Living Off Grid for 46 Years | Al and his Hydroelectric Water Wheel
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- čas přidán 8. 05. 2024
- In this video, I meet with Al (82 years of age) one year after helping him rebuild/refurbish his hydroelectric water wheel. We discuss how the wheel has been performing since, and some of the issues he's faced with it, as well as solutions and plans going forward. Al then gives me a more in-depth view of how he has managed to live on his property in rural Washington state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States for 46 years. A combination of solar power, his water wheel, and a backup generator provide him with off grid power. While a natural spring provides gravity fed drinking water to his main house, as well as his many unique and custom built out-buildings (including a sauna cabin). Al and I conclude our visit by hiking to the highest point on his 40 acre parcel of land to catch a view of Mt St Helens and reminisce about the 1980 eruption.
Here is a link to the video of Al and I rebuilding the wheel:
• Restoring Al's Hydroel...
For more content, check me out on Instagram:
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Great video Diego, I should talk louder. I'm 82 actually
You're the youngest old man I know & one of the toughest for sure!
82 years old! ? Bless you with many more, 82 and walking up like that is incredible.
You have a wonderful life set up for you there. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy it.
Al you have a beautiful place and living the life I can only dream of more because I just don’t have the know how to build or understand solar stuff what a great job you have done
Anyone can learn, but one should do what they love. Looks like you are a gardener
3M views. Wow. Thanks for all the nice comments. I love you all
Thank you for sharing your amazing place with us. It’s like a little slice of heaven in the hills. Cheers Al to good health and happiness.😁👍
hello Al what an awesome place you're a hardworking man! Ever think of making videos for youtube Im sure others would love your content!! Blessings to you Al!!
Awesome place man may you continue and prosper god bless aloha 🤙🏽🙏🏽
You are a treasure and this video will live on for a long time.
The world could use more people with your kindness, way of living with the land, and your mindset. Peace, health, and happiness to you.
When your employer asks you where do you see yourself in 5 years:
💯
This guy is an inspiration. Imagine the life you could live living this way. It would be a lot of work but you would be healthy mentally and physically. Truly awesome.
I mean, you have to own property to live this way which is out of many people's budget.
Look at how great of shape he's in for his age and I guarantee you it's because of living off grid!!!
thats wats most appealing is how mentally fit you wld be living like this
Yes you would from the rat race of this world 🌎 today a lot better life
@@angermyodewell normally I would say you’re right, but nobody is stopping you from going into the middle of the woods of Appalachia, the Pacific Northwest, Upstate NY, etc. and just building a home out of the resources you find.
The authorities aren’t going to waste time and resources searching for the random dude deep in the woods.
82 and still living off grid. Truly inspirational.
If you take him away from there he wouldn't live much longer either. You can't move old trees.
@@whybutwhy he's a part of the ecosystem now
Guys, Here is The Savior
YaH The Heavenly FATHER (Genesis 1) HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF”
From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic:
"Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3)
Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation
Yad - "Behold The Hand"
He - "Behold the Breath"
Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist2 This is CZcams not a church.
@@whybutwhy🤣🤣🤣
Old Al is living the dream, total freedom, no worries and at 82 he's running strong. Congrats!
Just use a fine steel mesh screen to put on the ends of the water wheel. It'll be enough to slow the water down from shooting out the sides while allowing just a little to get through.
Nothing says freedom like not being able to experience what 95% of the world has to offer!
@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500freedom is doing things at your own will, I bet this old man has a much bigger say in his life than you do in yours. Now go and get a 9-5 job so you can be enough of a sycophant to satisfy someone’s whim and can climb that corporate ladder that would to the death of your individuality.
you are chronically online@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500
@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500 No one experiences 95% of the world has to offer. I'd take his 5% over your 5% any day.
His laugh is wonderful. A small snicker and a smile is all you get. I also love how he said "I have a hard time throwing anything away" but he doesn't hesitate at all to give it to someone who needs it. That speaks volumes alone.
Too many people mistake not throwing things away with hoarding. Stuff can still be usable, even if personally there is no use for it. Just waiting for the time when it becomes of use no matter who.
