I love this post. We all (myself included) would be much better served by staying focused on the basics and not getting caught up in the he said / she said drama. Food, water, shelter, electricity, physical strength, and books should be our priorities. If we don’t have those, we can’t hope to rebuild.
Thank you as always Fat Rabbit Iron. It was hard to write this because I *love* all of the good we have in this world. The material stuff is amazing and I don't want to live without it. But, for the sake of the future, I'd actually rather see a world where we still have freedom, but we actually are kind of forced to focus on some things that matter. I may be accused of being mean and uncaring... but nothing could be further from the truth. I remember some years ago hearing an interview with a man younger than I (I can't remember his name) and he said something that stuck with me (and I'll paraphrase a bit here because I don't remember the exact phrase): "We will never find out who we are and we will never discover the better part of ourselves unless we are tested. The best people I've ever known have, at one time or another, lost everything." Is this where we are headed? Are we going to be forced to lose everything before we will discover what really matters? I'm starting to think it's kind of inevitable because even with lots of people waking up... many still just don't get it. Thanks again for stopping by!
I do think that suffering is ahead. More people than ever are now *aware* of what their government has planned for them, but too few are acting. Voting alone isn't the answer. We have to change our lifestyle, and this is the stumbling block.
No doubt. Most people don't want to give *anything* up. Change is difficult but, for me, if a change benefits me in some way, I'll work really hard to make that change. I know this is a silly example, but I used to use one or more rolls of paper towels a week! I finally decided that that convenience was not worth it. I bought a couple dozen flour sack towels (very absorbent and thin) and put a note on our roll of paper towels that says, "Is there another option?" My record now when it comes to paper towel conservation? A little over two months for one roll! Can I afford paper towels? Yes. But can that money be used somewhere else? Absolutely. And now we compost our paper towels as well. We aren't doing this "for the earth." No one told us we had to stop using so many paper towels. We just remembered that when we were kids, a roll of paper towels really was a luxury and we never had them. We made a change that put a bit more money in our pocket (the flour sack towels have paid for themselves multiple times over), enriches the soil for our garden and makes us feel better that we aren't as *reliant* on a convenience if that makes sense. We have partially declared our independence from one of the giant corporations who do nothing but steal our money and use it to enrich politicians through lobbying and/or assist government in implementing policies that steal our liberty (like forcing employees to get tests and shots to have a job). Sorry for the long reply and mini rant. :)
Flour sack towels? Interesting. I'm gonna try that myself.
I understand what you mean though. I made a clothesline last winter, and it's paid for itself many times over in lower electric bills. It may not seem like much, but it's something concrete that I can do to make myself more independent. I really think that this is the way forward -- millions of people doing millions of little actions.
I don't like to promote that wicked Amazon, but so you know what you're looking for: Utopia Kitchen [12 Pack] Flour Sack Tea Towels, 28" x 28" Ring Spun 100% Cotton Dish Cloths - Machine Washable - for Cleaning & Drying - White https://a.co/d/1zhXAdR
Great article Rob. I've thought about this so much, how bored we are in our own comfort and achievement. All the whining and bashing today is so much from people who have zero appreciation or respect for the shoulders that they're standing on that have given them the right to whine and bash. We are literally inventing ways to grieve. I hate to think that the only way the vast minority of the inconsolable will understand that "they don't know what they've got till it's gone" is for a major, cataclysmic event that will etch itself into the consciousness of a generation.
I agree BHerr. I'm still hopeful and all of that good stuff. But, I'm also like my Dad was: A realist. I'm not a history major or anything like that, but I have read enough history and looked at civilizations of the past and it seems like what always happens in a somewhat free society is the people become fat, lazy, entitled, demanding, and dare I say... evil. And then a collapse of some kind happens. As I said in another comment, I really don't want that to happen. But I find it hard to believe that all of a sudden society is going to "turn good" and not take their good fortunes for granted any longer. As I also said... maybe I'll be wrong and just end up being a kook that used to write on Substack? lol. Who knows. But, regardless, I still think it would be a good idea to be ready for anything right now. And, maybe, we should all take a minute to reflect on just how good we've had it in America and what we really stand to lose if we don't change course as a society. Thanks as always for checking out my post. :)
Excellent read, as usual. Growing up, I devoured the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of "Little House on the Prairie" books. I recently revisited them as an adult and was both delighted and ashamed to hear the description of a typical Christmas for the girls: a stick of candy, a piece of fruit, and perhaps a very small (often handmade) toy.
