[grecy]

> is there some kind of unmentioned catch

Speaking from experience, the catch is you won't get to live the life of convenience and luxury that marketing has been pushing down your throat for the last 20+ years.

When you work less, you have less money, which means you spend less money, which means you often do things for yourself. Oil changes can be dirty, chopping wood can be hard work, and canning vegetables is a loooong process.

If you are afraid of hard work and want life to be "easy", by all means keep going to work and simply pay for everything. On the other hand, hard work is extremely rewarding, especially when it's for your own survival.

It's a choice, you're free to make it either way you want. I wish more people knew it was a choice they can make.

[talsraviv]

That part I'm sold on. I'm wondering about, as another comment mentioned, what happens if you discover one day you're not self sufficient, even temporarily (significant illness, chronic illness, major injury - or something I'm not considering). If I don't want to be a burden on anyone on the grid, but don't want to depend on social services, how do I factor that in?

[grecy]

I assume you're American, because you're worried about health/insurance.

I've never lived like that, so excuse me if what I say makes no sense.

Can you not find an insurance policy that's affordable even when working part time? i.e. consider health insurance like other expenses that are very hard to entirely remove (some food, gas, car insurance, building materials, etc.).. i.e. most people wind up working something like 20-50% time to pay for those things, maybe after you add in health care you'll need to work 30-60% time?

Not possible?

[talsraviv]

Definitely possible. And you guessed it - American.

Is health insurance the only thing to worry about? Any other reasons to save up a lot of money, or something to insure for?

For example, if a medical issue arises, insurance covers treatment, but if it's now difficult to sustain myself, am I now dependent on unemployment/social services (or savings)?

I lead a minimalist/nomadic lifestyle now, and always wondering if at some point the music has to stop and I have to integrate into the system as I get older (any kids, family aside).

[grecy]

>Is health insurance the only thing to worry about?

Stop thinking up a list of things to worry about, and start doing what you want to be doing.

Nothing in life is permanent, so make a leap, try and out and see what you think. Maybe you'll do it for a few years, then go back to doing something else. You'll never know unless you try, so hurry up and go for it.