@@thecocktailian2091 That's all fine and dandy as long as you don't have a bunch of useless shit hoarding up the place =]
I'm 53 living in London, worrying about interest rates, job security and everything else in between, then I see this Guy....this Guy has all the answers.
I salute you Sir.....👏👏👏👏
Is the immigration as bad as they say?
Yeah, feels the same. Going to move to my cabin in the next few years(just 25km from the city tho), going to start expanding it next summer, and add solar + wind power so it's self sufficient.
I'm 57 almost 58 feeling the same! I want OUT!
@@starcrystal3271 Mash theme song starts playing
Imagine how well this guy must sleep with that calm waterfall sound going on these guys are very gifted
"Gifted"old guys were all around us kids, growing up I the sixties. They got that way by growing up in an era where learning from older relatives in the toolshed and making things, fixing machinery and the household car was the norm. Not like today, sadly. Wages were a lot lower, you had to have these practical skills to get by. Although cost of living was lower too....Those guys, nothing fazed them. Country raised folk were very self reliant, even later living in cities.
@@pipfox7834 yes I know the type I've known a few like him
Yeah… makes me a bit jealous. In the city you’re at the mercy of your neighbours.
Loud music, motorcycle engines revving, noisy families that yell late at night. You name it. The police stopped coming by, you need to call the city and it’s a shame, you gotta wait forever on hold due to high volume of calls… yes, I’m quite jealous… in a good way of course.
@@pipfox7834 Sure just looking at the numbers alone, someone today earns $9/hr and someone working in the 1960s can say "Well I only earned $1.50 an hour!" But its more complicated than that. Both of my grandfathers were able to get good paying factory jobs right out of high school. By the time they were each 25 or 26 years old they had their houses fully paid for on 2 acre lots, no need for high interest 30 year mortgages. They were able to purchase brand new cars without high interest loans, and raise their families of 6 on just the one income. They could afford to take their families on vacation to the beach every summer. Then when they got old & retired they received incredibly good pensions. This was a pretty common way of living for Americans at one point. All that was gone before I was even born. I'm currently doing the exact same job my grandfather did, but each dollar I earn only goes about 20% as far as each dollar he earned back in the 1960s.
It was also more common for families to own land. When they died they passed the farm onto their kids, then their kids passed it on, etc. However all it takes is for someone in your family born before you to sell the farm off to some developer so they can move to Florida or some such place, and the family farm is gone forever.
@@pipfox7834 wages are lower than ever in real terms. And if the current stock has been coddled, who's fault is that exactly?
Absolutely fabulous. Life was supposed to be like this. Even as a child I wanted his life. My brother and I when we were 8 and 7 ran away from home to go to our family property in oklahoma and live in the woods. We made it 2 miles before a neighbor told our parents they saw us on the hiway. If I'm lying I'm dying. Ironically just a year later we moved up there on that mountain and "camped" for 9 months while our parents built our cabin. In our 50's now we still consider that time the best in our lives. Our father still regrets letting that property go. And life goes on. Thanks for sharing this gem.
You should do it one day 😊
Where at in Oklahoma
No it wasn't. The opposite of Isolation is connectedness. Connecting means support. Isolation means you will not have assistance or help. Never think Isolation is the path to go down with. Always connect with support networks. They are going to assist you more than any friend you have ever known, expecially if you require help for specific reasons.
@@spaaggetii Nothing about life with less consumption means you can't connect with or see people. He literally has the internet
:(
He has the life most of us wish for and dream of, but few get to live. Good luck and wishes for many more years of peaceful life in your home.
Amen
Wisdom for guidance, is always an essential ❤😊
most of us don't wish to dream or live his life. no teeth and a rotten house
This is such a beautiful story. I think Al is also really blessed with how things have turned out, having every source of water go by his house, not having any trees ever fall onto his house, only ever seeing a bear ONCE in 40+ years of living there. He truly has a peaceful place he can call his own
Of course flooding is a significant issue. Something that has to be dealt with fairly regularly.