We have become physically, spiritually, and mentally deadened by our societal and cultural excesses.
Thank You for stopping by again Pancake Princess. Little House was one of the shows we used to be "allowed" to watch when I was a kid. I still have fond memories of our entire family huddled around the little black and white TV watching it. Laughing, crying and being thoroughly entertained even though some of them were a bit cheesy. I definitely get where you are coming from on the gift thing. A niece of mine recently had a birthday and had FIFTY gifts to open. I almost threw up.
I love stopping by Rob D! Yeah, it was a super cheesy show. So was the Waltons (remember that one?). Still, that one hour on a B&W television complete with all the static and the rolling picture frames was all my screen time for the week. Okay, officially sounding super old over here :).
I bought the Little House books for my 10 year old niece last year and kept them for myself when I saw they couldn't compete with TikTok on her phone. *shakes fist at sky*
Having a genuine connection to the fruits of our labours again will be a great healing process. To participate in life in a direct and meaningful way will make people whole.
I agree Dollyboy. Will it be easy? Hell no. lol. It's going to suck in a lot of ways. Will it happen? None of us really knows. But, if it does, I truly believe in my heart that the society that emerges at the end of it all (even if most of us here are long gone) will be better because of it. Thanks for your comment. :)
Well said, Rob. Canadians are also entitled and spoiled. My great-grandparents came from Norway and Britain and settled in North America. It was not an easy life. Both sets of grandparents ended up homesteading on the prairies of Canada. They raised their families during the Great Depression. It was so dry that one of my grandmothers said that dust would drift through the cracks in the log cabin. Winters could be severe and sometimes the only way to get around in the country was by skiis or snowshoes. We have it so good and yet most of us don't realize it. We've forgotten about what's important. Thank you for reminding us.
Thanks Anna! We truly have been so incredibly fortunate haven't we? The hardships most of us have endured pale in comparison to those who gave up *everything* at a chance for a free life. I sure appreciate you visiting The Rumble Strip again.
I love this post. We all (myself included) would be much better served by staying focused on the basics and not getting caught up in the he said / she said drama. Food, water, shelter, electricity, physical strength, and books should be our priorities. If we don’t have those, we can’t hope to rebuild.
Thank you as always Fat Rabbit Iron. It was hard to write this because I *love* all of the good we have in this world. The material stuff is amazing and I don't want to live without it. But, for the sake of the future, I'd actually rather see a world where we still have freedom, but we actually are kind of forced to focus on some things that matter. I may be accused of being mean and uncaring... but nothing could be further from the truth. I remember some years ago hearing an interview with a man younger than I (I can't remember his name) and he said something that stuck with me (and I'll paraphrase a bit here because I don't remember the exact phrase): "We will never find out who we are and we will never discover the better part of ourselves unless we are tested. The best people I've ever known have, at one time or another, lost everything." Is this where we are headed? Are we going to be forced to lose everything before we will discover what really matters? I'm starting to think it's kind of inevitable because even with lots of people waking up... many still just don't get it. Thanks again for stopping by!
I do think that suffering is ahead. More people than ever are now *aware* of what their government has planned for them, but too few are acting. Voting alone isn't the answer. We have to change our lifestyle, and this is the stumbling block.
No doubt. Most people don't want to give *anything* up. Change is difficult but, for me, if a change benefits me in some way, I'll work really hard to make that change. I know this is a silly example, but I used to use one or more rolls of paper towels a week! I finally decided that that convenience was not worth it. I bought a couple dozen flour sack towels (very absorbent and thin) and put a note on our roll of paper towels that says, "Is there another option?" My record now when it comes to paper towel conservation? A little over two months for one roll! Can I afford paper towels? Yes. But can that money be used somewhere else? Absolutely. And now we compost our paper towels as well. We aren't doing this "for the earth." No one told us we had to stop using so many paper towels. We just remembered that when we were kids, a roll of paper towels really was a luxury and we never had them. We made a change that put a bit more money in our pocket (the flour sack towels have paid for themselves multiple times over), enriches the soil for our garden and makes us feel better that we aren't as *reliant* on a convenience if that makes sense. We have partially declared our independence from one of the giant corporations who do nothing but steal our money and use it to enrich politicians through lobbying and/or assist government in implementing policies that steal our liberty (like forcing employees to get tests and shots to have a job). Sorry for the long reply and mini rant. :)
Flour sack towels? Interesting. I'm gonna try that myself.
