One thing I have noticed during my journey towards a sustainable lifestyle, is that the further we travel, the more peaceful it gets. Less stress, less expenses, less shopping, less ‘wants’. On the flip side, more vegetable, more eggs, more communication, more family time, better health, but most of all, more fun and happiness.
Life has slowed right down, and it is just fine. Even my job is not a hassle anymore. Life seams just too easy. I really wonder how I ever got things done before my injury, and now that I live life in the slow lane, it is not stressful at all.
When everyone around me are worried about the world economic crisis, and the doom and gloom in the media, I am not getting too excited about it. Sure, I have a mortgage, but a small one as far as I am concerned and it is more than manageable if I had to seek alternative employment for any reason. I also have a loan that I took out to buy the Solar PV, but that is mostly paying itself off from the savings we make from our power bill (or should I say, lack of power bills). So as far as financial obligations go, we are still paying off big chunks of these debts, above and beyond what is expected of us. We are able to do this because we are so used to being frugal, all the extra cash gets paid off of debt.
We have needs of course, but try and fill those with our own produce first, before going off to the shop to buy whatever it is we require. Bread is baked daily and we buy the flour in bulk. We get four eggs per day from our wonderful chickens, all the veggies you could possibly want in our garden, and a stockpile cupboard full to the brim with home made preserves and jams and other daily necessities. It gives me a warm feeling inside knowing that if the world went to hell in a hand basket, we would be OK for quite a while (not that I want that to happen, of course).
A sustainable lifestyle is full of daily triumphs. Like the day our chooks laid their first egg, and the first week we made more electricity than we consumed. Like the moment you discover the seeds you planted in early spring burst through the soil to greet you. The brilliant colour of the first spring rose that has survived a constant aphid attack, showing you that if nature can get through adversity, you can as well. And the last nail banged into the chicken coop just hours before we were due to pick the chooks up with all the family lending a helping hand to get it completed in time!
Looking back on the journey so far, I would never have thought that it would be these simple little victories that would give me the most joy. It makes my heart sing just thinking about these wonderful moments in time.
I believe that I am a better man for living through the experiences and look forward to every day to see what it will bring. Let the future bring what it may. We are ready!
Life has slowed right down, and it is just fine. Even my job is not a hassle anymore. Life seams just too easy. I really wonder how I ever got things done before my injury, and now that I live life in the slow lane, it is not stressful at all.
When everyone around me are worried about the world economic crisis, and the doom and gloom in the media, I am not getting too excited about it. Sure, I have a mortgage, but a small one as far as I am concerned and it is more than manageable if I had to seek alternative employment for any reason. I also have a loan that I took out to buy the Solar PV, but that is mostly paying itself off from the savings we make from our power bill (or should I say, lack of power bills). So as far as financial obligations go, we are still paying off big chunks of these debts, above and beyond what is expected of us. We are able to do this because we are so used to being frugal, all the extra cash gets paid off of debt.
We have needs of course, but try and fill those with our own produce first, before going off to the shop to buy whatever it is we require. Bread is baked daily and we buy the flour in bulk. We get four eggs per day from our wonderful chickens, all the veggies you could possibly want in our garden, and a stockpile cupboard full to the brim with home made preserves and jams and other daily necessities. It gives me a warm feeling inside knowing that if the world went to hell in a hand basket, we would be OK for quite a while (not that I want that to happen, of course).
A sustainable lifestyle is full of daily triumphs. Like the day our chooks laid their first egg, and the first week we made more electricity than we consumed. Like the moment you discover the seeds you planted in early spring burst through the soil to greet you. The brilliant colour of the first spring rose that has survived a constant aphid attack, showing you that if nature can get through adversity, you can as well. And the last nail banged into the chicken coop just hours before we were due to pick the chooks up with all the family lending a helping hand to get it completed in time!
Looking back on the journey so far, I would never have thought that it would be these simple little victories that would give me the most joy. It makes my heart sing just thinking about these wonderful moments in time.
I believe that I am a better man for living through the experiences and look forward to every day to see what it will bring. Let the future bring what it may. We are ready!
Yup thar Gavin, (hillbilly accent)theres a only one thang left for ya to do now. git yourself wanna those rocking chairs and sit in it on the porch smokin something ya plucked outa ya garden in a bog ole corn cob pipe.
We could sit and wath Eco Boy wrestle gators by the pool and the little lady could shoot any varmits that come over that thar fence.
Oh, Phil! You make me sound like a country yokel. Far from it mate.
Gav
Oh, how I’d love to have the space and opportunity to do more but it just isn’t possible. As a renter, I can’t make too many drastic changes and I only have a tiny garden but I do agree, since making the changes I have made, life’s become so much more pleasurable. I’m not too concerned about the economic situation either because I know that by being frugal, I can survive on very little.
For the love of Garden Gnomes Phill!!!!! (You forgot his whittling stick and knife)…..
Gav, Awsum to see so much work paying off for you, lax back and continue to enjoy the ride…..
xoxox
I am with you Gavin…living this way makes life so much easier and more fun and yet still people resist it because they can’t imagine life without consuming actually being better. Sad but true,
yup. slowing down, smelling the roses, stepping off the treadmill, refusing to keep up with the joneses, whatever you call it, is liberating both on the body and the mind. bring on the slow revoloution! actually, in all seriousness, sustainability/scarcity issues will eventually force most of us to do so.
Sounds looovveellyy! I’m convinced and have been for some time but how do I get my hubby on board with me??? I have started a vegie patch (started off small to see if I would stick with it) and am now wanting to expand – wanting chickens too but he sees them as ‘work’. I know I could talk him into it but I’m scared I will find it all too much and he’d tell me “I told you so and now we’re stuck with them!”. Any advice appreciated!