Beautiful. He's living lightly on the land and bothering no one. May he be there for many more years.
Just a few unnecessary signs missing lol
Unfortunately “bothering no one” is not a valid criterion where I live. There’s just no way you could build such structure in the woods and live in it. It would result in a lawsuit and an order to destroying everything. Even if the land is yours. Good for them, but certainly not replicable everywhere.
Govt will find a reason to F with him soon enough
@@adrienferreira4666 where I live if you even put a tent in your garden behind the house, you'll get a fine of 400€-1000€. Anything to make your life cheaper is just straight up illegal.
Sadly him being put on youtube is gonna cause police to show up there and kick him out.
Al is a great friend to have, you are lucky. He is definitely living the highlife…
This is the guy that survives societal breakdown. ❤
Jesus Christ wants a personal relationship with you through the Holy Spirit, not religion and blind faith. You see, we all have sinned, and have broken God’s law (The Ten Commandments). Wrong doing deserves justice and must be punished (just like how a criminal has to pay for the crime they have committed) but God saved us from the eternal punishment of our sins by sending His Son Jesus Christ, fullness of God in flesh, a perfect, sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross and resurrecting, so that we may have everlasting life. It is all finished and now for you to accept the free gift of grace, you must repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ and Bible says that His Blood will cover all of your sins, you will be forgiven, saved from eternal punishment, and be given everlasting life. By faith you will receive the Holy Spirit, become born again, know Jesus personally and He will transform your heart and clean you from the inside out. Turn away from sin, read the Bible, pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you and change you, obey the Word. Much love and God bless you!
Yep, the best AI is gpt-4 right now
Al is awesome, imagine being in that good shape at 82?
My best friend grew up in a hydro off-grid house. Everyone loved going out to his place for sleep-overs. Fast forward to 22-23 years later, he's just out of college, and his parents move into a beautiful new house in town. Then proceed to tell him about how wonderful and convenient life is. He was pretty pissed. Lol
Pure gold having a property with a stream and spring of running water.
Every home could have that actually - abundance of water everywhere could be utilized for us if people knew the truth of the vast subterranean water resources and stood against the false narrative tyranny of pretty much everything.
til some capitaIist finds actual gold in land upstream, and they or their g0vt seizes it and destroys all life downstream for more $$$$
Living in a city, Watching a youtube video is as close as some of us get to the serenity of living in nature. May this guy have many more happy peaceful years in his forest paradise.
What a sweet gentle soul Al is. I wish him a long and healthly happy life! Such a beautiful home🌻🍀🐞🦋
All the respect in the world to Al. At 82 years old, he is younger and more alive than many others half his age and is an example worth following. May God bless him, may he have good health, may he be as young as he was until now, even at 102 years old, why not... Thank you for this clip and keep taking care of Al. Only good, all the best! 🤗
What a legend. 82 years old and walking up the mountain with ease.
The fact Al was able to climb to the top of that mountain is awesome and inspiring.
The basics of living. No Drama! Love it.
Lol there is nothing basic about this setup.
If you want to know what a "worry-free" life looks like, this is it! Al does not look a day in his 80's. For a moment I thought he was in his early 70s years of age. He looks better than most Americans, healthy mind, spirit and physical well being. Off the grid life, no monthly bills? Natural life, quiet, silence, no noisy neighbors, no outdoor polluted noise...wow! Dreaming of retiring in a waterfront home? No problem! Gosh, he has in own backyard pond AND a river. Wow!!!!
He’s living the life that I dream about. My wife and I were gonna move off the grid but she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer about a year ago. So that has put a halt to our plans. I had to subscribe after watching this. Much love from Texas🤙
Bring her to a EE system
Sorry to hear that. Wish you guys the best.
Good luck to you and the Mrs, God bless yall
@@jerminator0688 I really appreciate that
@@whistledick thank you very much. Blessings to you
Al is one cool cat. He is a salt of the earth guy with a heart of gold. You can feel a peace and coolness about him through the screen.
