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[rayzentz AT aim.com]

You know, I have spent a great deal of time pondering why I, personally, like 
big houses.   I am the oldest of a large family, and because of this, had 
little to no privacy, and was always cramped for space while growing up.   I 
like, nay, I need room.   I need space to stretch out.   I suppose if I owned 
a parcel of land of any size, or had a large barn to work in that my "need" 
may be satisfied.   In lieu of that, I have a relatively large house.   We 
have, when necessitated by circumstance, lived in small apartments and 
houses, and it about drove me nuts...actually got claustrophobic at times.   
Anyway, I guess I will always have a big house.   However, we constantly are 
finding ways of being efficient with our power and fuel usage.   For example, 
we use only the newer flourescent bulbs, and only have them lit in rooms that 
are actually occupied (constantly reminding the yard-apes, of course).   We 
also keep our winter temps low, and have the thermostat programmed to reflect 
our occupancy patterns.   Not perfect, but at least an attempt.
 
Ray
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: don.bowen AT earthlink.net
To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:32 AM
Subject: [Homestead] Recent reading


My recent reading has included some books that are addressing many of the 
things we do on this list.

"Little House on a Small Planet" by Shay Salomon.  This book explores the 
problems with large houses.  The social, economic, environmental, energy, 
etc problems of ever larger houses in an era of ever shrinking families and 
resources.  Several examples of small houses are shown along with 
discussions with the owners.  Some are owner built, some are restorations, 
remodels, contractor built,  etc.  My only fault with the book is that it 
spends many pages on co and group housing.  Good ideas in their own right 
but not one of my interests.

"A Handmade Life" by Wm. S. Coperwaith.  A small book with mostly rambling 
about how we can cure many of the world's problems.  Most of the ideas are 
very idealistic but worth thinking about none the less.  He dows have some 
plans for a small Adz and what he calls a "Democratic Chair"  His idea of 
democratic furniture os furniture that anyone can make, use, and feel proud 
of.

"The Party's Over" and "Power Down" by Richard Heinberg.  Both books 
discuss Peak Oil and its possible affects.  Heinberg talks with 
Climatologists and oil Geologists to get a picture of the approximate 
timing of Peak Oil and the consequences of our cheap oil society.  In 
"Power Down" he discusses some options we have to survive Peak Oil but 
points out that we are not doing anything and it will probably be too late 
when we do.  His "Last man standing" scenario.  Both well worth the read.


Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up                       KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com
My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html

I am omnivagant.  
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