We once had to melt snow just to flush our toilet. It was one of several unexpected challenges of living off-grid.

After a couple of years of full-time travel, we decided to plant down some roots in northern New Mexico.

We’d gallivanted around the country — north, south, east, and west — and fallen deeply in love with the high desert tucked away in the Rocky Mountains.

During our travels, we’d been living in a van decked out with solar panels, and we wanted to find a home that would help us continue our self-sufficient lifestyle.

We found a beautiful, off-grid, straw-bale home tucked away on 40 acres with its own solar panels, well, and septic tank. It felt like we’d hit the jackpot … but there were a few inconveniences we weren’t prepared for.

Being at the…