WHAT A PEACEFUL GIFT TO ALL WHO WATCH IN OUR CONFUSED WORLD LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES , DEEP IN DEBT. CONTENT MOVES ALONG SO SMOOTHLY WITH AL'S BRIEF, HUMBLE COMMENTARY, SMALL CHUCKLE....THANK YOU BOTH FOR THIS TIMELESS VIDEO. 82 YR OLD GRMA IN PACIFIC NW. COLD FRONT MOVING IN 10/27/23.
these days, we have to get into debt just to afford some land somewhere to even try doing this on. then you gotta figure out how to pay that debt, and the jobs out yonder are scarce. freedom has all been bought up already
How wonderful and inspiring for you and Al to have formed such a great friendship. What an awesome mentor to have. Glad to see there are still “old men” living in the mountains near Mt. St. Helens.
Very inspirational video. A lot of hard work over the years Al. You have a beautiful home and peaceful property. So proud of you, keep up the amazing job. 82 and getting younger. Thanks so much Diego for creating this inspiring video. Have the greatest day ever, love and peace.
this is what a healthy, happy, and truly connected human being looks like. I refuse to be in a retirement home when i’m 82, Al has trusted that the lands bestowed upon him have all he needs to survive and live a truly fulfilled life, and in return Earth has given him life and a healthy one at that, Seriously can’t say enough how inspirational this is!
100%
a subtle reminder of life goals and values and how they truly mean to ourselves
What a cool property. He has a stream, a pond, a waterfall and a view of the mountain. I bet Al sleeps well. I have one more kid left at home and I imagine I'll be out in the woods alone for most of the rest of my life. I"m a loner introvert but I am still afraid. It gives me some piece seeing Al's story.
Jesus Christ wants a personal relationship with you through the Holy Spirit, not religion and blind faith. You see, we all have sinned, and have broken God’s law (The Ten Commandments). Wrong doing deserves justice and must be punished (just like how a criminal has to pay for the crime they have committed) but God saved us from the eternal punishment of our sins by sending His Son Jesus Christ, fullness of God in flesh, a perfect, sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross and resurrecting, so that we may have everlasting life. It is all finished and now for you to accept the free gift of grace, you must repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ and Bible says that His Blood will cover all of your sins, you will be forgiven, saved from eternal punishment, and be given everlasting life. By faith you will receive the Holy Spirit, become born again, know Jesus personally and He will transform your heart and clean you from the inside out. Turn away from sin, read the Bible, pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you and change you, obey the Word. Much love and God bless you!
Why don't you focus on LOVE? God is love and he/ she who abides in love , abides in God , and God in him/ her! Keep Christ's message simple! 🇩🇪🇨🇭🇺🇲💚💙🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
Loneliness is never good, being alone for a short while is fine but we all need someone
Amazing man, I thought he was about 60 years old. Blessings to him, wishing him many more years on his mountain. I would love to live there.
He reminds me so much of my late grandfather, not throwing anything away and keeping life simple. Live long and prosper Al.
I knew someone who did this in England. Was put in prison for defying planning laws. No such thing as wilderness in UK. He tried moving to USA & various other countries where planning laws aren't as strict, but was refused entry on the basis he's doesn't match their entry requirements for residency.
I’m surprised they haven’t hassled Al, the Washington government likes to weaponize anything that they can’t control.
Al is a very smart man, that was very wise for him to purchase/acquire that land back in 1977, it must have been beautiful to live in nature all those years, and to build and develop the property with all of those amenities to make life very comfortable for himself, you are a wonderful person Al. 🤠👍⭐⭐⭐
Now this is what a true influencer should be. I hope you keep your health for years to come :)
I live in the PW and I had known several "old timers" who live a similar life as this gentleman. Looks like, he is still in excellent health and probably he will still be chopping his own firewood at age 100. Good for him.
Beautiful scenery, the silence of nature... serenity. Here's to another 46years Al, to your health. Cheers.
