Go Northwest
A Journal Off the Grid
by Xavier Langford

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I've altered my name and the names of anyone involved in this book for the purpose of protecting identity and privacy. If you think you're included in this story because your name happens to match one that's been used, rest assured, this is completely coincidental. Off-grid living is becoming more popular in print and media. What I've seen on television looks more like rural sub-contracting than real homesteading. Anything is possible if you set your mind to achieving it but making big life changes can be stressful and exhausting. This is not a happily-ever-after story. However, the only thing worse than failure is not having the courage to try something new. However much experience and preparation you think you've made, there comes a point where your best laid plans will crash into reality. College and day jobs are hard enough. Try removing the safety blanket of civilization and easily accessible amenities. True nature is big and beautiful and it's also indifferent to whether you live or die. The weather doesn't care what mood you're in or whether you're feeling well. The rain doesn't care about your flight schedule. The timber wolves are always hungry and are smart enough to approach quietly from downwind. What could possibly go wrong? Trying to start a farm from scratch involves a huge time/money paradox. It's possible, it's been done. The people who have succeeded were either born into it or took several attempts. If I can give any advice to someone trying to get off the grid, have a backup plan and don't try to do everything all at once. Exhaustion and mental health concerns are a real factor to consider. There are places in this story beyond phone coverage where calling 911 is simply not an option.

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Xavier Langford is a fictional name. I don't want to use my real identity. There's too many scammers in the world and there comes a time in one's life when you get sick of hearing your own name. I try to stay optimistic but also pragmatic. I'm an introvert. I'll be the first to admit that I have trouble dealing with people and there's been a lot of people who've had trouble dealing with me. By the time I graduated high school, my life was on a bad trajectory. I had lost my license from unpaid speeding tickets and had difficulty finding a job. I was reckless, irresponsible and unprepared to pass through the first gateway into adulthood. Getting involved in drugs is another regrettable experience. I successfully said no to drugs until I found out my colour vision limitation would prohibit me from being a military or commercial pilot. A complete loss of hope for one's future can have that affect on someone. Got to give the Devil his due; he knows how to get you when you're down. I can speak from experience that Generation X has an odd cross to bear. We inherited the music and counter-culture from the 1960's and 1970's. Our parents, teachers and mentors lived through unprecedented times and partied with some heavy substances. All it took was knowing a guy named Dave to get access to various hallucinogens. In hindsight, I barely survived school, leaving a wake of crashed cars and bad trips. College and a day job in Alberta changed my life but my vices travelled with me. I ended up attracting the same type of people into my life again. Moving to a strange city and working with money-motivated people hardened my heart more than my smoking habit.

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Contributors

Author

Xavier Langford

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