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Hello World!
We're celebrating and saying good-bye to friends and family here in the Big D this weekend, but we're so excited about Mr. Blumenthal's eloquent and honest article that I just had to check it out and come over here to see what's happening.
So much to say, but tonight I'm going to take this little vacation for all it's worth and head to bed at the very early hour of 11pm.
I've started to read comments and emails, but it will take me awhile to catch up. Keep 'em coming though...I can't tell you how much I love hearing your stories and ideas and oh the love!
Peace and Love to you all, and many, many thanks to Ralph Blumenthal and Ben Sklar; what a pleasure it was to meet with you both!
xo
We're celebrating and saying good-bye to friends and family here in the Big D this weekend, but we're so excited about Mr. Blumenthal's eloquent and honest article that I just had to check it out and come over here to see what's happening.
So much to say, but tonight I'm going to take this little vacation for all it's worth and head to bed at the very early hour of 11pm.
I've started to read comments and emails, but it will take me awhile to catch up. Keep 'em coming though...I can't tell you how much I love hearing your stories and ideas and oh the love!
Peace and Love to you all, and many, many thanks to Ralph Blumenthal and Ben Sklar; what a pleasure it was to meet with you both!
xo
Posts
21 comments:
I admire you for having the courage to live your convictions, and I look forward to following your story on this blog.
Bless you all!
Buz McGuire
http://tinyurl.com/3he46s
Link to the story.
I couldn't sleep, and I read the article on you guys in the NY Times. I am glad I got out of bed for that one. I agree with what you are doing, and will chat with the hubby in AM- and see where this can take us. We live in a great cage, but like the animals at the zoo. It just doesn't feel right and we both know it. Good luck!
Anne
Congratulations on making this difficult decision to change your lifestyle. My husband and I did a similar thing. We retired from our teaching positions in Alief, TX and sold or gave away almost everything we owned. Then we went cruising on our 35' sailboat. It was our only home for 7 years. We loved our new lifestyle. We have moved to VT and continue to live a fairly simple life (though not as simple as when we were sailing).
I think you will love VT-we do. You will find many folks who want what you do. I hope you are prepared for a severe climate change from TX. You will be arriving during the warm weather. To be sure, you will have a lot of work to do to prepare for next winter. Best of luck to you.
Big virtual hugs and support! You're an inspiration!
I image you've already read 'The Good Life' by the Nearings; it was my inspiration many years ago.
Thanks for the reminder about what's really important.
Viola
Wow!! What a wonderful adventure. Best of luck to you all.
I sat to read the NYT because I was just attacked by a tiny plastic dinosaur- went right through the bottom of my foot.
I think the universe is telling us to PURGE!!
Again, congratulations.
Hi, just read the article - a blast from the past!
My parents wen "back-to-the-land" in northern vermont in 1975. We chopped wood, toted water, baked bread, emptied the night-soil, all the good stuff. My youngest brother was born on the side of that remote hill in a house-trailer hauled all the way from south florida with my dad as midwife. It was all good til the cash ran out, with no way for my dad to peddle his lawyer skills.
As an adult now, father of five, a wide range of homesteading skills far in excess of what my folks had - including ten years of close attention to raising food sustainably - my advice to you on this adventure is: PLAN! Don't make an idealistic jump in the dark. That ship will break up fast on those hard rocks of backwoods realism.
It's very true that you won't need most of your worldy junk, but you will hugely need certain correct stuff. Go look at that piece of ground and the area and meet people before totally cutting yourself adrift. Texas has loads of cheap, flat ground and a long growing season. Vermont has cheap, steep ground in the northeast kingdom with a very short growing season but way fewer insect pests. If you don't have a large garden site well-prepared the fall prior, you will be buying all your food for at least the first year. You will have to buy or barter for all your staples in any case, unless you can live without grain (a viable but drastic dietary change).
Don't fall into the trap that utopia is far away from where you live now. One can homestead in Texas, in Kansas, in Florida, in the north woods, in the suburbs even. You can give away your stuff and find a cheap place to "homestead" and simplify life in the town you live in now.
Consider all the options. Good luck!
Congratulations. I still live in the city, but I've always had a very anti-materialist perspective on life. Keeps me sane.
Haven't read much of your blog yet, but read the NYT article and just wanted to say bravo. I've never gone through such a drastic change, but have always lived much more simply than most Americans and never had much interest in accumulating as much $ and stuff as possible. Stuff's not what life should be about. Best wishes on your journey.
Wonderful! I love it. Folow your dreams of a better life, maybe a better society. I wish you sucess. My husband is too old school for this...I wish I could win him over
This is something my husband and I have been working towards, too. I applaud you. And don't be bothered by people who try and talk negatively about your ideas and ideals. I think many people feel inside that it's something they should do, too, but the knowledge that they're too selfish, or that they couldn't do the same for some other reason is, I think, at the root of most people's hostility. I've gotten that, too. Keep on bloggin' - you're an inspiration!
I read about your family in the NYT and I just wanted to add my "good wishes" to what you're doing! Good luck. Vermont is a fantastic place and you're sure to find other people doing what you want to do. Just beware of the weather - it's much colder than what you're used to in balmy Austin.
Greetings from Central Vermont!
I have to support the comment from scyther. I'm a native New Englander, have lived in Vermont for almost 20 years since moving here for college, and own lots of books about voluntary simplicity, homesteading, organic gardening, you name it. My family will be putting many of these practices in place when I leave my job in a few weeks to stay home with our infant son.