I worked with an old guy that was building himself an off-grid home, one piece at a time. Construction sites can be quite wasteful at times, and he'd diligently ask for anything he could use that was just going to be tossed. He basically built himself a home for free over a 5-7 year period. He'd always say, if you want heaven you have to build it yourself. And he did. This guy reminds me of him a lot. Looks like it works pretty well for him.
Comfort is where we lost our way.
Always wanting more, when having less is more.
Perfectly difficult life right here.
Love it.
Comfort is dangerous.
Seems he has just the right amount. I believe more the point here is excess comfort of a Bacchanalian level is destructive. Power wise, people really dont need that much. A light or two, some music and an ability to power a screen. The biggest power sink is the refrigerator, so when you change that power demand, a few hundred watts becomes copious.
@@brianmatthews4323 No it isn't. Just because you have comfort and amenities doesn't mean that you have to surrender to that. That's a choice.
@@BeardedDanishViking Why do you want to argue with me instead of seeing the point?
What if I had said the table saw in my shop was dangerous? Would you have argued that, too?
Driving is dangerous, construction work is dangerous, etc. I never said that you had to "surrender to that", now did I?
Quit wasting my time.
this video had me smiling all along.. beautiful place
That last shot with the water flowing everywhere and all of the trees made me take a long deep breath.
Can't believe he's 82. What a relaxing peaceful life
Don't ever leave there unless you have to for health reasons. That my friend is a little heaven here on earth.
This guy was doing it when it wasn't even cool. What an amazing man.
thank you for sharing some of his wonderful story
What an absolutely gentle old man. His love of nature. Amazing. Al is an absolute treasure!.
Man watching you guys go through those old photo books really made me smile, just knowing everything he went through to get to that point. I’m sure this video meant more to him than most understand. Appreciate you for sharing
Could watch him for hours and hours and hours...thx for sharing
This guy must be so healthy drinking fresh water with no chemicals and living off the land. He has life figured out.
I envy him to live such a simple life. A beautiful place to live.
He is blessed to understand the value in minimalist living.
I’m not sure why people have to be so envious and jealous. Just be happy.
What a fascinating man who does not look a day to his age!!! Thank you for sharing this video. Al is an inspiration.)
I have so much respect for this!
so amazing and inspirational he's truly living the dream
Wow how awesome! I love that waterwheel! What a beautiful place he worked so hard as a younger man to make a beautiful home
Awesome video! Al's place is my favorite place in that entire area. It's magical & amazing.
He's a content and youthful 82yo! More years of peace and blessing to you. What an inspiration.
Good for him! Very humble.
Al seems like a great man. His place is so magical and beautiful! I would love to live somewhere like that. The house is really cool!
You say that, but it takes a different mindset, and person, to do that. No cell phones, internet, etc. You are completely dependent on yourself for everything. No walmarts, fast food, and convenient stores. Are you sure? No where to have your hair and nails done either.
@@jymcotton9904 i live pretty rural already, although not as rural as him. I am building a community with friends on a huge piece of beautiful land where we are going to grow our own food. Right now we are fixing up the 3 huge but very old buildings on the land. The store is 20 minutes away by car and we cook at home everyday. Dont miss fast food at all. But it’s nice to enduldge on the rare occation that I go into the big city that is 3 hours away. Next spring we are gonna start growing food and I’m also gonna experiment with natural herbal remedies and I’m gonna keep experimenting with fermentation and preserving food.
Funny of you to assume that I get my hair and nails done. I do my own hair maybe once a year and I bite my nails. Bad habit.
@@jymcotton9904 I do have internet & phone
@@albutterfield712 Hi Al, do you mind letting me know the type of internet set up you have ? Thought you were completely off the grid
@@albutterfield712greetings Al,
Yes, I read that comment and thought, ' didn't they watch the video? Yet comment so...🤔'
Bless you sir! Glad to know you're out there... an inspiration. 😊
🍃🕊🍃
Probably a Peaceful space, with no stressful people, and Joy inside, Congratulations to you Al
82 and walking around the property and up those steep hills is impressive. Living off grid and self sustainably is probably one way to live a long life. Eating healthy, keeping active and stress free!
