Can someone please tell me

[amishman]

I propose we pool our resources and start a commune together. We all seem to be sharing a common feeling of needing to get off the wheel. I have a box of used Bay Parts and $1.49. Anyone else? Oh. And a phone card, but I don't know whats left on it.

Land Of The Rising Sun Aircooled Commune.

Sounds like a plan.

Kidding aside, I think some of our 60s and 70s era folks found some good times at communes. I enjoy checking out on the web some communes or group communities of these days. Hippies that live for Christ.

tj

[hambone]

"Kinda of like the amish (or many of them), they have one major focus in life, and that is to dedicated their lifes to God. The work from their home based jobs working for themselves rather than others. Work the land and created a life where they rely on family and less on outside entertainments.

I would love to go back to the basics, find my small plot of land that I am in love with, and work it until the day I am called to heaven. Tired of having to buy my happiness with the toys we must all have these days. I think I would be much happier if I had much less stuff and would be happier if I shared a much closer relationship with my wife and our little plot we call home. tj"

This is exactly, word for word, what I'm feeling/experiencing. Very strange....

[amishman]

"Kinda of like the amish (or many of them), they have one major focus in life, and that is to dedicated their lifes to God. The work from their home based jobs working for themselves rather than others. Work the land and created a life where they rely on family and less on outside entertainments.

I would love to go back to the basics, find my small plot of land that I am in love with, and work it until the day I am called to heaven. Tired of having to buy my happiness with the toys we must all have these days. I think I would be much happier if I had much less stuff and would be happier if I shared a much closer relationship with my wife and our little plot we call home. tj"

This is exactly, word for word, what I'm feeling/experiencing. Very strange....

Maybe we are long lost kin. hehehe. I am 40 now so must be your older brother.

Right now what is keeping me pumped up is building my first shop. I have always had a garage but never got to park in one. Somehow they become homes for all our crap and pets kennels. I finally said enough of that and had a small modest 20x20 garage that is about to be finished for me to start playing mechanic in. Again, I am having to "pay" for this happiness but at least it gives me a little bit.

If I could, and the wife would listen to me for once (grin), I would sell it all and get outta dodge and start anew with a homestead that I would be proud to die in and be burried one day or ashses spread around my forrested property lines.

Maybe I can convince the wife. Yeh, thats the ticket.

tj

[Ritter]

"Kinda of like the amish (or many of them), they have one major focus in life, and that is to dedicated their lifes to God. The work from their home based jobs working for themselves rather than others. Work the land and created a life where they rely on family and less on outside entertainments.

I would love to go back to the basics, find my small plot of land that I am in love with, and work it until the day I am called to heaven. Tired of having to buy my happiness with the toys we must all have these days. I think I would be much happier if I had much less stuff and would be happier if I shared a much closer relationship with my wife and our little plot we call home. tj"

This is exactly, word for word, what I'm feeling/experiencing. Very strange....

I think there are more of us that feel this way than we realize. Only the very brave manage to effect the change in themselves and their circumstances to make this desire a reality. I would be a lot closer to jumping for that reality but for my 3-year old daughter and the need for decent health care. My wife (35) has already survived cancer once, but that shit has a nasty tendency to come back, so heath care is pretty important in my planning. Hard to afford it when you diggin' your garden subsistence farming....

Modern life certainly leaves many of us searching for meaning. I am most alive while backpacking. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen nearly enough. Most of my life is spent here, typing on the computer.

Ritter

[hambone]

I'm happy to have found a bunch of good folks, even if you are a figment of my imagination.

[Gypsie]

Been taking a break from the screen and have missed this thread progression.

I am chiming in with my own 'walnut grove' fantasies. The wife and I have been looking at all the gettin' off the grid stuff. pretty tough and costly to start to get 'off' the grid. but even without getting all the way off the "simple" life sounds good.
It's not all that simple, of course. I spent some time in my young youth, and later, in my college youth living in communal environments. goods and bads. ups and downs. Often hard, and tedious, work I did feel alive though, not just plodding (as I often feel these days).

The idea of a community of folk such as yerselves definitely has attractions. Conscientious, mechanically inclined (for the most part), intellectually spirited people make some of the best community members! I can imagine a valley of little cabins and yurts with a big community pole barn, large enough for a fleet of vans. Well equipt for keepin things ship shape. craftin, growin, commercin. Makin it work. I love them kind of dreams.

I think about this idea of community alot. I do feel that this is one of the biggest holes on our current cultural tapestry. We have water, and roads, advanced medicine, and all sorts of infrastructure to house and support a great many people but we don't really connect with people in many meaningful ways. We could live in our homes for many years and never know the first name of many of our neightbors. Self determination and independance have transformed into isolation and self absorbtion for many.

I think that with the mobility and cultural diversity of our macrocosm we get discouraged trying to find a microcosm that feeds our being. In a way this forum stuff is a community that feeds me.

[LiveonJG]

Wow, I don't know how I missed this thread, and now I feel like I'm showing up late for the party (depressing party for the most part ).

Hambone, It seems we've all been where you are right now. The good news is we've all survived. Something I've found that really works is not overlooking the small things. Those are usually the greatest gifts life can give us. Look at the sky at night, loose yourself in the wonder of it all. Don't look for an explanation or any deeper insight, just look at it.

Let the good vibes flow through your entire being at the smile of your child, spouse, significant other, cute new receptionist, or anyone you encounter. Happiness is very infectious.

A wise man once said: "Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile." It works.

Those little, seemingly insignificant things, can alter you perspective in such a positive way. But, you have to be aware of them for that to happen.

Good luck Hambone. As of this post, the sun is shining, the nights are getting shorter, and we're one day closer to camping season!

These PNW winters can really mess with your head.
-John

[hambone]

Beautiful words, John. Thank you.

[Emily's Owner]

Look outside Bob, it's beautiful sunshine today and Eva wants to go play........what more could you want? We will be having our April birthday party again at the Lab too you know........

[hambone]

Thank you too Margaret. I see your beautiful smile in your words.

[steve74baywin]

I hope no one minds these post from the past.
This thread looks like it was around the start of the Green Cascadia.

[hambone]

Weird to read this again. Man I was pretty down. Sure took me long enuff to get off my ass...

[Sylvester]

With all that hiking I bet it is now a firm ass at that. Hey can you get celebrities to go on a guide tour? Get some Hollywood types up there and on your web page.