I’m not usually an impulse buyer or big splurger on myself but after some research using the Yuka app and YouTube, I treated myself a Mad Hippie sale. So far the skincare experience has been quite lovely.
So then I started to explore concepts more based in simple living. Books like "The Abundance of Less," "The Good Life," and "Simple Living in History," resonated with me so much more than a lot of the FIRE media that emphasized hustle culture. I wanted my financial independence strategy to reflect my values instead of doubling down on the aspects of culture that I was critical of in order to get ahead. So I decided that I needed to focus on lowering my expenses, and I knew I would need to move to a LCOL area to do that.
Last year I left my burnout job and reduced my expenses by moving to a LCOL area where I knew no one but finally had some land to pursue my homesteading dream. I took a leap of faith with no plan and no real sense of how I would support myself. I have been working temporary jobs on and off, which was nice in some ways because I could take weeks or months off to focus on personal projects. I was making enough to subsist, but not enough to save, which made me nervous. In addition to wanting to be prepared for emergencies, I also wanted a cushion to fund a pivot to new lines of of work. So recently I took a permanent position going back to my old work, and I am starting to get sucked back into the feelings of chronic stress, lack of fulfillment, and time starvation that I felt before. I can already feel the toll it is taking on my health, and I fear it is too high a price to pay.
I want to find a middle path, a way that I can do work that is fulfilling without burning out or becoming homeless and starving. I don't have any role models to guide me as my friends and family do not believe in deviating from the professional career script. I have shocked them all by making this leap, but they continue to feed my fears of financial insecurity. I have to continually battle against the feeling that suffering through a job I hate is the only way to live. It is either that or starvation, or so I've been made to believe.
That is why I find the premise of this book fascinating. I would love to learn about paths toward financial independence that allow people to still live authentically and honor their values.
Hi Angel,
Thanks so much for sharing. Where can I find an updated post on how and what you’re doing now? What does your middle path look like?
It’s after midnight… I should be sleeping but instead I’m plotting and daydreaming.
I’ve been trying to quit my job since the first month I was hired but I get paid well for what I do and life’s challenges and tragedies had me stay put longer than I anticipated I could.
I’m longing for a simpler life with less financial overhead, more living off the land, creativity and likeminded community.
I have 2 indoor/outdoor cats that I’m not willing to part with.
I have basic experience with organic home gardening and caring for chickens. I can help with childcare, tutoring, homeschooling, cooking, gardening and am willing (and eager) to learn other homesteading/permaculture skills. I have experience bartering rent for nanny services and enjoyed living with families but having my own space to retreat to. I also have administrative, data entry, and personal assistant experience… I’m also a singer and songwriter.
I am willing to relocate for the right opportunity. (I’m not interested in any funny business or trade agreements that would compromise my value system.)
I don’t drink, smoke, or use recreational drugs… never have and never plan to.
Please purple mooseage me if you or someone you know is interested.
I’d also love to hear out of the box suggestions in planning and making my escape.
Second, congratulations on your second post. Thanks for sharing the pictures, so that we can see the project steps.
What was your motivation in choosing a keyhole garden as opposed to other designs?
I think living in community and offering a work exchange for rent on your land is a wonderful idea. I've found as a woman, it can provide an element of safety that I wouldn't get living alone and great to have people help with projects that you need and wouldn't be able or want to do alone.
Timothy Norton wrote:I know of someone who utilizes the pine pellets sold at most big box agricultural stores for their cats. While it is not clumping so it might make scooping a bit difficult, it managed smells well.
I am looking into this now for my indoor/outdoor cats along with a stainless steel sifting litter box (SuzziPaws is the one I’ve read most about so far.)
I was trying to think what I could inexpensively upcycle as a makeshift litter box… stainless steel sink? They are pretty easy to find cheap or free. Large steamer pan with insert? Catering pan?
I plan on coming up with a solution this week.
Some reviews I’ve read of people who have used pine bedding as litter is that they do just put it back into the earth in their yard.