I understand what you mean though. I made a clothesline last winter, and it's paid for itself many times over in lower electric bills. It may not seem like much, but it's something concrete that I can do to make myself more independent. I really think that this is the way forward -- millions of people doing millions of little actions.
I don't like to promote that wicked Amazon, but so you know what you're looking for: Utopia Kitchen [12 Pack] Flour Sack Tea Towels, 28" x 28" Ring Spun 100% Cotton Dish Cloths - Machine Washable - for Cleaning & Drying - White https://a.co/d/1zhXAdR
Awesome. Thanks!
Great article Rob. I've thought about this so much, how bored we are in our own comfort and achievement. All the whining and bashing today is so much from people who have zero appreciation or respect for the shoulders that they're standing on that have given them the right to whine and bash. We are literally inventing ways to grieve. I hate to think that the only way the vast minority of the inconsolable will understand that "they don't know what they've got till it's gone" is for a major, cataclysmic event that will etch itself into the consciousness of a generation.
I agree BHerr. I'm still hopeful and all of that good stuff. But, I'm also like my Dad was: A realist. I'm not a history major or anything like that, but I have read enough history and looked at civilizations of the past and it seems like what always happens in a somewhat free society is the people become fat, lazy, entitled, demanding, and dare I say... evil. And then a collapse of some kind happens. As I said in another comment, I really don't want that to happen. But I find it hard to believe that all of a sudden society is going to "turn good" and not take their good fortunes for granted any longer. As I also said... maybe I'll be wrong and just end up being a kook that used to write on Substack? lol. Who knows. But, regardless, I still think it would be a good idea to be ready for anything right now. And, maybe, we should all take a minute to reflect on just how good we've had it in America and what we really stand to lose if we don't change course as a society. Thanks as always for checking out my post. :)
Excellent read, as usual. Growing up, I devoured the Laura Ingalls Wilder series of "Little House on the Prairie" books. I recently revisited them as an adult and was both delighted and ashamed to hear the description of a typical Christmas for the girls: a stick of candy, a piece of fruit, and perhaps a very small (often handmade) toy.
We have become physically, spiritually, and mentally deadened by our societal and cultural excesses.
Thank You for stopping by again Pancake Princess. Little House was one of the shows we used to be "allowed" to watch when I was a kid. I still have fond memories of our entire family huddled around the little black and white TV watching it. Laughing, crying and being thoroughly entertained even though some of them were a bit cheesy. I definitely get where you are coming from on the gift thing. A niece of mine recently had a birthday and had FIFTY gifts to open. I almost threw up.
I love stopping by Rob D! Yeah, it was a super cheesy show. So was the Waltons (remember that one?). Still, that one hour on a B&W television complete with all the static and the rolling picture frames was all my screen time for the week. Okay, officially sounding super old over here :).
I bought the Little House books for my 10 year old niece last year and kept them for myself when I saw they couldn't compete with TikTok on her phone. *shakes fist at sky*
A ten year old with a smart phone. That says it all right there. Sigh. (*shakes fist at sky with you!*)
This is great Rob. Ive, just today, written some thoughts down that reflect what you have written here. I intend to publish tomorrow.
Thanks Rob. I can't wait to read it. I always enjoy your published musings! I appreciate your contributory comment!
You are too kind. Its a little dark, hopefully not too dark.
Having a genuine connection to the fruits of our labours again will be a great healing process. To participate in life in a direct and meaningful way will make people whole.
I agree Dollyboy. Will it be easy? Hell no. lol. It's going to suck in a lot of ways. Will it happen? None of us really knows. But, if it does, I truly believe in my heart that the society that emerges at the end of it all (even if most of us here are long gone) will be better because of it. Thanks for your comment. :)
Well said, Rob. Canadians are also entitled and spoiled. My great-grandparents came from Norway and Britain and settled in North America. It was not an easy life. Both sets of grandparents ended up homesteading on the prairies of Canada. They raised their families during the Great Depression. It was so dry that one of my grandmothers said that dust would drift through the cracks in the log cabin. Winters could be severe and sometimes the only way to get around in the country was by skiis or snowshoes. We have it so good and yet most of us don't realize it. We've forgotten about what's important. Thank you for reminding us.
Thanks Anna! We truly have been so incredibly fortunate haven't we? The hardships most of us have endured pale in comparison to those who gave up *everything* at a chance for a free life. I sure appreciate you visiting The Rumble Strip again.