I live a similar lifestyle as this man. I’m only 64 though. I’m definitely impressed that this man is still getting around at his age. I’m hoping that I’m able to continue my off grid lifestyle until my dying day. I personally feel like an animal in a cage when I go to town. No way I could be happy living in town.
i remember when diego or agent strong man was first introdused to move that safe up the hill near the rock pit and when al got that new blue boat and when they found the sword truly the best youtubers ever
I wish we could all go back to a simpler time like this.
JUST AWESOME, THANK U FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS OLD DUDE. YOU ARE A GOOD MAN. WHAT A GREAT PLACE.
what a relaxing work out to live , thank you for an escape form life. great video.
What an adorable gentle soul...warmed my heart 😊
This video makes me feel guilty in such an awesome way. I take so many things for granted, if my phone dies, or my car is low on gas. Truly incredible and very humbling.
This made me wish I could take one last walk through the woods of southeastern oklahoma with my mom.. she's stage 4 cancer 😢 but we had some of the best times ever in the Ouachita national Forrest. Thanks for the video AL and Diego!!
"I don't fish, the're my pets" what a saint
So happy i found this page. Al is a legend🎉🎉
“I didn’t wanna look at it cause I thought it was something serious” yeah me too Al 😂
My favourite part of this is simply two people from different generations hanging out and having a good time. We have so many people trying to divide us along whatever lines possible, including age, and it's great to see living proof of how we can connect.
Love hearing your stories! Amazing place to live.
Greetings from Finland!
True lifestyle of an older man. Nature is very alluring.
Al is in great shape, especially for 82!
What an absolutely gentle old man. His love of nature. Amazing
So serene.
Love this! Thank you for sharing.
wow i wish everyone was like al. as soon as i saw him i could see how genuine he was
Al's a pioneerr, a lifetime living off the grid. Modernizing as time goes on
absolutely loved the video and Al s story
A beautiful story of a life lived.
Hey off I've been living off grid for 20 years now. I don't have a stream for power though. I use my solar panels. But I'm doing pretty good. It's nice not owing everybody in the world. I just enjoy the peace and quiet the animals. I cook my food and heat my home with wood, open the windows turn on a fan for my air conditioning. Nice being up in the woods. Enjoy young Feller
My kids watch the Adventure Agents show and will occasionally catch a few episodes myself.
I first saw these two fellows on that show.
I always thought Al had a really neat place.
Thanks for the detailed tour.
Very much enjoyed it.
Well done!
What a living legend! Bravo from Canada!
You'd never guess this guy was 82 years old until reading the description. Man, to live like this would be awesome.
great video here. i can appreciate Al's dedication and labor to such a magnificent and sustainable property. Hat off to ya' old timer. and many thanks for sharing and inspiring so many of us trying to catch up with yer perfect example. you are a leader and pioneer.
Such a beautiful palce.
Thank you all for sharing your home with us.
You are a inspiration .
The 1st thing I noticed was Al's good posture was on par with someone in their 30's, which is impressive for anyone over the age of 50. Then I read in the comments that he's 82 yrs old & wow! Such a cool property & I bet it looks magical at night with all the solar lights glowing. Any chance of a nighttime video in the future?
i think sitting to much (driving car, office work, couch tv) is what gives bad posture. Staying upright and walk doing medium physical chores all day keeps good posture. We should change our working and mobility to what serves our health, not what makes most financial profit....Good health and good humour are far more worth then that...
I found his posture truly stunning too. And the way he walked up that mountain. He's an example of what the human can be (and should be). The modern world has really done a number on the human species!
Thank you so much for sharing this with the rest of us. Well done on the video and just inspiring.
Wonderful video just amazing so peaceful there !!
A very impressive and resourceful man. Beautiful home and property.
Awesome video! I could sit down for hours and hours listening to the stories he could tell. Such a interesting man!
This dude is the epitome of self-reliance!
We love you AL! You’re amazing! ❤❤❤
So awesome! Thank You for sharing!❤
I love Washington, such beautiful land anywhere in the Pacific Northwest Al's got a amazing home lots of hard word went into that house