Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> > . Their number is $960.
>
> That seems very high.  Does it include health insurance premiums?

I have somehow mislaid their list. I have asked that they send it again. I 
will report when it gets here.

> We did the same sort of analysis and in deadly earnest.  When we include 
> utilities, taxes, internet hookup, house insurance, life insurance, dental 
> visits for the children, car insurance, tags, and every other fixed cost 
> we could find  and then included some cost for such things as salt, 
> coffee, tea, and things we cannot in any wise grow ourselves ... the total 
> comes to about $290 a month.

I am impressed and I commend you and your family for the achievement.

> > How are you planning for your retirement years?
>
> By not retiring, at least in the usual sense.  By finding things to do 
> that will earn a little income but not be utterly dependent on our 
> circumstances. And to keep the part of our lives where we can earn nothing 
> very short.

That has always been my general plan. Now, I find I want to be selfish, 
follow my bliss, be true to myself. That means designing and building, 
making furniture, creating landscape beauty as I envision it. Nothing is so 
certain as change, so I may find a different path evolving after a year or 
three of going with my flow. I get much satisfaction from helping others, 
so I will probably write the fourth edition of Country Home one day. By 
self-publishing and not spending money on typical promotion, there is the 
chance for modest income.