I dream of a community mature enough to muster up cooperation during a post-petroleum transition. Almost busting with hope, I doodle alternate economic theories (not that I have a clue) and eye neighbor's goats while chanting inside my head "barter, barter."

A car-free environment sounds ideal...never liked cars in the first place. And who could argue with eating closer to the source? Organic fruits and veggies galore! Heck, I just learned that those angry, thorn-abundant honey locust trees on our hay farm produce edible sweet legume pods and the thorns can be resourcefully used for nails!

Ah, the future looks promising. However...

I'm also teetering, experiencing some kind of peak oil bipolarism, as equal brain time is allotted to potential nightmare scenarios.

Already in our community, catalytic converter thefts are becoming common--for metal scrap resale. You pop into the grocery store and by the time you're finished shopping, some kid has crawled under your car and sawed off your catalytic converter.

People are getting robbed near their homes, at gunpoint. Ours is a typical, middle-class newly built suburban area. This is all new to us.

The kids committing these crimes are able-bodied, young and strong. Why don't they look for a proper job? Because stealing is easier.

So, this gets me to thinking...if we are headed for a society which combines the humble lifestyle our great-grandparents knew with a society attempting to make the best of a poisoned planet, my see-saw careens to the dark side.

I mean, prior to 1900, material possessions were minimal and work was actually laborious and physical. The people back then were sturdier stock. Hard work and honesty were valued. Joy was found in the simple things.

What do we have now, but a population of folks with the mindset of work smarter not harder----raised on get-rich-quick infomercials.

I am seriously in fear of the collision between society and reality. It's like we've remained spoiled children. We've been told what we want to hear and we've been allowed to spend beyond our means.

No one has told us "no." Not for many, many years.

What is going to happen when circumstances force us to work together and get sweaty with still no assurance of preventing hunger? What is going to happen when employees, self-identified by their current salary, get laid off?

If we help people, will we become enablers? I kind of think that we won't have the option of helping others to the point of over-helping, but still...what will neighbors expect out of those who have thought ahead? They will be looking for a rescue, of course.

If we aren't able to help others, it's reasonable to assume that some people will just take the easy way and use illegal methods to get what they need. After all, their circumstances aren't their fault (i.e. it's not faaaiiir). They would consider their new career of crime a variation of the "working smarter" model.

Catalytic converters are just the beginning.

Kris
www.sccworlds.com

P.S. I dream I'm wrong. Way wrong.

While hiking through our newly acquired woods on Tuesday, we ran across a most disturbing site--rib bones, a leg bone and a pelvic bone. Imbedded in the dirt were even more bits of bones.

We figured, hey animal bones, right? Animals must die in the wild somewhere. You know, that's what we figured.

After researching bones on the Internet, we decided that the leg bone seemed awfully thick. We better call the sheriff.

So, yesterday, the sheriff met with us in the woods "just to make sure."

The procedure reminded me of when I was a kid and my parents would check for monsters under the bed. We were leading the sheriff and pointing.

"The bones are this way." "You'll see."

Have I mentioned that we are no experts at country life?

The sheriff took one look and said matter-of-factly, "deer."

Then he grabbed the pelvic bone and a leg bone and demonstrated how they used to work. Eww.

I told him to wash his hands.

Ah--city folk.

(These woods accompany our recently purchased hay farm of about 15 acres in rural Missouri where we are attempting to prepare for peak-everything by learning how to grow food, catch rainwater and power down. Maybe someday, we will be considered locals. We are no experts at country life.)

kris7
www.sccworlds.com

Well, my husband and I just purchased about 15 acres in rural Missouri. It is but a humble hay farm with a little bit of bordering woods, but it is ours.

There is a ton of work to do. So far, we have cleared a spot for ourselves to "be." The rest can stay hay (ha, a rhyme).

Next on the agenda, before winter, is to build a shed/cabin to house implements. The shed will be large enough to provide a loft for sleeping and overnight camping trips. On the main level, a composting toilet will be installed.

There is no on-site water source. A well costs about $10,000 and we've decided to wait on that. Rainwater from the shed roof will have to do for a while. My husband has been thinking about a pumping system that I don't claim to understand. For now, jugs of water will be hauled from home for those longer stays.

Next spring, we will try our hand at growing edibles--like apple trees and berry bushes--things that maybe can ramble on their own, since we won't be around daily to tend to them.

Oh, and don't even think we know what we are doing. These visions will only materialize because of a lot of reading--and even more trial and error.

We aren't trying to "go it on our own." There are neighbors nearby. Three homes border the property. On down the street, there are maybe eight or so homes. A general store is about five miles away.

But, like we've all speculated about, one can't show up during times of trouble and expect to be welcomed into a community. Relationships can't be procrastinated and conveniently manufactured at the last minute.

