Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Ontario, Canada, Shawn James is living his best life. Completely off the grid in a small cabin with his golden retriever are the only things that he needs in life, well- along with a few other little things to help him survive a Canadian snowstorm.
The good life
The video is simple and sweet. No background sounds. Not a lot of narration. Just the visuals on what life looks like out in the middle of the woods during one of the most brutal seasons. Getting by off the grid means no amenities we take for granted like running water and heat. Everything is done and prepared by hand, and if it’s not done correctly, it can cost you your life.
Roughing-it
One of the first things we see James do is cut down a fallen tree and haul it to the cabin, no small task for one man, and a not so helpful pup. After his small project, he begins to make dinner showing off his cellar freezer.
James pulls up a section of the floor and takes out a small bag of meat to cook up for dinner. The temperature is no doubt cooler underground in the insulated section of flooring, making it perfect for a makeshift fridge/freezer.
After dinner is made and ate by James and his loyal companion, he turns down the kitchen lights and heads up the ladder to a lofted bedroom. Overnight, there was more snow and freezing rain that definitely limits the day’s activities, but doesn’t slow down the duo at all. After breakfast and coffee, the two are out the door again.
All work, no play
Inside the cabin, James continues working on his bench project. Slightly larger than a booth at a restaurant, the new seating area also acts as a couch to lounge on downstairs. It also shows how James built-in storage under the cushion for furs and blankets when the temps drop even lower.
What’s next?
It should be noted that James isn’t living here full time just yet. He talks about his wife and how eventually the two of them will be moving in for at least a year at a time when a few more projects are finished. Some of the things he plans on adding are a bathhouse to go along with the outhouse, an outdoor kitchen with an oven, woodshed, workshop, and more.
James describes his cabin life as a mix of modern and traditional. For someone that was trying to build as close to free as possible, he was also trying to make it as basic and efficient as possible. For example, he uses oil lanterns, but also hanging lights lit by rechargeable AA batteries.
This lifestyle definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s pretty clear that James was built for this. He and his dog (and eventually his wife) are ready to move in full time and live a life completely off-grid.
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