Surrogate guide figure?

Hi there everyone!

(Let me preface that this does in fact finally come around to being relevant to this category. )

This is my first post to the forum. I've been doing some reading of various topics on the entire forum. Almost a year ago, I was introduced to the concept of Permaculture and I am fairly new to homesteading over all. Ideally, this is the world I want to surround myself with, and the more I've read on Permaculture, the more I have become so ecstatic about it. It seems to fit perfectly with the way I approach life, and it's kind of hard to summarize easily, much like my own views on the world and life.

If anyone ever gets into personality types at all, I'm an INFP. It means that I feel like a stranger almost all the time, in every social circle there is.

What I'm looking for, more than anything right now, is some surrogate guiding friend, someone who sees the world more in the way a permie would. I feel like I have so many prisms and interests that mean so much to me, but I am a deer in headlights trying to figure out the best way to start (or continue) this journey.

The parts that mean the most to me seem so ideal but lack the foundation that is needed in order to be "secure", financially stable, but my values cringe at going about life in the way that I know (to go the full-time office person).

I would really love to find some amazing artisan guru who has talents in some craft that is at risk of dying out, and become a long-term apprentice. I seek something of a more old-fashioned community style, but with a solid grounding in modern life as well, because I think it's wise to still be connected with the crazy but very real society that's out there.

So, that's a bit of the scope of it. Is there anyone on here that would be willing to provide some jump-off points? Maybe we could start a dialogue. I honestly don't have a good network of solid friends to bounce ideas off of, and my family has dissipated into nearly nothing (time, death, distance).

I want to start picking up the pieces and get plugged in, but feel taxed, a bit scared to connect, and would really like to have some path light up, saying "hey this is a good route to begin, it will yield promising results", instead of the pinball effect I've been feeling for a while now.

Thanks for reading! Oh and other stats - 35 / Fem / Southern Oregon / Single & no kids

Hi Amy. Hang in there sister. Though I only know my path, I am certainly willing to listen to questions and at least put you within a few degrees of North to your desired goals. As an INFJ, (and a practicing Permie in the wheat belt) I know how it feels to feel alone. But it is just a feeling after all. The truth is we are not alone. Just the fact that you know what a personality type is, and how it influences your life, means you are already into self introspection; thus your best friend and mentor is waiting for recognition. Inside of ourselves is where folk like us belong, we are the intuitive thinkers (and our list of accomplishments is massive). We just visit that "crazy and very real society" outside for perception, social life, money, and amusement. Once the comfort of your reason-for-being sets in, your golden!

Email me anytime at mor4humanity@live.com.

And listen to good song eh? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMUddV4V7ss

Thank you for the reply! I enjoy Tool very much. Good stuff!

Howdy Amy welcome to permies!

I have found so much good advise and good people here at permies. I think you will find the same.
I know how hard it is to open up with your thoughts and dreams.
Hopefully you will feel comfortable enough here to continue to ask for help.
Maybe you will find more than one Guide?

Welcome to the forums Amy. Dont be afraid to readup a little on a "trade" and then jump in head 1st and make a few mistakes, to me that is the best way to learn.

Welcome Amy-
Glad you mentioned the Jungian personality types, very interesting to me. Your honest self reflection got me to delve a bit deeper into the framework. Turns out I am a bit of a unique personality, not really any suprise there, but INTJ isnt too common for men in America these days. Go figure, sure explains why I am always hearing that I am one of a kind. So I relate, off in my own little world on my own. But I must say, being me is the greatest thing I could possibly be. My path has come clear, and I am able to harness my unique traits in a way that gives great meaning and value to my life. So all I can say is to enjoy who you are, trust in your talents, and be you every day. I wish you great satisfaction on your path.
Adam

All great feedback I'm reading. It's late, but wanted to thank you all for the replies and I will respond soon.

