Why Homesteading?
1 May 2023: 1194 Days Remaining
Ok, so I haven’t really discussed why Homesteading is so important to Tealah and I… and that’s because half of the answer will probably make us seem insane. Let’s start with the less-insane reason: we want to experience everyday out in the wilderness without having to work for a “boss” or have some sort of management positioned above us. Even the concept of renting a house (which we are currently doing in Germany) really sucks! Having no ability to tear down a wall or add an addition without “permission” from a land lord makes you feel less like a human and more like a domesticated animal. Working for someone else feels the same way. Instead we want to make our own schedule, work on the projects that excite us, and not have to answer to anyone about how we live our lives. Reasonable right? Yes, it’s a bit privileged and probably a lofty goal but it’s what we value. Total and complete freedom in our projects, living space, schedule, and lifestyle. I know, there’s a deeper discussion here about Government but that’s for another post. It will suffice to say in this post that Government, laws, and regulation IS important for us as a society. This isn’t an anarchist or libertarian rant. I promise we see the value in a society that is structured to make helping others easier and to hold those who hurt others accountable for their actions. Right now the best way to do that is Government and the enforcement of moral laws (lots to debate here as well!). However, none of this should distract from the first point here which is: we want to enjoy the wilderness while making our own schedule and not be burdened with a boss, landlord, or any other overseer role.
So what’s the crazy reason you’re hiding from us? …. fine… I’ll get into it but you’ve been warned that it may come off as weird… We are concerned that there may be a downfall in social structure in the next few decades. This downfall may be localized like the looting and fighting that breaks out during/after natural disasters… or it could be more widespread since all of our systems of normalcy are interconnected. We saw small examples of this during the supply chain disruptions during the COVID19 pandemic. Now we’re not saying zombies are going to take over the world here… in fact that’s the ONE apocalypse level event that we are ALL trained for… just shoot them in the head. Done. Instead, think of the likely possibility that a cheeky Government somewhere in the world decides to electronically attack our PowerGrid or a massive solar flare knocks out a couple million transformers. We don’t have millions of spares laying around and it’ll take years to rebuild the grid leaving rural areas without power for many months. How many of your neighbors are willing to do whatever is needed to save their families? How many do you trust with your life? Of course natural disaster, global war, and civil unrest are possible as well. The truth is that we don’t know what is going to happen in the years to come and in order to feel safe and to secure our family’s future we want to be able to survive without external assistance for long periods of time. Once the Homestead is fully setup we’ll be able to weather any storm whether it’s manmade or not… within reason. Obviously Nuclear War would complicate things but we’re deep enough into the wilderness that we’d only have to deal with wind driven fallout.
So now you think we’re crazy and that’s ok. Give me one paragraph to temper that judgment. The bottom line with this line of thought is that there’s very little downside (aside from investment) to being prepared while not being prepared could have serious consequences. It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. As long as we’re not openly crazy and freaking people out there’s no harm in having a pantry full of food or a few extra rows in the garden. Plus, to be blunt, we’ve experienced enough ice storms, blizzards, downed trees, and bad weather in the U.P. while growing up that it’s taught us that to be prepared is the standard when isolated from civilization. Two winters ago when we were enjoying the beauty of the Great North we were hit with an ice storm that stopped us from having access to town for four days and knocked out power for three days. We had a great time getting the generator running, cooking up some food, moving our refrigerator contents to the porch so they stay cold, and playing board games in a cozy lodge. We were relaxed when others were panicking. We were having fun when others were stressed. We were prepared when others weren’t. That’s all it comes down to, self reliance, preparedness, and enjoyment of the natural world without oversight or anyone to answer to. That’s the dream of Homesteading in our eyes and we’re happy to have you along for the adventure!
Travis
