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September 2008

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Off-Grid 101

10 ways to beat the Depression of 2008


This is what to expect
Off-gridder Lamar has researched the great depression and “gleaned much info from my parents that lived through it” to come up with some useful tips for what, thanks to our great leaders in Washington and New York, will be some real tough times:

1. Don’t worry that your savings and checking account will disappear. FDIC banks are guaranteed for $100.000 per person.

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Urban

Coping with the downturn

How two ordinary families are struggling, and failing, to overcome the US credit crunch

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Off-Grid 101

Cell-phone base stations

The phone industry’s efforts to put cellphone base stations everywhere is spurring advances in renewable power

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Community

Baby Pix

Hello everyone, I had to sneak in a few pix of my new grandbaby, her name is May Lynn, she is the cutest baby ever! Of course I have to say that, being the grandma and all… :)

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Proud Daddy
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Here is proud Great-Grandpa
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Here I am, Grandma
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Here is happy Mama
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Wretha

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Community

Down to Earth

An offgrid newbie describes her first experience of “wilderness therapy”

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Big Town Update

Hello everyone,

I’m writing from my sister’s house in the DFW area, it’s been quite different being in in the big town, it’s noisy, it’s dirty, too many cars going way too fast… I will have lots to write here when I get back, I got a notepad so I can keep notes on what is going on so I don’t leave anything out.

So far everything is going pretty well, I can stand the noise and commotion long enough to get things done here, my DIL is doing great, the baby is due on the 24th.

I’ll try to work out a way to post a few more messages here while I am gone, can’t promise anything though.

Wretha

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Solar carports

As the recession worsens, cheap energy is more important than ever. Across America, and the world, everything from wood fires to solar shingles are being employed in order to survive and cut costs

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Time To Go, BRB

Hello dear readers, (wow, that sounds pretty formal…)

I’m going to be gone for a month, gotta go become a grandmother! My DIL is due on the 22nd, she is having a girl, so far everything is going good, the baby is active and mom-to-be is ready to be un-pregnant. :) I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning, it’s about an 8-9 hour trip (500 miles), fortunately the views are pretty nice, until I get into the DFW area… I have to be honest and say that I do not want to leave here, I do want to be with my son and DIL for the baby, and there are some things I need to get out there, but I am not looking forward to being gone from here for a month, but we do what we have to do, I’m hoping the time will go be quickly and I’ll be back here in no time. I will be able to catch up with a few of my friends, that will be a good thing, I’ll also be able to get some stuff I can’t get easily here.

I’ll pretty much be out of touch (computer wise) while I’m gone, it’s possible that I might be able to log on to someone’s computer once or twice while I’m gone, but I can’t guarantee anything, I’ll try my best.

What really hurts is I will be leaving the 3 things I really love, Bob, Pekoe and my mountain. Bob will keep busy working on the cabin, Pekoe will turn into a puddle of “I miss my mama!”, the mountain will be here when I get back.

Anyone who wants to comment, please feel free to do so, I’ll try to get them approved as soon as possible, but it may be a while before you see it here.

I hope to be back sometime soon after October 15th.

Wretha

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Community

24 towers from Tulsa

This transcript of a discussion between Tulsa highrise managers shows the way the nation is getting to grips with new eco-specifications for buildings.

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Living With Less…

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privacy that is.
There’s nothing like using the toilet while sitting 3-5 feet away from your sweetie, especially when doing something particulary smelly. In one respect, we have lots of privacy, heck we don’t have blinds or shades or any sort on our windows, for the most part, no one can “sneak” up on us, we have trained all of our friends to honk and/or holler well before they get to our place, they all understand and comply. Besides, with the cabin being so high off the ground, anyone walking up wouldn’t be able to see in, short of someone sitting across the mountain with binoculars or telescope, we don’t have to worry much about anyone seeing us inside the cabin no matter what state of dress (or undress) we may be in. If someone were to go to the trouble to try to spy on us, Lord help them for what they will see, they deserve what they get! In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “There is good naked and there is bad naked…” nuff said. :)
Living as we have for the last 9 months, Bob and I have gotten particulary close, living in one room for most of the time, you either have to adapt or kill, so we chose to adapt. LOL
Along with making sure you have all the equiment and food to survive, one other thing to consider before moving to and living in a place like this is how well do you get along with your partner? Many couples live nearly separate lives, generally both of them have to work, you spend most of your day separate from your partner, upon getting home, there are so many things to do before bed time, make dinner, clean up, get ready for the next day… if you have a family that takes even more time. Living as we do, we are together nearly 24/7, with the excepetions of the days I’m at the store (usually 2 days a week) and the rare occasions when one of us leaves to go to something, we are generally together most of the time. Fortunately Bob and I do not have a problem with this, we are so much alike in our thoughts, likes and dislikes, we do just fine being together as much as we are. We also understand that each of us needs our “private time”, and we are pretty good at giving it to one another. I have been reading several blogs about people moving to or living in remote places like Alaska, living in small, one room cabins, I think it takes a special breed of people to be able to do it, and not go nutty, or maybe one has to be a bit nutty to survive, I don’t know…
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