Bran: Can one live "off the grid " to a small degree or is it rather an uncompromising way of life?

Depends on your definition. That's one reason why I'm asking. We have a wood stove and a well. We can survive the winter.

tsuwm: #3 should read?

3. living in such a way as not to minimize the awareness of one's identity to government/industry.

I didn't even notice that. Getting feisty in your dotage, then?