Dreamer Living off Social Security

perchie.girl

Lovin' The Homestead
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I am not new here but forgot I signed up some time ago....

I write volumes when I am going...

1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I am In San Diego County My land is in the high desert. Climate is Hot and dry in the summer and Cold and dry in the winter... Its located almost equidistant between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific ocean... Where you can feel the earth breathe

2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Four in my family total... four Generations. At this moment I live with my Grandmother who is 102. My mom lives five minutes away and she is 84. My Son Fresh out of college lives here for the meantime. I have never been married.

When I go home I will be by myself.

3. How would you define self sufficiency?
Self sufficiency is where you dont depend on others for your needs.

4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?

I would Write, Craft, Build things, Care for my animals, Enjoy the sun and the wind. And listen to the sounds of the desert. The snap of the Bird of paradise mesquite as it sheds its seeds and shoots them out and away... The puppy sound of a Road runner as it searches for a mate. The squabbling of the Quail.... Scurry of a lizard... The High tension sizzle of a Rattle snake surprised in its hide out.
Oh wait I do that already.

5. Have you ever built a house , or other types of building? Do you want to?
Never have... But would love to build an earthship right in this location.



6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?

Weld yes. Steel only Mig, TIG Stick... I can only cut using Oxy... I have to say I can stick it together but a welder I am not... I have only welded for creating steel sculptures.

7. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient?
Family. Growing up in the heart of the cold war.

8 Cloth or paper?
Oh that sooo depends....



9. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more?
My house and land are paid for. When I live there I could live off social security. Alone. I have very few needs. I heat the house with a pot belly stove. pump water from my well. Eat chicken eggs. When I move back I want to install Solar for the well and a windmill for backup.



10. In what way(s) will you never choose to become self sufficient?
Medical care. transportation.... Diet variety... entertainment



11. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs?
I know how and plan on it.



12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
IN the future and science. I am a science fiction writer. and a futurist

13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
I can drive a two axel... not well but I can.

14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am a jewelry artist. And a retired engineer. I could teach drafting and have wanted to for some time.

15. Can you have legally livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Yes... only limitations are roosters. CF is big in Mexico so they limit roosters to x amount per acre. With eighteen acres I am good for about ten. ::Snort:: Most I have ever had was about six... with adoptees.

16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
Both.

17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
Sigh Here we are limited by rainfall. or well production. Annual rain fall is about nine inches per year ... my well is at at 450 feet, and a low producter... But I would love to set up a grey water system downstream from the Tilapia tanks. And the aquaponics



18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
LOL.... Net... out of the Aquaponics tanks

19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country?
I have 18 acres that cannot be split... free and clear. In the County.

20. Are you a Novice, Technician, General, Advanced? ARRL?
Hehh? I would be a novice at self sufficiency till the day I pass



21. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Repurposing,

22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Right now I would love to take a silver smithing class along with gemology.



23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?

Dont have the patience for good wood work... But I can really appreciate people who do. I can Build the necessary shelters and structures for the animals. I can drawup a design and build it.
I am much better at careful demolition. I took a wall and old furnace out of the house.

24. Are you interested in herbal medicine?
Very and understand that it takes years to learn to use herbals well

25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Exactly where I am.

26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
heating but I only burn about half a cord a year. I use propane for cooking.

27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?

Now there is a question that has me stumped. While I do Write science fiction... and enjoy the Superhero movies.... but MY ideal of a super hero are the Fire Fighters, the Police, The Military... The man next door that lends you a hand.... my Dad...RIP.

28. Are your family or friends also interested in self sufficiency?
interested but only politely



29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I love to cook With good ingredients.

30. What was your MOS?
???? I am so Acronymically Challenged

31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Forage for greens when they grow. yucca pods can be cooked like squash.

32. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient?
I wont buy it if I can make it.

33. In which fictional universe would you most like to live?
My own...

34. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy?
Plans for multiple energy creating strategies... Energy conservation, Energy creation, Energy usage...



35 What is the mass/weight ratio of a European swallow carrying a coconut from the tropics to England?
::Snort::



36. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
Not yet, I would



37. In what do you trust?
Myself, and the people I know. I will never be an Isolationist because we humans need other humans.



38. Do you make things yourself to save money?
Yes and to make it better

39. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending?

the less you have the more creative you get about making it stretch
 

frustratedearthmother

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Welcome! I love people who write volumes! So, you are not living on your property at this time? Bless you for being with your grandmother!
 

perchie.girl

Lovin' The Homestead
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Welcome! I love people who write volumes! So, you are not living on your property at this time? Bless you for being with your grandmother!
she is 102 born in 1916. Only just now slipping into Old age dimentia... On occasion. other than that shes a pistol. Talks on the phone like a teen ager especially if its male. I have a cousin in Alabama that calls her every day... They talk for hours on the phone and I swear she sounds like shes talking to a boy friend.

deb
 

frustratedearthmother

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That's awesome! She sounds like a hoot. I saw a clip on tv the other day about a centenarian who swears that her secret to long life is bourbon, lol. Go figure...
 

perchie.girl

Lovin' The Homestead
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That's awesome! She sounds like a hoot. I saw a clip on tv the other day about a centenarian who swears that her secret to long life is bourbon, lol. Go figure...
Good genes... When she was born they were living in a dug out in Colorado. Her Mom and dad were homesteading 220 acres of land. Great Grandpa farmed it with Mules. Great Grandma, after having had eleven babies nine that lived, was the Midwife for the county they lived in. Never had a car So when It came time to deliver a baby The Postman would come and get her and take her to go deliver a baby.

Grandma fired three husbands.. Grandpa Fred was her last one and the only one that I really knew. Moms dad passed when I was about twelve. Grandma was a Rosie the riveter in WWII and one of the first women who was offered a job in engineering at the Airforce base when the War Was over.

Thats where she met Grandpa.

Oops shes up gotto fix her breakfast
 

Britesea

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Welcome! I loved reading about you- you sound like someone I'd like to spend time with...
 

frustratedearthmother

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What an amazing history! No wonder she likes to talk - she has lots of stories to tell and lots to say!
 

wyoDreamer

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@perchie.girl Nice to see you here!
Looking forward to reading your adventures.

I have moments where I wish I were single and living as I want to live. Having a DH, whom I love tremendously, also means that I have to compromise my wants sometimes. He is an engineer and his way is always best, cough-cough-gag!
Sometimes, when he takes over one of my projects to "help", I feel like strangling him instead of smiling sweetly.
 
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