Count me among the people for whom COVID was the needed wake-up call. I realized how dependent I was on civilization for things like energy, water, and so on, and watched neighborhoods break down into chaos and madness over a few supply shocks. It was the kick in the pants I needed to move the fam out to the boonies. I’m not fully off-grid and independent yet, but for the first time making good forward progress in the right direction. My energy mix is now propane, rooftop solar, a wood furnace, and the grid. I’ve got space on the property to store an abundance of food and water indefinitely. Fresh water stream behind the home. Yea, I know, this makes me barely a Level 1 Noob Prepper, but it's a start. Maybe one day we move more fully off-grid, when we are ready.

I realize a lot of good fortune and privilege allowed this which is why I can’t fault the poor folks in the article.