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  • From: "Lynn Wigglesworth" <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>
  • To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] SE PA going to identifiablenon-cashsmartcardsfortransportation
  • Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:10:07 -0500


One thing I would like to say about most of the women on this list. I don't think you all realize how unusual it is for women to be so strong and independent living a homesteading lifestyle. It is not hard for a female doc to do as a male doc (except for cutters, but that is my opinion), or a female manager to do as a male manager. But, handling animls, including animals larger than you, and house repairs, and children, and producing food, etc, etc. That really is an accomplsihment of strong individualism. ...........bobford


That's why we need men as strong and determined as we are, and they are also hard to find :-) I don't need a man to take care of me, but I would like one who works as hard as I do, and doesn't expect me to take care of HIM. Men I meet who are my age are all looking forward to retirement; working up a sweat farming is the LAST thing on their mind (it would probably kill most of them, anyway).

Going into homesteading with an unwilling partner is a recipe for disaster. My ex was actually very good with large animals, but he hated the whole concept of homesteading. Where I am positive (to the point of stupidity, sometimes) that I can do anything, he has no faith in himself. He was sure that if he had to depend on his own initiative, he'd fail. He lived in constant fear of that "what if?", and it paralyzed him so much that it all came true. Even though he's very intelligent, he's the type who needs a regular paycheck and a boss to tell him what to do...little chance for failure. For homesteading, you have to know that you can count on yourself, and be willing to take the risk. He just didn't have the independent Homestead personality, and it didn't work.

I get really annoyed sometimes that it's all up to ME, but I never have a single doubt that I can do it. I try to devise ways to make the work easier, so I can keep doing it for many years. I don't expect to stay around long after I'm old and poor and useless...I don't expect others to take care of me, beyond an occasional helping hand. My mother is 92 and still lives alone; I'm learning a lot from her about what is and isn't acceptable to expect from family.

Lynn Wigglesworth







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