I would love to get to know the locals and become one myself. It just takes time and some giving on our part--like extra apples or hay for the neighbors' horses.

In the meantime, we will "officially" reside in suburbia with satellite TV and a dishwasher, living a weird, dual life.

For our suburban community, www.sccworlds.com will continue to gently convince cul-de-sac families to power down a little bit--if only in painless baby steps.

Nowadays, when we are in our "home" in the suburbs, our thoughts often turn to the country and how soon we'll go back.

Even if it's not possible to physically break away, our spirits are fleeing the strip malls, highways, box stores and me-first toxicity of our current environment.

I sometimes get overwhelmed, but I am always totally pumped about the future.

What a wild ride ahead!

Hop on!

Kris7
www.sccworlds.com

Hello again. I thought you might like to know what's happening on the relocalization front in our neck of the woods (i.e. cul-de-sac). Read on...

I see others doing such great things. Biodiesel users driving around on cooking oil, ecovillagers teaching others to think outside the box, and the Community Solution folks learning about Cuba's recent transition to a post-petroleum society.

All these people are inspirational, that's for sure. This may seem weird to you, but their actions are so big and wonderful, that I feel like there is nothing worthwhile I can handle. It's an almost paralyzing feeling.

What do I know? I was raised on supermarket food in a suburb. And, to the outside observer, I seem like I'm raising the next generation in much the same manner.

But things are different inside our cookie-cutter home. We discuss peak oil, edible landscaping and the ethics of corporations. Really, we do ponder these things--and the future.

Thinking and discussing are great places to begin, but eventually, something needs to be done and one must ask herself, "what can I do?"

In my case, I don't know anything about solar, wind or construction of any type. But the great thing is, we all don't need to know everything. So one must just start with what they know and what they are good at doing.

I look at my skills and desires and realize that if I were to go with my natural inclinations, I would focus on domesticity and community. A post-petroleum life will most definitely make use of resurrected domestic arts and community spirit will be vital.

I am also a writer and publish a community website. Look what I can do..I can spread the word!

A couple of days ago I took the "eat local challenge" and started writing about it. The project takes place in October and I'm a little concerned that our area's prime harvest time will be over by then.

Harvest time is probably one of those things I should already know about my community, right? How shameful that I don't know. But, I'll tell you what...by November I'll know a lot about what was available during October. Hey, it's all about learning.

I will set out to learn all I can about where our foods come from around here and where our money goes after we spend it. I really hope most money sticks around our neighborhood for a while...like when the baker advertises in the local newspaper, feeding that wonderful multiplier effect.

I will be writing about adventures in local living on this site, www.sccworlds.com and the www.eatlocalchallenge.com website (if they'll have me).

The other thing I did, in the spirit of relocalizing, was contact some people who have indicated an interest in peak oil. I took the first step by inviting them to meet and put our heads together. Still need to hear back from some people, but it's a start.

So, there ya go. It's what I'm doing within my range of skills and maybe just a smidge outside my comfort zone. Idealizing and pondering are great ways to start; but, eventually, stuff needs to happen.

No, I will probably never visit Cuba or take a class on solar panel installation, and that's OK. We each need to work with what we're given.

What are you working on?

Hello everyone! This is my first post on this blog site, so I'll just introduce myself.

A few years ago, our family moved to a McMansion-type of suburbia. I found the people to be friendly only if they needed something. I couldn't believe the difference between these types of people and those where we came from (smaller town). I constantly wonder how people can behave so rudely and self-centered. Perhaps it's because no one has true roots here. This area used to be farmland. Everyone has relocated from somewhere else. No one knows your mother. No one cares. But, I don't think the residents are truly to blame. I believe they have bought into the affluence-equals-happiness line, but no one is happy. They all seem so lonely. Divorce is common. Both the men and women seem to value outward appearance and image. No one gets it. Image isn't real. The affluence isn't real either. Their whole lifestyle is on credit. (ok, maybe not all people...but I think most)

So, now that we are entering into a post-petroleum world, I am terribly concerned for our area. They will be looking for someone to blame, because of course, they have done everything right. They got a great degree. Got a great job. Caught a blond trophy. The world will soon not make any sense at all.

So, a few years ago I started a community website. It features human interest stories, and I am trying to sneak in some suburban homesteading topics as well. I have actually been told by one resident that "there is no way I will grow my food--I will always buy it from someone." I'm not making this up. Elitism is common. Attitudes need to change around here, big time. Princess will be so confused when she won't be able to afford a mani-pedi. And that will be the least of her troubles.

Please believe me when I say I'm not a griper. I just wanted to describe where I'm coming from and the uphill battle ahead.

Oh, by the way...I woke up to peak oil by watching the End of Suburbia and I love to catch Peak Moment on YouTube.

Nice to meet you all!

Kris
www.sccworlds.com