This article, by author Michael Bunker, touches on the core of what "off-grid" really means.
Note that the prime example used is our US Amish community. They are "off-grid" almost by definition.
http://www.michaelbunker.com/how-we-do-that-off-grid-part-1/I hope some of this gives you a point of view into what being "off-grid" really means to your way-of-life.
I'm not there, yet.
This article is part 1 and I will look for part 2 when it becomes available.