Luxury on the Cheap
 
 The term Economic Disobedience came to my attention via an article about sociologist Lisa Dodson's new book, The Moral Underground: How Ordinary People Subvert an Unfair Economy.  It refers to an informal, yet increasingly widespread practice of people helping each other out with time, food, money, or resources within the context of rigidly unfair corporate structures, such as Wal Mart.

Guerrilla Economics has been mentioned in a variety of different articles and books, and there are several different operational definitions...

            ...But to me, they both sound pretty close.

Things like bartering would fall under these categories.  Refusing to use credit cards.  Growing your own food with heirloom seeds - nourishing your body and denying cash to Big Farm and Monsanto.  Paying cash.  Opting out of consumer culture.  It's all totally guerilla, totally disobedient  to the will of the corporate state. 

I love it!

As the gap between Haves and Have Nots continues expanding....as disposable, mindless consumerism is held up to be the ideal....as MOST OF US continue to struggle in a crappy economy that we didn't create, while those who destoyed it live on wine and caviar......while so many of us are stuck with low-wage or NO wage jobs...Economic Disobedience and Guerilla Economics will grow.  

Elections only come along every couple of years, but voting with our dollars is something we can do every day!  Even not  buying anything is still a vote.  ESPECIALLY not buying!

Here's the rub: economic disobedience ties in quite nicely with living thrifty, healthy, and green!

You ever walk or ride your bike instead of driving?  Ever decide to use Granny's old-time home remedy instead of dropping big bucks at the drug store?  Ever buy anything used?  Ever treated suspiciously because you paid cash instead of credit?  Then guess what!  You're an economic guerrilla too!

Welcome to the club!
 
Author J.K. Rowling said something beautifully through the voice of Professor Dumbledore in one of the Harry Potter books.  
                "It is our choices, more than our abilities, that make us who we truly are."

I'm paraphrasing there, but you get the idea. 

Anyone can choose to be kind, gracious, generous in spirit.  You don't have to have a Ph. D. or a fat 401k to be gentle.  Probably everyone has run into the proverbial rich asshole or spoiled brat - but I want to take a moment to honor everyone in my life who are class acts, no matter what their socio-economic status.

You have enriched me in ways large and small, and I am forever grateful.  Salud!
 
Hi!  Happy New Year!  Are you all recovered from your hangovers?

Before I get into my new year's resolutions (gag) I want to take a minute to look back at 2010.... a tough year indeed for most of us.  But instead of focusing on what went wrong, I wanted to make a list of some of my favorite accomplishments of the year.

                                                     5 Things I'm Proud Of

1.  Made the first of what will be many, many batches of jam and jelly...
2.  Went for the first full year of my adult life without a major kidney malfunction...
3.  Played music and partied with Roger Daltrey of The Who...
4.  Created 2 websites and a blog...
5.  Took a chance on love!

In terms of resolutions, I wanted to do something a little different and set some attainable goals.. thus

                                                    Goals for 2011

1.  Take more naps
2.  Eat more chocolate
3.  Drink more champagne

What's on your list?
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