There are three things friends usually say when they finally understand that I’m not going back to teaching college or corporate training or running a foundation. 1. Ah, you are wanting a simpler life, 2. Oh, it sounds charming, And 3. Wow, that must be so much cheaper. To all of them, I smile, nod, and try not to say the first thing that pops into my head. The answer to all three is no, no, and no.
Here’s an example. When I was little there was a line of housekeeping toys for girls called Suzy Homemaker. Of course, we all wanted them-- ovens, vacuum cleaners, blenders, even a juicer. Back then, they were really cool toys. Now they have those “toys” in preschools, but not nearly as colorful and the teachers call it “dramatic play” in the “housekeeping” center. Back then, the toys were expensive and ultimately decided to be unnecessary, and finally declared sexist. Now, the school “equipment” is still expensive; however, educators no longer think learning how to take care of yourself is unnecessary for a 4-year old. Unfortunately, most of the tall people I know still find those toys sexist outside of the classroom, and that’s o.k.
It’s hard to explain that homesteading is like homemaking on steroids. Sure, you can think of it as dramatic play, as little more than a distraction until I get back to real work, even question whether it is sexist or not. I can accept that. I’ve wondered myself if maybe I’ve had some kind of breakdown, but I haven’t. I’m just lucky enough to have found and be able to afford doing the most real work of my life. It is extremely challenging mentally and physically and can get pretty dramatic unless I go about it in a playful way. What isn’t true is that it is: 1. Simple, 2. Charming, or 3. Cheap. But then, neither was Suzy Homemaker so I guess we have a lot in common even after all these years. And the best part is I get to play with a lot of really cool toys.
