[Maytag]

These last two years my life has changed so much…though maybe not on the surface. I’m doing the duck-on-the-water thing. Here are some things of note; I list this all not to brag but just to maybe inspire someone else (and also I’ve never written this all down so this is a good thought exercise for me):

• Trying to absorb as much useful info as I can. Mainly that has materialized as
  – Filling free time with trying to learn all kinds of things from gardening, homesteading, farming, etc. youtube channels. Way better than watching cable TV!
  – Reading books. I’ve read nearly a dozen really good informative and educational books this summer, many recommended by Billy at PPF in one of his videos talking about book recommendations.
• Trying to re-energize my walk with God after a decade of complacency.
• Keeping close track of expenses. I’ve always been frugal but have never kept close track of just how much I’m spending on stuff. This year I’m tracking/categorizing every cent as best I can to see where I can trim the fat. It’s been a good exercise and a good habit to get into.
• Looking for land. I don’t have an exact destination in mind yet, so I’ve been casting a wide net in terms of where I’m looking. The problem, until recently, was “well, if I buy land and move there and the neighbors all want to make my life miserable, then what?” I mean, that could still be a problem, but maybe this site can help me “land” somewhere with some like-minded people nearby. Being single will be a double-edged sword in this endeavor; it’s just me, not a whole family, that would have to uproot from city life, but on the other hand it’s just me… and there’s a lot to do on a homestead, especially if the land is mostly or completely undeveloped when you get it.
• LETTING GO of STUFF. Toys, entertainment media, and other junk around the house. All going on craigslist, eBay, or to friends or family. Still a work in process but I’ve passed 10k in my liquidation profits this year (not bad for “closet cleaning”) which I will be able to spend on more useful things. In hindsight it’s kind of remarkable how easily the switch in my mind flipped to “if it’s not conducive to my goals of getting out of the city and living more independently, then I don’t need to keep it.”
• Quit wasting so much time on vapid entertainment (video games chief among these). I’ve finally hit the turning point to re-prioritizing them for what they are (time wasters fine in small quantities) and not a hobby worth dump large amounts of time and energy (and money) into.
• Getting outside and doing something. Mainly this just means the back yard garden, but not exclusively (small DIY projects, etc.)
• “Simple” household lifestyle changes
  – Other than eating out (usually with coworkers) two or three times a month, I make all my own meals. I bake my own bread now, make my own lunch meats (I’m still buying the meat but it’s a step, ok), brew kombucha, make ferments (which I didn’t even really know was “a thing” until watching Doug & Stacy videos this year), and more.
  – Quit drinking soda, exercise more regularly.
  – Drying the laundry outside to save electricity… it doesn’t take long in the TX heat!

In summary, I feel like I’m trying to make up for part of a lifetime spent in the fog of the matrix lol