The New America

I know someone who has had her car repossessed. I know someone who received $1000 for cleaning out her house before the bank took possession of it.

Is this the New America?

I’m using retirement savings to pay my monthly mortgage. I’m glad that I saved over the years.

I’m amazed at how well I can live on one-fifth of the income I had two years ago. I miss only vacations, and I’m researching how to travel for nothing. And, well, I cannot maintain a road bike on my current income.

In some ways, I like the New America, but I don’t like the pain suffered by my friends for their losses. That hurts.

I enjoy the freedom from the burden of full time employment – that 24/7 on call life style that only America lives. I love working. I have much to offer. I love being so involved in my work that I am not aware of time passing. But the old American workload was killing me.

My goal is to take the best of the old America and make it in the New America.

I’m Back

I blogged very little as some of you noticed while I was working for the US Census Bureau. I had very little time, and I feared accidentally discussing the work I was doing. But this week, I was laid off from the US Census Bureau, and I have been spending my time cutting back the overgrown shrubs in my yard. We had quite a jungle, although we cannot get grass to grow in the yard.

We have not been able to afford our usual landscaper to maintain our greenery since our job losses almost two years ago.

I purchased a 17″ hedge trimmer from Home Depot for $30. I feared buying a larger trimmer as I might lose control and cut through a leg, arm or hand. I’m clumsy sometimes.

I loved working in the yard this week. I cannot work for more than 2-3 hours at a time without exhausting myself, but I love the physical labor. I love being able to see the results of my work almost immediately.

I sweated profusely, although the weather has been quite pleasant this week. I often changed my gloves and socks midway through my morning routine. I hacked away over two years of overgrowth. I cut. I pruned. I sculpted as best I could.

Likewise, I have also been downsizing our possessions throughout the summer. We have found that many of our household goods cannot be given away. No one wants used stuff. We have learned the value of possessions, which is usually very little once they leave the store. Except for my $30 hedge trimmer, I have obtained much pleasure from trimming away that which is no longer necessary in my life.