To your point about using what's available on the grid...

I differ in that I see using the grid as dependence on it.

Here is an example of why...

Our home's AC died last July. We allowed ourselves to suffer thru the hot and humid months of August and September. It averaged 86F at 10 pm in our bedroom. We just had the AC repaired this week. Why? Because we couldn't function last summer. We had food spoiling, etc.

Why is this relevant?

1) I didn't have central heat or air until I was 10 years old. Before I had it I didn't know that you could sleep without waking up in a pool of sweat.

2) We learned new methods of cooling the house, keeping food safe, and different sanitation needs from our experience.

3) My wife is LIVID about wanting to use the Air now. She is just plain mad that she is controlled by this "creature comfort".

The moral of the story is...
Grid Use = Grid Dependency

You said you had a primitive youth without running water. Turn off the water to your house for seven days and write back.