These days, it’s rare to meet someone without a cell phone, internet access, or knowledge of the Kardashians. But for David and Romey Atchley, this is actually their reality. The couple and their kids have been living remotely in the Alaskan wilderness for the last several years, and only leave their home once a year to stock up on food at the closest grocery store— nearly 100 miles away. It might sound crazy, but the family are happy with their lifestyle and content with living entirely off the grid.
Meet The Family Who Only Leave Their Home Once A Year
Jan 4, 2019
Off grid. Many people couldn’t go a day, much less their lives without their phones and computers. But for the Atchleys, it’s never been an issue. That’s because they’ve never had any of those things for them to even miss in the first place.
Wilderness. The family has lived off the grid for years, with parents David and Romey choosing to move into Alaska’s wilderness around 20 years ago. The couple has since raised their two children there and only leave their home once a year when they stock up on supplies.
Remote. “Growing up I was really interested in living off the land. I had this desire to have space around me and really think about life,” said Romey, as reported by News AU. Her husband agreed. “I knew we were remote, but for me it was about having the quiet and hearing my own mind without the noise of the town,” he added.
Homeschooled. The Atchley’s oldest son, 17-year-old Zack, has since moved closer to town, while 14-year-old Sky still lives at home. The kids have been homeschooled their entire lives, and up until recently, Sky had never used the internet and still considers his parents his closest friends.
Friends. “When you live this close to each other in the middle of the woods and you’ve been here for a long time … they’re not just your parents … they are your best friends because you’re all alone with them,” said Sky, via News AU.
Shopping. The only time the family leaves their home is when they go into the nearest town Ruby, which is about 100 miles away, to shop for groceries and supplies. Typically, the family shop for the entire year so that they don’t have to leave their home again.
Extreme. “The shopping spree we do once a year is pretty extreme. We buy everything for a year and we buy all the supplies and we box. They barge it down to Ruby for us … and it usually takes a couple of trips. But once it’s here, you are good for the year,” said David.
Needs. After their shopping trip, the family remain in their home for the rest of the year. They have enough medical supplies in case they have a minor emergency, they hunt and make their own food from scratch, and David even sells tanned hides out of the home for money.
