Drastic times = Change in Life style

[TNLib]

Because of the increase cost of fuel, food and other commodities I have drastically changed how I live over the past few years. I use to alway spend allot of time at malls and expensive grocery stores (like fresh market) I use to spend allot of money eating out at high priced chain restaurants like out back and Long horn. Over the years I've changed my lifestyle. I rarely eat out for dinner. I've become a vegetarian. I bought a hybrid vehicle. I moved close to where I work. I've stayed at jobs that I really don't like just to live closer to work. My mother moved in with me because she can't afford to live on her own. Now I'm starting a vegetable garden and I've always had a black thumb. I shop at the dollar tree now.

And I have a good paying stable job in IT but I feel it's necessary to make changes in my life style because of survival.

But at some point I wonder when is it going to end and how far do we need to go.

I'm starting to think we are going to back to the days where every home has a garden, farm and chickens and pretty soon we'll be putting up stables and riding horses to get around town. The grocery store may become that little country shop around the corner, but instead of being in the country it will be in the suburbs or city. I think we're going back in time. I just wonder how far back.

[MedleyMisty]

1. To the Dark Ages if we don't stand up

I like your view. I could live like that. I could handle that.

But if we don't fight back, if we just lie down and take it, they want us to go back to feudalism and serfs and plagues and only the priests and nobles being able to read.

[Warpy]

2. I inherited money when my dad died, but I still live like a poor person

I no longer have to dress out of thrift shops (I contribute, instead) and I'm able to eat a slightly more varied diet, but those are about the only changes I've made.

I did buy a little Kia econobox, so I don't feel the gas price changes as acutely. I have a gas floor furnace for heat in a state that's a net producer; still, my highest gas bill last winter was $78.00 during a month when the lows bottomed out at -10 and valves supplying gas to various parts of this state froze and a lot of people were without heat. I had heat, I just didn't use much of it, I guess.

Vegetable gardens are pretty easy, just remember to water them if you don't get rain and things start to droop. Other than that, you're at nature's mercy. Just don't forget to plant your winter crops of cabbage, collards, carrots and parsnips around the end of August or the first of September.

I wish I could have a garden here but the cost of water is prohibitive.

[CreekDog]

3. Most countries with our wealth are not going back

and I think it's problematic to think that we are going as far back as you are saying here.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I don't think that this is a bad lifestyle change, but I do understand

that you are concerned for the future. You really can look at this as a choice, since you really didn't have to make these changes.

These changes are occurring in many household out of fear and uncertainty. When (if?) the ecomony gets back on track, many will go back to the same consumerism and waste that were prevalent prior to this "recession". I hope that you will be satisfied with this new lifestyle enough to continue on this path when the fear is gone. Think of how much more freedom you have when you are not a slave to consumerism. This is a positive step.

[freshwest]

7. +1,000

[Dappleganger]

5. These are all just small changes which in reality aren't going to make much of a difference.

Yes, they make you feel good and help with extra change at the end of the month. But honestly, they will make only a tiny dent in the rising costs of these three:

Medical care
Housing
Education

[Toucano]

12. Myopia, thy name is Dappleganger.

Small changes accumulate and make substantial difference over time.

The failure to recognize the power of small changes to change everything keeps everyone from changing ANYTHING.

Every little thing you can do to change for the better, you should do.

[Dappleganger]

13. Take a look at this...

it's a rather long video, but you'll see there's more to it than just tiny changes which will address our problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A&feature=share

I'm not trying to downplay the changes you've made, and obviously they are helping you some--only saying that these changes are tiny in comparison to what really are the bigger problems with regards to the middle class (and of course the poor as well).

[Toucano]

14. You keep on keepin' on and the rest of us will make the small changes necessary for the survival

of the planet.

I'm familiar with Prof. Warren's work. It's exemplary.

The U.S. middle class lifestyle of 3 hour suburban commutes from 3-car-garage homes, shopping at the hermetically sealed and heavily air-conditioned Galleria as an "activity" or therapy, and fresh strawberries in the middle of December is unsustainable and will collapse.

[Dappleganger]

15. That's not what she said.

Please, take some time to watch the video completely.

[freshwest]

6. I've made those changes years ago, you're on the good path. Vegetarianism eases dependence.

I wish to Gawd I could live in the country, I know how to make thing grow and handle all of that, sans chemicals, etc. It requires a nest egg or family to do so which leaves many people in town.

Don't worry about how far it goes, so long as you have people you can trust around you. Sadly, there are as many bad actors in the country as in the city, just more land area.

As far as where we'll end up, it's now said that some of the third world countries are ahead of us in terms of being independent, being able to pick and choose what technologies they want. They can have laptops and wireless web connections with the rest of the world run on solar. They can cook their food and purify their water with low-tech solar, run wells with wind or solar.

