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* Male. Former teacher in public schools. I hope to never go back.
* My screen name is taken from a work by Voltaire. It’s not a book you ever have to read --the plot summary is good enough, especially if the description of the ending resonates with you [1].
* I started this journal the year I turned 40 and my only child (daughter) turned 2.
* Happily married. My wife is frugal, often even cheap, but is she going to spend money on the kid, and so is only willing to go so far as an ally in terms of ERE.
* Biggest thing I have of value to you: junk punk
* I realized there is nothing all that “liminal” about the space I am in, so it is time to give up the last journal.
Two aphorisms for the last point: “chop wood, carry water” and “if everything is liminal, then nothing is liminal” -- which... It’s all liminal, y’all!
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I hope this to remains my journal for a good long time, as opposed to all the short-lived journal threads I’ve had in the past. (Use the link to “last journal” above if you want to ladder backwards through them if you wish). I will keep this as my journal as long as it fits my mode of being, so I will only change the title if family stops being the center of my life, which would have to be forced away from me.
As for DIY, it is how you or I are going to be the most efficient... That shouldn’t sound puzzling to this forum, but if it is for anyone, I will channel John Michael Greer and ask you to be clear in terms of outputs you aim to achieve efficiently based on what inputs?
For myself, I want to spend very little money, essentially none on entertainment. I want healthier meals. I want to feel better. And while there may be times that I can get a better output per dollar with something that takes more from the planet, in the long run those deals dry up, and maybe they’ll all be dried up in my daughter’s lifetime. No, it is impact that we are trained to value by the powers that be -- in other words leverage, theirs. The real “efficiency” I grew up hearing about from all those Boomers was the output of concentration of power per bait (before the inevitable switch).
But to be honest, that’s not the truest North Star of my motivations for DIY. I just like to figure out how things work, get outside, and tinker using my hands.
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[1] Eh, let chat GPT tell you about the ending:
Of course, I can also switch the prompt slightly to get it to say:In the end of "Candide," after a series of tumultuous adventures and hardships, Candide and his companions find themselves in a garden. This serene and idyllic garden becomes a symbol of a simple and content life. Candide, having experienced the harsh realities of the world, concludes that cultivating one's own garden, both metaphorically and literally, is a meaningful and fulfilling pursuit. This ending resonates with the idea of finding solace and purpose in the simplicity of life, focusing on personal endeavors, and appreciating the value of individual effort and connection with nature. It suggests that, despite the complexities and challenges of the world, there is wisdom in tending to one's own metaphorical garden and finding contentment in the pursuit of personal growth and well-being.
In the end of "Candide," after all the crazy stuff that happened, Candide decides to just chill in a garden. Like, seriously? After all the disasters and philosophical debates, the guy ends up gardening. It's like the author just gave up or something. So, yeah, Candide hangs out in a garden, and that's the big conclusion. Go figure.