Starting here

Thursday, April 12, 2012

I don't know how to blog, other than just putting down my thoughts:
and I probably won't do that very well, or very often, or very regularly, so don't expect much.

I am currently exploring tiny housing / frugal living? / small footprint / self sufficient living.  I am not green nor a hippie, etc, and I'll tell you right now that frugal living and the rest is more of a way to cut living expenses than it is a statement of how I want to live the rest of my life.  If I were to win the lottery, and have instant wealth, my future would change accordingly, I wouldn't be one of those people that could ignore the wealth in favor of their ideals, blah blah blah

However, I am 56 yrs old, and would like to retire sooner rather than later, and if i can simplify my life and my needs, then there is some possibility of my retiring in the future.  My current plans are to:
Retire at age 62, last choice
Retire at age 59 1/2
Retire sooner

Goals needed to retire:
Sell house and pay off debt (steps to accomplish this goal listed below)
1. Paint house
2. Paint interior
3. Repair garage
4. Finish rec room
5. Finish small trim items

Minimize expenses (ongoing)
1. Tiny house or similar plan
2. Explore off grid possibilities
3. Explore self sufficiency (do these things have spell check?)
4. Explore frugality ( in process, have already downsized first layer )
~ went thru closets, most of kitchen, other storage, approx 3 pickup loads moved out, some to friends, some to family, some to trash
5. Only buying new products that will in some way go towards achieving goals
No longer buying into the theory that "things" will make you happy

?? Is there a way to teach this to my children, other than by example?
I learned a lot from my dad, as he led by example during the later years of his life, but I couldn't / wouldn't follow his lead until .... now?  As it becomes needful in my life? Better late than never as they say

Also exploring community living, ie, sustainable and thoughtful community living, although i'm not sure if i could fit in with these groups of people ~ more thoughts on this later ~ but i am sure that they have a good idea, just not sure how "like minded" you have to be to fit in

Blogs i follow and enjoy
The Field Lab ~ John, you are amazing and I hope to be able to meet you
The Little Yellow Door ~ a great tiny build, currently in progress, entertainingly written by Ella
Holy Scrap ~ just started with this one, and like it
Life in 120 square ft
Jonathon Bellows ~ a tiny build and then living in it ~ currently waiting for J to move to Oregon (and i might follow him someday)

Ok, I never got around to posting this blog, always thought i would reread, edit, etc.

Now, however, my daughter Jenna tells me we are going to do a father daughter blog, with alternating blog posts, so I guess it is time.  Jump forward to June 14, the house has been painted and the garage repaired.  We have made great leaps in downsizing and have started cooking regularly at home, and keeping up with things in a "tiny house" manner (ie, not letting messes go).  The entire house has been downsized, now working on 2 garages and the basement.  Still more to go, but making progress every day.

On the Jenna front, she graduated high school this year, and is odd jobbing the summer away ~ last week of July is reserved for RAGBRAI, a bike ride across Iowa for her, and then I have offered to support her @ $100 / wk, as she visits relatives around the country (and good friends, hello TINY HOUSERS) for up to a year.  She has a new bike she received for Graduating, and that will be her transportation at each different city she decides to visit.  Currently her plans are to visit Boston, upstate NY, Vermont, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Seattle (and maybe florida, peggy?)  She will reroute as different options become available to her.

So, it looks like this will also be a travel blog, a homesick blog, an almost empty nest blog, etc.

Welcome my friends, I hope you enjoy!  Jen, your turn