Alternative living.

[Lazy Gardener]

No. We have forced air oil heat, and are primarily using that. We often fire up the wood stove in the living room. Dad gets up in the morning, and spends the day in his recliner in the livingroom. By late afternoon, the wood fire has died down, the furnace takes over, and the bedrooms remain warm at night. If we had planned our house better when we built it, we would have put the wood stove in the basement, and had a plenum over it to direct heat directly up to the living room, and fanned ductwork to draw the heat down to the bedrooms. They make combo oil/wood furnaces that work very well in that same manner.

 

[JanetMarie]

What about alternative living without money? This is what people used to do, when we had fur, and probably even after we lost our fur. People used to trade more, and then paper money (no longer backed by gold or silver) became worth something (fiat). Now it's mostly just numbers in a bank account. I saw one you tube video of someone who lives without money. He lives in or near the desert, but was dumpster diving, which is not for me.

 

[Hinotori]

Yes there is some wear on enamel from modern toothbrushes. Not really noticeable even over decades if you're using soft ones. Hard bristle is noticeable. Both dentists I've used in the last 2 decades have been adamant that only soft bristle should be used.

I'm not sure how electric toothbrushes like Oral B effect teeth.

 

[flowerbug]

they really gouge on the prices for those little brush replacement tips though.

 

[flowerbug]

i always felt that using a soft bristle brush just wasn't getting the gunk off my teeth well enough so i went back to a firm bristle brush. i'm not over-brushing and haven't had a problem with my gums getting worse.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Thanks for sending me down the bunny trail to a land of cave dwellers!!! Awesome!!! My cheeks hurt from the non stop smiling!

 

[flowerbug]

there is the city near the Salton Sea called Slab City i was reading about not too long ago. and watching vids too. sounded like a very wild place and a bit too crazy for me to even consider it. still interesting to me as i ponder how to live near people, but not too near. i like my own space. communal living has some appeal to me, but not right in there like a big dorm room type of set up.

i do like the idea of living in a cave and had a friend who started making one for himself on his property, but i have no idea how that has turned out or what he is up to these days. i've lived in an attic so a small close space doesn't bother me, but i don't like it to be super dark as i would want some way of having enough light for plants. putting a place in along the edge of a cliff that was stable enough would be one approach i'd like, i've even designed places in my head to fit a few different scenarious.

 

[Britesea]

One thing that makes me nervous about living underground, like a cave... I've lived my whole life in earthquake country. A house is bad enough. Maybe I should investigate yurts?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I love the cave house! About a hunnert years ago when DH and I were contemplating a move to the hill country we were in touch with a guy that builds underground homes. He did beautiful work!

 

[flowerbug]

i sleep much better when it is a little cooler in the room so i can burrow under the blankets. i may stick a foot out from under if i need a radiator for the extra heat.