Surely that's not what we can do here for the most part. All those countries have those hubs of modernity like the big cities here, but we are very connected here. Our lives are dependent on the digital bank system, we don't live naturally.

We have decided that the trappings of 'civilization' are what makes a life worth living, rather than just living. Our measurements are not like theirs, wherever our system of doing things moves into those regions, people are dispossessed, their ties to the land taken away from them. It's a sick system that profits on the death of what the Earth has offered us so generously, with little cost.

I suggest doing a search on the words of David Korten, both on google and youtube and the online magazine Yes! If I could move out into the world as you are preparing to do, I would, but my family won't do it, so I remain.

Keep taking care of what you love, and remember that you are not giving up the most important of all things, the love of family.

You're 'doing it' right.

:hi:

[Skidmore]

8. Our lifestyle has been fairly thrifty throughout.

As a young mother single-parenting a pair of kids, thrift was essential. I grew up in a family which was dirt poor so I was used to living on a shoestring. My husband and I keep cars until they die and we choose ones which get good mileage. Our home is weatherproofed and we regulate heat in the winter and dress in layers. We wear clothing until we get the maximum use out of them. I shop at the Salvation Army and Good Will for my gardening clothing. The bulk of clothing I own are in classic styles which wear well and I have owned them for years. Of course, I don't go out much these days so they get little use. We bulk buy dry goods and get buy meat from a local farmer. We garden every year and I freeze quite a bit. We only have half a dozen pieces of furniture in our house which we actually bought new. The rest are used pieces. My husband rehabs electronic equipment and small appliances and donates it to charity shops so it gets a second life. I sew and knit.

We don't go to movies or out to dinner except on a special occasion. The only extras we allow for is internet hook up and calls to our kids. We do keep satellite hookup, otherwise there is no reception out here and vile Mediacom would be the only cable available. We don't travel except to visit the kids a couple of times a year. No cruises or resort vacations. No flights.

Essentially there is not much more we can adjust downward.

[femrap]

9. Make sure you are saving

as much money as possible. If you have a 401K, invest as much as possible....at least as much that the company matches. To me, money represents FREEDOM.

I'm very proud of you....eating meals at home and becoming a vegetarian. And the garden....very good steps to take. And it sounds as if you are enjoying it. Happiness isn't dependent on Spending $ and having 'things.'

You are light years ahead of many....Good for you!!!

[TNLib]

11. thanks I am enjoying the gardening and becoming a vegetarian has been great

But I wonder if this is something that our society is headed toward. Are we all going to have to become self sustainable?

I have a friend who is thinking of becoming a Vegetarian because all he can afford is beans and canned vegetables.

[femrap]

16. This IS the

Decline of the American Empire....it's not going to get better. Being self-sustaining is the way to go. And beans are pretty tasty with the right kind of herbs.

I grew up on bread and gravy....my grandparents lived The Depression.

And I fear their Depression was a picnic compared to the one we're facing....no family farms now.

[southerncrone]

17. If it is what we are all headed for, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Being self-reliant is what made this country great. It began to falter when we allowed ourselves to let the corporations & govt. "take care of us".

I teach HS & one of the first questions I ask my students is: "What can you DO?" They make lists w/things like batting avgs., speed of texting, computer game skills, etc. Some don't EVEN UNDERSTAND the question. Secondly, I ask them what their parents can do. Then I ask if the skills they have could help them survive if we lost power, or couldn't get gas, or if the stores couldn't replenish their stock, etc. We have an open discussion about these possibilities with them brain-storming ideas. I encourage all of them to find a hobby that will help them survive if the mall or Walmart closes down......growing some food (even if it's a tomato plant on the patio), learn to knit, sew, fix things, cook. We are in a semi-rural area w/lots of hunters & fisherman, but they still expect McDonald's to be open.

This is one of the areas that NCLB has ruined education. According to my superintendent, I am not supposed to teach anything that is not a state standard for my class. Most teachers are stymied by this ridiculous rule. I'm fortunate that I can manipulate the topic to fit one of my standards & DO. Kids need to problem-solve on a personal basis w/relevant idea formation, not just regurgitate info back on a bubble test.

This is foreign thinking for them, but somebody's gotta awaken them to future possibilities & needs.....it might as well be me.

Good luck w/your garden; you are in a good area to grow vegs....I grew up there. :hi:

[upi402]

10. Good for you!

I did this years ago, last year it was needed. Old timers saved everything for a reason. Worth remembering too.

Sundance Channel airing 'Garbage Warrior' now. Impressive sustainable ides.