth until they are removed from it? And perhaps some people never realise? Idk when I became sick and was forced out the rat race it was (after initially being highly distressing) incredibly interesting to be existing in a way that wasn’t included in any of the conventional norms of ‘worthy citizen’. Despite wanting to go back to normality one day, I also don’t want it? Maybe ill unpack this in my next email too you as this could be a LONG comment lmao.
Pandemic working from home is such a recipe for questioning what the hell you wanted out of life - I hear that. And admire you re-centring! People who live by water are so much more relaxed I agree. How can you be stressed w such beauty around you? I think we should be on a beach for the rest of our days too. God forbid the PEBBLES! Lmao that’s not the beach ease we’re after that’s beach pain x
Yeh give it a watch! It was 18 seasons which is nuts but the 18th is the most recent I’ve been watching. It shows a real variety of off grid living in lots of different places and styles? I definitely believe it could be a slight source of inspo for you to help the dream materialise. X
Hahaha yes me and you are Queens of the long comment (are you also a long voice note person?). I look forward to receiving your thoughts in time love!
Also, 100% I can see the difference in leaving the rat race and being taken out of it and how that may cause some dissonance and initial discomfort in different ways. I love your point about reconsidering the norms of existing as a 'worthy citizen'. The middle space of existence once you leave is interesting, you're so right. It's kinda fertile ground for rebecoming/recentering.
Also, 18 seasons is greedy but I guess there is more to off-grid life than I realise. Maybe (surely) it will help me choose my flavour of off-grid ocean living lool x
I am, without a shadow of a doubt, a voicenote person! I’ll be pushing 30/40 mins sometimes with them looool what can I say my brain is brimming w thoughts always! I truly think reconsidering the norms of ‘worthy citizen’ can really be so hard if you’re not forced in some way shape or form to reckon with it. I think perhaps you could almost life a live without considering it under capitalism. I wonder if I ever would have if it weren’t for what happened. The fertile ground you’re left with is REAL for trying to re-centre (what a great way to put it!?)
18 seasons is soo greedy. But lots of ocean flavour to eat up among those 18 seasons I am sure xox
You win - I think 18 minutes is my record. You have an actual podcast. Hahaha but this makes sense because just from your newsletter I can sense that your thoughts are deep like every ocean and brimming and your generosity is appreciated.
And yes, I agree actually. I think it takes for something to awaken for you to actually notice the Capitalist cycle of existing in norms laid out for you. I hope the fertile ground keeps you dreaming and curious xx
What a gorgeous post. I adore you work. Also, thanks for including my post!
P.S. I also loveee Curtis Mayfield's music.
thank you to you Yulani! It is so mutual, your posts are always a delight to read. Curtis Mayfield's music is for the old-schoolers, Sunday morning lovers + slow livers of the world <3