Return to Thoughts

After spending all of 2007 working on retiring and finishing the cabin, I'm set to return to regular blogging here. As I purchased materials for the cabin, I have come to realize how important it will be to become what I call a "localist".

Unlike the isolationist, I'm not interested in becoming a hermit - politically or personally. For me a localist means being environmental conscientious, a responsible consumer, and looking to a smaller, more local environment to meet one's needs. Part of that is having an in-season garden, securing a local source for fresh produce, meats, dairy, and fruits, and becoming more in turn with a balanced environment - both consumer environment and natural environment.

As our county struggles with its place in the world, being a localist provides not only a good feeling, but it also provides for the independence from world markets, a carbon dependent society, and improves the local economy and community. Realistically it isn't possible to meet all of my needs locally, but I'll be on the look out for ways to increase a localist's perspective in daily living.