gert lifestyle

Lina Joana wrote:

Susan Mené wrote:
    I am living kind of like Gert; Gert in densely populated suburbia.  I aspire to be full Gert. Can I grow all my own food? Nope, not yet, working on it on my shy acre. I forage, I pressure can/water bath can, I make my own bread when I want it, make "yarn" from old clothing and crochet into mediocre rugs and blankets among other skills that seem useless to the outside world. Leaning into, immersing myself, living permaculture and homesteading in place is my new career.  I know where my money is if I need it.
     
   

I am curious how you achieve this? As I said, I haven’t seen any real life examples of gert.
My understanding of the gert story is that she doesn’t need a paycheck, doesn’t need to work hard most of the year, because she just doesn’t have big expenses and can save money from selling a bit of her easily grown food.  How does it work in suburbia? You mentioned growing and foraging and making rugs - how about water, power, garbage bills? Repairs to the (presumably mortgage free) house? Internet/phone bills? Transportation costs?
I am really curious: my family recently went down to one income, with a toddler I stay home with. I garden, can, cook, haul ass to use wood heat, and do various fiber arts. Seems like we are getting ahead, and then the pressure tank breaks, the wood stove’s baffle is broken, the solar panels don’t cover our electricity usage, the baby needs a hospital visit that reinforces the need for health insurance, and a dozen other little things come up.
I don’t want to suggest we are struggling - one income is enough for our current lifestyle. But gert, we aren’t even close. Either in finances or in the time we spend putting up our own food and all the rest of it. Heck, I can’t even keep the dishes done after all the cooking.
I would love to here how others manage!

     
     Be very proud of yourself!  In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, of value only to me, and not official gert policy and procedure:  You are Gert, way more than me!  And thanks for addressing the overwhelming exhaustion of facing the clean-up after cooking, canning, etc. That is solid truth, so holler it and don't hide it!  I feel it and I don't have a toddler. Everything you do everything while having a toddler besides?  Woman, you are living the Gert life, with all the struggles and joy involved. Getting to a fully stable Gert takes time, luck, and work and you are living the path to achieving it.
      How do I do it?  I'm decades older than you.  My children are grown. We have a nest egg.  So, I guess I am an early retirement Gert-ish woman.  My husband works and always will, because what he does is a calling, not a job. And when I list what I do (canning, etc.) it's not bragging, it's just stuff I learned over the years because I knew what I wanted my life to look like.  
        Be gentle with yourself. I worked part-time as a nurse, plus I was the home anchor for my husband, my daughter, and my wonderful neurodiverse son.  There was probably a decade where I was, well, can't even find the words. Let's just say there was no bread making going on.  
        Oh, the struggle is a difficult, painful, yet achingly beautiful time of life.  At least for me it was.  I don't believe there is any way of life free of struggle and imperfection.  So let the life that you live be all that you need. That to me is Gert.  If I offend the originators of the term, I will give it a new name. And know you are doing well!