I face this dilemma often in my mind, I do aspire to live off-grid, or at least produce much of our food via a garden, perhaps a few chickens, a good size greenhouse with a vibrant aquaponics setup. Does success require 'burning the boat' or can I work into it by getting skills and testing my discipline to get these things working in my current suburban situation? For this planting season I hope I get a good harvest at least. Congratulations on your journey thus far, and thank you for sharing a realistic view, I wish you all the best.