Your post is quite unique and I find myself coming back to it again and again trying to figure it out! Not sure if you want a guru, a mentor, a boyfriend, a father figure, or ?.....
If you're really interested in experience, you could check out WWOOF and the wwoof/volunteer section of this site. You might well find some long-term opportunities in specific fields that way. Many people and communities want newcomers to visit/volunteer for a specific period (with plans retained for life elsewhere in case it doesn't work out), to make sure all is compatible before further opportunities present themselves. If it's education you're after you might consider a PDC or one of the longer permaculture apprenticeships, such as are offered at Geoff Lawton's place and no doubt elsewhere. These can be pretty pricey! (I always thought it quite an achievement of capitalism to invent a system where people pay you to come and do work for you!) But knowledge will be transferred in a deliberate and organized fashion, which you could get otherwise, but only by multiple wwoof experiences, diligent study of the texts, and plenty of self-motivated research.
There are permaculture sites and people near you....have you checked them out?
What about an intentional on-line correspondence, or simply diligent participation and reading on a forum like this?

Adam Klaus wrote:Welcome Amy-
Glad you mentioned the Jungian personality types, very interesting to me. Your honest self reflection got me to delve a bit deeper into the framework. Turns out I am a bit of a unique personality, not really any suprise there, but INTJ isnt too common for men in America these days. Go figure, sure explains why I am always hearing that I am one of a kind. So I relate, off in my own little world on my own. But I must say, being me is the greatest thing I could possibly be. My path has come clear, and I am able to harness my unique traits in a way that gives great meaning and value to my life. So all I can say is to enjoy who you are, trust in your talents, and be you every day. I wish you great satisfaction on your path.
Adam

Hey Adam,

My best friend is an INTJ, so I know how cool y'all are (and unique as well). What I enjoy about the INTJ's is how cool-headed and thorough they are about life. You're thought process is essential for me because I feel like I can run my crazy whirlwind of ideas and plans by you and you'll genuinely get just as interested, but you'll ask all the good logical questions that I sometimes have answers to, and sometimes not. I go with my gut and the way things sing in my heart when I discover them, but the INTJ has calculations and measurements. It's a good thing.

I appreciate what you said because it happens to be the reoccurring message and theme "be who you are now and stop worrying about it". That's a cool morsel of advice.

Thank you!

Alder Burns wrote:Your post is quite unique and I find myself coming back to it again and again trying to figure it out! Not sure if you want a guru, a mentor, a boyfriend, a father figure, or ?.....
If you're really interested in experience, you could check out WWOOF and the wwoof/volunteer section of this site. You might well find some long-term opportunities in specific fields that way. Many people and communities want newcomers to visit/volunteer for a specific period (with plans retained for life elsewhere in case it doesn't work out), to make sure all is compatible before further opportunities present themselves. If it's education you're after you might consider a PDC or one of the longer permaculture apprenticeships, such as are offered at Geoff Lawton's place and no doubt elsewhere. These can be pretty pricey! (I always thought it quite an achievement of capitalism to invent a system where people pay you to come and do work for you!) But knowledge will be transferred in a deliberate and organized fashion, which you could get otherwise, but only by multiple wwoof experiences, diligent study of the texts, and plenty of self-motivated research.
There are permaculture sites and people near you....have you checked them out?
What about an intentional on-line correspondence, or simply diligent participation and reading on a forum like this?

Hi Alder, I chewed a bit on your message as well. You have asked some pretty good questions and offered great advice that I could only interpret as "get out there and do it". Which is a great idea, actually. I could actually probably get myself to learn under a Permie guru as soon as the beginning of the 2014 year, as I'm in a hub for it. It's most definitely an idea I'm musing over. I would kind of like to have a bit more buffer financially before I go that route, which has gotten me more focused on the technical avenue. I have the talent, I just need to be more diligent.

Anyway, the tip to stay involved in the Permie forum is another one I want to improve on as well. One of the easier things to do right now.

So to answer your question about what sort of person I am seeking, and that makes sense, because I posted in the Singles forum. I mostly posted here because I am indeed single, and searching for kinship with people that have many of the same values I do. I definitely hope to meet a great guy and get married eventually, but this is something I seek on a secondary level. Mostly because I am working on me first.

Does that make sense?

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Be well,
Amy