But: I have to tell you, while it's possible to homestead in Vermont, our short growing season, expensive land, and the frighteningly high cost of heating oil (wood isn't any cheaper right now unless you cut it yourself), should give you pause. Also, access to high-speed internet varies considerably from place to place. And because so many Vermont towns are so small, one ends up driving relatively far for even basic supplies. Frankly, people who opt for voluntary simplicity in more settled areas will have a much smaller carbon footprint.
Don't get me wrong. I love Vermont. But understand that the state has a mystique and a "brand" that probably won't match your experience. It's just a place like any other.
Great for you & your family!!
I had often dreamed of a simpler life.( in the country)
If Vermont does not work out, we have several farm acres in nearby
town in the NY Berkshires.
Mike ...
Hello,
Good luck with your journey. I read your story in the NYT (like a whole bunch of other people!). I lived in Maine for 10 years, not off the grid or anything like that, but still, it's Maine. In addition to all those sweaters and socks people are recommnding, I would also recommend very very good boots and snowshoes because snowshoes are practical but also really fun.
I am a grad student for creative writing. My teacher this semester wrote a book about living off the grid. Here is the link on WorldCat. If you put in your zip code, you can find it at the nearest library. (That way you want have to buy something! Ha!)
http://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=worldcat_org_all&q=the+road+washes+out+in+spring
I admire your goals. I am definitely not one to brave that, though. I am rather in love with my shoe collection at the moment and the thought of living without...unbearable! :)
Best of luck!
-Bridge
It is a wonderful unburdening you are experiencing, but one that will have stages. As you have found, sometimes stuff won't leave! I have been paring down for years and continue to do so with each move. I'm a confirmed city dweller, so it is possible to do this and not be a nomad or an organic farmer. I say this not to affect your decision, but to let others know that you can free yourself, no matter where you live. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
We are considering a similar life. My husband telecommuntes and we can't get behind public ed for my 5 year old, so we are thinking of getting rid of the house and everything in it, homeschooling and taking to the road. Good to know we are not alone.
Scyther sounds very wise.
Keep the Christmas decorations. They are the stuff of life and family history, and I am sure that the homesteaders of yore made their own to brighten the cold, dark winter.
You are entitled to that much.
Aimee,
Thanks for getting back to me and informing me of your blog. It's great to be able to follow your adventure. Great story in the NYT! I hope the idea spreads. I've always had the feeling of letting my possessions go, although over time, as having things doesn't quench my soul or needs. I admire your zeal that you both have to follow your this path your dreams have led you on.
Heed some of the nuggets of wisdom and advice you're getting from such bloggers as scyther. They speak from experience and I'm sure it will bode for a better experience down the line.
I would've liked to see you guys here in BigD b4 you head out.
One other thing, if the donations aren't working out w/ the current recipients, try Project Transitions, where my sister helps out.
I wish you, Jeff and the kids the best and will be following your quest.
Your friend in BigD,
Robert
I'd like to add my comments to your lifestyle choice. The world really needs more social conscience, and not just by way of lip service. I applaud your courage.
I was faced with my own awareness when I moved to the Netherlands, although their lack of amassing things is due to high taxes and a knee-jerk reaction to all things American, it's made me more aware, although my age could have something to do with it, as well.
The American medical system could do well with a good dose of social conscience, as well. Can the two of you go whisper a few things in their collective ears?
Hey, It's dave from the last comment thread again. Back in Vermont.
Again listen to the other Vermonters here too. Scyther's esp. As much as I like this place....it's expensive land here due to 'brand name'. Lots of wealthy retired people have moved here already and it's a small state so what's left is expensive.
But I suggest the Northeast Kingdom too...but it's colder and there are no colleges nearby except down in Lyndonville or Craftsbury. But then it's beautiful. I suggest bringing lots of cash to get through the start-up period.
Again, check out NY. Upstate is a great bargain and around Syracuse jobs are more plentiful than here, wages are slightly lower but I've seen lots as low as 20K where here it's more like 120K to 200K for a house lot. Adirondacks are cheaper but getting up there too.
upstate NY. Not quite the cache as Vermont but usually better growing seasons around Syracuse and more land at lower prices. They have a huge farmers market there. As Burlington does too but the vendor's fees went up in Burlington.
A four wheel drive van sounds like a great idea. Good tires are important and/or maybe a truck with a camper (as usually smaller trucks get slightly better mileage than vans..).
Keep us posted. Check out the comparisons of land costs. Realtor.com has a good site for checking out land and housing costs for MLS comparables. Even if you just renting as I am it's good to know the prices of land to judge what even rent will cost.
also, northern farming usually needs livestock: cows, goats, meat. If vegetarian, you'll need a good greenhouse and heat for it. Meat was a necessity in the north country until Calif. veggies were shipped east. You might have to make peace with the idea of exploiting animals or focus on a cash crop. And there our farms that'd love for you to donate your labor (for a very small paycheck).
A friend of mine and his wife make do with candle making, music lessons and spanish lessons (he's from Peru) with two kids (homeschooled) but they were lucky to find a trailer on a lot next to a pond for only 55K about 6 years ago...but deals like that aren't here now.
again good luck. and like Scyther says don't overlook the havens that might be in your own backyard. Vermont has the best Branding in the states with some great political representation (Bernie, Bernie..) but it's not as New Age as you'd might think. We got a Republican governor that's letting the roads deteriorate and local taxes are high (not as high as NH though). NY has better roads but high taxes too.
Good luck, and be flexible.
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