Pondering Self-Sufficiency



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What if you could grow your own food, build your own house, and live largely off-grid?  That’s a notion that seems to be taking over my mind these days.  Some of it may be driven by the recession, but I think there are larger concerns at play.

I’d love to eat fresh, untainted food year-round.  And I’ve found lots of satisfaction in assisting with building projects.  Living off-grid would mean keeping more money in my pocket for the areas that I can’t manage sustainably (toilet paper, internet access, and doctor bills come to mind).  Of course, good old-fashioned barter is also an honorable path to obtain goods and services you can’t produce yourself.  And there's always the concept of a co-operative.

The big question, I guess, is exactly why would I want to take on more projects and work than I already have?  It would be a lot easier to go out to eat, live in a dwelling with square rooms built by someone else, and just flip the light switch on.

Photo by Marianne McTighe Smith

The last few years, my husband and I have grown some of our own food, and we’ve found it very rewarding.  Between the gardening supplies and water bills, I can’t honestly say that it’s cheaper; but it’s fresher, healthier, and insanely gratifying.  I marveled at the loofah I grew last summer, and I enjoy cooking with herbs and veggies picked right outside our door.  Composting has surprised me by becoming a contemplative practice.

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We’re considering adding laying chickens, milk cows, and more goats to our small farm.  But I haven’t quite been able to fully commit.  Some days the lure of nearby Center Hill Lake and the need for a serious vacation dominate my thoughts.  Milking twice daily and gathering eggs/caring for more critters is not always appealing.  Yet I can’t quite picture myself on the lake without a garden or farm animals, either.  In a perfect world, I’d find us a farm on the water.  But I digress. 

Many farmers are turning towards solar power to run their animal operations.  It just makes sense.  And designing your own dwelling to suit your unique needs and becoming more self-sufficient in the process?  Well, that’s something I can get excited about.

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Have you ever considered what self-sufficiency would look like?  You don’t have to go whole hog; baby steps can definitely be meaningful.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Disillusionment: Five Ways to Beat It

My good friend lost her dream job, her boyfriend, and had a near-death experience all in the course of one month.  And her bad luck is still continuing; she’s like the poster child for Job.  Being a glass half-full type, she has coped amazingly well.  Still, the losses are soul-numbing and I find myself thinking a lot about how to successfully deal with disillusionment.

I gave her great advice on how to beat it:

1.      Drink more.

2.      Take drugs.

3.      Kill someone.

4.      Crawl in bed and don’t come out.

5.      Lose your faith so you won’t keep wondering why God hates you.

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Ok, I didn’t really say all that, but I really wanted to.  When your dreams and your peeps and your health all take a nose-dive at once, I’d have to say that disillusionment is the only respectable response.

You might be having thoughts about karmic payback, but I’m telling ya, this is a sweet lady who does good things.  I’ve had similar catastrophes in my own life, but never unrelenting and all at once.  It kind of gives you pause.

My friend has taught me a few things about dealing with disillusionment.  I did promise you five ways to beat it (that weren’t cheeky), so here goes:

1.   Get angry and express it safely.  If you missed my blog on how to   consciously complain, you can read it here.

2.   Retreat.  Pull back and give yourself some alone time.  Skip the shower, wear sweats, and put out the “Not welcome!” sign for a weekend, or even longer.  Indulge yourself and shut the world out.

3.   Oversleep.  I mean, if life sucks, you might as well be unconscious as much as possible.

4.   Accept what is happening to you as you are able.  It is a process, not a contest.

5.   Find a new passion/purpose if you can’t recover what you’ve lost.  Repeat mantras as often as necessary: “It’ll all be ok in the end.  If it not’s ok, it’s not the end.” “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” “Que sera, sera.”  You get the picture.  But you have to embrace the platitudes.  If you don’t like these, feel free to speak your own.

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       Disillusionment is, usually, temporary.  We get mad, we retreat, we eventually accept what has happened, and we move on.

       If you’ve come up with any creative ways of your own to shove aside disillusionment, please share them in the comments.  We’ll all need them sooner or later.  And thanks for reading, ya'll!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com



Truth in Advertising and Hairbrained Hunts



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The ad sounded so nice: “Older Airstream with partially gutted interior.  Needs interior renovation and two new windows.  Good tires and solid floor.  Super cheap.” 


Never mind that my husband had to chase down the ad placer for all he was worth.  Seems the guy was on the road and would be back tomorrow, or the next day, or the next.  He became our BFF, only it was like trying to pull information from a secret agent.  We got lots of one-word answers to our questions and several grunts.

