[Homestead] Go ld -- feel free to ignore
EarthNSky
erthnsky at bellsouth.net
Wed Dec 10 20:53:17 EST 2008
Thanks for responding to the questions...I've got to do some thinking on
this, but wanted to respond as not to seem rude. I may write more later.
Clansgian at wmconnect.com wrote:
>>> James...what is the difference between you plying some trade and Ron
>> plying his at a dealership..the difference is a regular income, however
>> small that might be.
>
> There is not difference. There is no meaningful difference in obtaining the
> required cash by craft trade, job, or farm produce.
>
> The difference is engineering a life, working toward a life, that requires
> very little cash. That means anticipating the emergencies you outlined above
> and providing for them. For instance, I know I live in a place and under such
> trees where the roof can be damaged. So as not to face roof repairs I sheeted
> the roof with 1" planks braced to the 2x6 (rough, so actual 2" by 6" or
> larger) trusses and then that covered with enameled metal roofing. It would take a
> very great deal to damage it.
>
> We know the cow might die any time, not that there is anything wrong with
> her, but animals do that. We depend on that cow, so fifteen years ago we plied
> our trades enough to put back a 401COW fund. It has been sitting there
> untouched for a decade and a half but knowing that at any time we might lose her, we
> prepared for it.
>
> Likewise since you asked, the county allowed us to put in an 800 gallon
> septic with 300 feet of line. But instead we put in a 1200 gallon tank with 900
> feet of line for the express purpose of not having to dig it up later. It's not
> fool proof but it increases our odds. And at the time only cost about 15%
> more. While I'm glad to have it, people have lived without modern septic
> systems for centuries. It's a modern luxury for which I was perfectly happy to muck
> with the modern world to obtain.
>
> Continual outflow of cash is a mindset that financial world is all too happy
> for us to think is just the God given way of things. It isn't.
>
>>> In your homestead
>> world, you might take a long term job to pay for something you need or
>> want, too, like a medical bill.
>>
>
> Like the other anticipations, we have worked all our lives to not have
> medical bills. And, what are the odds, we don't have any.
>
> Bev, it's just my view, although I see so very much that confirms it, that we
> have gotten ourselves into a mental state where we see debt and being behind
> as the lot of our mortal lives. During the time you were a child, who ever
> borrowed money to do anything but buy a house and then it was something that
> gnawed and ate at most people until they paid it off .... early. That's why,
> says I, that we are hearing the Prez panic and wet himself at the idea that
> credit for everyone will dry up. That's why the country is willing to go into
> hock itself for $8T just so a few banks can continue to make loans. We are
> always looking behind us at the financial trail we've left in our wake rather than
> looking forward to what we anticipate we might need.
>
> I'm likely to do a post on this, but let me say that the reason I preach and
> pontificate on the homesteading model I advocate is that if you have your
> food, a place to live, and a way to heat it and cook your food without having to
> stoke those ongoing operations with cash ... you become a financial superman.
> So what, then, if you have a mortgage or medical debt? You are running
> without cement shoes on now, you can devote virtually all you cash, no matter where
> it comes from, to eliminate those things.
>
> But if just keeping the homestead going enough to feed you, keep you warm,
> and put a roof over your head takes most of your money ... how can you ever
> anticipate being free of it.
>
> These realities went into every single homestead decision we made. When it
> came to two ways of doing things, one that involved cash and one that didn't,
> we ALWAYS chose the non-cash way. Now it might not seem so right off the nail,
> but almost every "more efficient", "labor saving" way of doing something
> costs more effort in the end. The cash we haven't spent on tractors, tractor
> equipment, chain saws, gas powered pumps, roto-tillers, exotic farmstock,
> anything but utter bottom feeder vehicles, etc, etc. went into one of our mason jars
> (literal or figurative jars) earmarked for the eventualities we knew were
> coming.
>
> Bev, have you not had people stare at you like a codfish when you said that
> the life on your farmstead was healthier because of the work and good food?
> Well, that happens all the time when I try to explain that we got where we are
> as our economic base here not because we are lucky, not because of some unique
> circumstances, not because all the odds weren't stacked aganst us and we
> avoided every setback and obstacle. There is a method to this and it works every
> time just as surely as eating your homestead fare makes a person healthier than
> a steady diet of McDonalds every time.
>
> James
--
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to
hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda
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