Off Grid Living Reality Check

Off Grid Living Reality Check

Off Grid Living Reality Check: Our First Trip to the Cottage
We’re finally here at our off-grid cottage on Lake of the Woods in Canada! But spoiler alert – nothing went according to plan. Join us for the REAL off-grid living experience as we deal with dead lead acid batteries, no running water, a broken water pump, and countless other challenges that come with owning a remote cottage.

In this episode, you’ll see us troubleshooting our solar system (turns out we’re not dealing with lithium batteries like we thought!), making trips to the marina in our boat to get distilled water, and learning the hard way that off-grid living means being prepared for everything to break. From mice in the sink to freezing cold showers, we’re showing you the unfiltered reality of cottage life.

Despite all the challenges, we’re absolutely in love with this place. There’s something magical about waking up to crystal clear lake views and having 15,000 islands as your frontyard. We’re learning as we go and bringing you along for every triumph and every mishap.

Thank you for coming along for the ride!
Dave and Jacqueline (The Border Hookups)

ROMP IT UP 2025 – RV ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL IN SONOITA, ARIZONA TICKETS LINK – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/romp-it-up-with-the-border-hookups-2025-tickets-1247340602319?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFZ4WxvTku3gfuPChbqeew/join

RV LIFE TRIP WIZARD DISCOUNT CODE: https://bit.ly/3BvacMy

SOFTSTART PLUG AND PLAY LINK: https://softstartup.com/theborderhookups/

HEWESCRAFT BOATS: https://hewescraft.com/

CHECK OUT OUR FREE BOONDOCKING CHECKLIST: https://tinyurl.com/boondockingchecklist

BORDER HOOKUPS MERCH – https://the-border-hookups.creator-spring.com/

THE BORDER HOOKUPS PRESS KIT: bit.ly/3TVPxok

JACQUELINE’S HEALTH PLAN FORM – https://us9.list-manage.com/survey?u=54c699b78b94a9a2526156d6b&id=61d7a84713&attribution=false
OR SEND JACQUELINE AN EMAIL – theborderhookups@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS – https://linktr.ee/theborderhookups

What We Cover in This Episode:

First impressions of our off-grid cottage on Lake of the Woods
Troubleshooting dead lead acid batteries (not lithium like we expected!)
Dealing with a broken water pump and no running water
Our boat trips to the marina for supplies and distilled water
Navigating 15,000 islands with just a paper chart
The reality of cottage maintenance after being closed up all winter
Why we’re still grateful despite all the challenges

Timestamps:
0:00 – Arrival at the cottage
1:16 – First look around the property
4:39 – Power and water issues begin
9:05 – Assessing what’s broken and what works
11:49 – First trip to the marina
16:30 – Jacqueline’s healthy living tip
17:55 – Morning routine and more challenges
22:24 – Creative solutions (outdoor shower!)
24:12 – Finding gratitude despite the challenges
If you’re considering off-grid living or cottage ownership, this video shows you the real deal – it’s not all Instagram-perfect moments, but it’s absolutely worth it when you find your happy place.
If you enjoy channels like Keep Your Daydream, Kate and Nate, and Traveling with the Wynns, then you just might enjoy our videos as well!
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE and hit that notification bell so you don’t miss any of our off-grid adventures!
#OffGridLiving #CottageLife #LakeOfTheWoods #BoatLife #SolarPower #RealityCheck #Canada #OffGridCabin