Lesser men would have been daunted, but not us.  We must have something in our genes that makes us hairbrained hunters.  You might have read my previous blog about picking, but if not, you can read it here.  Our picking roots are strong, and we are constantly searching for the next great deal.

We’re obsessed DIY-ers, and we’re always at least two or three projects ahead of ourselves.

Said Airstream was to become my new office, allowing my present office to become a real guest room, and giving us the opportunity to remove the Queen Size bed from the middle of our living room/hallway.  Perhaps then we would actually be able to open our front door!  We had high hopes of salvaging our current state of existence after an overly aggressive downsizing.

I moved some work around, and we got up at the crack of dawn to see the sun rise over the old Airstream.  We were both fighting bone-crushing fatigue and freezing temps, but off we went.  Grumpy conversation followed as we hadn’t ingested enough caffeine yet.  Forty miles of grump later, we arrived.

When I first saw the Airstream, I was beyond excited.  My wildest hopes were being confirmed—it was a dream.  I KNEW our persistence had paid off!  It was absolutely stunning!  I held my breath and smiled.




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But, as fate would have it, that wasn’t the “for sale” Airstream.  That was the “I’m keeping it” model.  The “for sale” model was hidden behind the new and improved version.

Ok, it had been turned over.  Or maybe run over.  And yes, the aluminum had pulled away from the floor and you could see air inside between the rusted floor and the wildly painted walls.  And did I mention that the interior was not only “gutted,” but that it looked like it had been bombed? 

The two missing windows no longer had the plywood on them that was featured in the lovely ad photo, and rain water was standing in the floor.  The remaining windows were not windows at all, but a cheap plexiglass substitute.  I had to smirk at the “no smoking” sign taped on the crooked front door.  Was anyone really worried about setting this gem on fire?

Hopes were dashed and we left laughing, planning to shop again another day.

What are YOU looking for?  I’d love to hear about it.  (Please leave a comment!)  And if you have a second-hand Airstream that’s a gem, you know how to contact me J.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writeratheranch.com

Top Ten Life-Changing Health Tips for Baby Boomers

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I’m not a doctor; I only play one on TV.  But seriously, I have been obsessed with the concept of a healthy lifestyle for as long as I can remember.  I’m certainly no poster child.  I often make unhealthy choices, and I teeter on the edge of stress-overload frequently. 

But I’m doing better.  And so can you.

I’m sharing my own top ten list of ways to make your life healthier, Boomers.  If you’re already doing them all, kudos to you!  If you learn a few things, that’s even better.  And I hope you’ll also share your own health secrets with me.  I’d love to hear them!

1.   Cook everything you can in pure coconut oil to improve your memory.  Here’s why!   Thank you, Mary Ann Robinson, for bringing this tip to my attention!

2.   Manage your stress by using both sides of your brain for a single task as often as you can.  For example, I’m currently using a dance fitness DVD.  I’m learning the steps with the left side of my brain, and doing the actual movement with the right side of my brain.

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3.   Eat fresh/limit preservatives.  Buy locally; know where your food comes from.  Even better, grow it yourself and eat it at its peak!  And the gardening itself contributes to your health and flexibility.

4.   Stay active physically and socially.  Social media is good for you!  But don’t give up in-person contact.   Everyone needs a sense of community.  If you live in the middle of nowhere like I do, this is especially important!

5.   Take supplements, especially to support your weak spots.  If you’re not sure what to take, spend some time with Andrew Weill, MD.  Don’t dismiss supplements; they've made a world of difference in my own health and in the health of friends and family members.

6.   Get regular check-ups, but use common sense about how often to have invasive tests and x-rays.  If you don’t have a family history of XYZ, it may not be necessary to be constantly screened.  Take responsibility for your own health.  That includes finding a physician that you trust.

7.   Pay special attention to your teeth.  They are a good indicator of your overall health, and you really can’t do without them.

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8.   Stay involved in something you feel passionate about.  Finding your passion is one of the keys to longevity.

9.   Be a caretaker for someone else.  Make that daily phone call to check on an elderly friend.  Volunteer occasionally at your local soup kitchen or food pantry.  If you don’t like structure, practice “random acts of kindness.”



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10.   Connect spiritually, whatever that means to you.

Be well, my friends!  And don’t forget to leave that comment about what’s working for you in your own pursuit of health and happiness.  And, as always, thanks for reading!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com