Learning to live with less

I worked for three days on an article revolving around the first amendment and ultimately decided to scrap it. It felt too preachy, and while part of me wants to lay into some people and talk about what our actual freedoms entail, I decided to instead write about something more positive and inclusive.

What, exactly, do I mean "learning to live with less"? There are many people who feel that denying themselves any of their pleasures and/or vices is pointless; life is too short so it should be enjoyed fully at all times. Part of me agrees with that philosophy, but if we zoom out and look at our life as a whole we can maybe take away a lesson that will seem blatantly obvious to some.

I lived a life of excess, spending all of my money without putting any aside for the future. I was happy in the moment, as I always had a new "thing" to keep me occupied. It worked for a while, but there was always something nagging me. My parents never talked to me about my future, or what I would need to do to prepare for it. The home economics class I took in high school was a joke; we filled out a check and cooked some eggs. Now children don't even get that.

I guess I had it in my mind that social security was retirement, and it wasn't until much later in life that I learned how wrong I was. Interest rates change, the price of goods fluctuates, but what remains constant is our needs for survival. We need to eat, we need water, and we need shelter - air to breathe is free, so we'll skip that one, but air conditioning is nice and also comes with a price. To meet these needs we need money.

Most of us, before the pandemic, had full time jobs and we still stressed about money at least every once in a while. Now, with so many unknowns and no real leadership on the matter, we face the very real threat of another shutdown. It's time to start thinking about what happens if this doesn't go back to normal for another year.

By then, most people's unemployment will have either run out or be severely depleted. Savings accounts will be emptied, 401k accounts will be raided, stocks might get sold for far less then their actual value - all in an attempt to keep providing food, water, and shelter to our families. Now take a moment to think about this: What did people do before savings accounts, the stock market, and government assistance? They survived.

I use fishing as an example, because it's accessible to so many people and, to be honest, I love it. I go to a local pond where Fish and Wildlife stocks trout, and I do my best to catch my daily limit as often as possible. I currently have trout frozen from previous fishing trips, and when I get hungry I thaw them and pan fry up dinner. Sure, there was an initial investment for the rod/reel and baits, but I've more than made my money back. I don't just eat trout either; I catch and eat bass, bluegill, crappie - why limit ourselves to just fish?

For the cost of a hunting license I can get a few deer during season, I get permission to harvest squirrels and rabbits from family and neighbors, and can even put quail or turkey on the table if I'm willing to put in the effort. No, that way of life isn't accessible for everyone - or is it? Hunting trips aren't as far out of people's price ranges as they might believe. Check online for opportunities near you and you'd be surprised how close some of them are.

Certain times of the year also offer up wild edibles, like pecans, walnuts, blackberries and elderberries, wild mushrooms, and various herbs. If you want to try to live off the land a little more, I highly recommend you take a class. DO NOT BE FOOLED; there are plants across the United States that if eaten can and will kill you. If you want to eat what you find, then learn from a professional before you put you or your family in danger.

I'm not saying you should try to live off the land full time, but imagine if you can start small and replace a few of your fast food meals with home grown produce from your own garden, or have a nice dinner of duck (that you shot) and wild greens (that you picked), or even smoked trout from a local stream (that you caught). Be forewarned, the sense of accomplishment and pride from providing for yourself is infectious and highly virulent. You'll want to get friends and family involved, and before you know it you'll be trying to bring others into the community of hunter/gatherers. Just like I'm doing here.

Before anyone has a chance to get all uppity about "not hurting the animals" or "we should be worried about conservation" it should be noted that the vast majority of private money used for conservation comes from the sales of hunting/fishing licenses. We pay for our licenses so that the land will still be hunt-able and fish-able for years to come. So, with that being said, buy the license - it isn't that much, and the fine for getting caught without one is MUCH worse.

Hopefully some of you grasp the spirit behind this article, even though I am prone to rambling; You can provide for your selves with more than just the money you earn from your job. We did it for a long time before we started getting paid to work, or before governments even existed, and I think there is something powerful about taking back that part of our history. Maybe you agree too.

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