Yet another project

For quite a while, I've wanted to write a book. I never really knew what subject I wanted to use, but I just knew I wanted to write something. Several idea's went through my head, and I even started writing a few of them. I started one on backyard gardens, but that has been done hundreds of times over. I wrote 6 chapters of one on disaster preparedness, but thought it sounded repetitive and like other books I had read. I considered another on suburban homesteading on a budget, but it just didn't feel right. I tossed a lot of ideas around in my head, and had almost given up the idea for a while, when yesterday morning it hit me.

I want to write about our journey over the past twelve years in escaping "the norm" in suburbia. As anyone who knows me, or reads this blog is aware of, we don't exactly fit in here. We live simply, homestead our one acre the best we can, live *gasp* without television, and man other things that put us outside the circle from everyone else. Since my last post about our weekend fire, I have felt rejuvenated from the long winter, and inspired to do more than ever while completely embracing who I have become over the course of my life. It may sound strange to many, but it's almost like a rebirth, not far off Spring itself being a rebirth of nature. I feel happy, alive, and inspired.

With all of this in mind, the idea for a book subject came to me early yesterday morning while sitting here at the computer over coffee. It was the same as many other ideas and thoughts. *facepalm* "Why didn't I think of this before??" I decided on a theme, and the title just came from nowhere. "Unplugged-Escaping Suburbia from Within". It fits. It's me. It's everything that Lisa and I do and have done. That is exactly how it is being written. It won't be an instruction manual or a how-to book, but just be the story of our "unplugging" from being somewhat typical suburbanites to where we are now. (note that I used "somewhat. Who am I kidding, we've never quite fit in.) I'm writing is as if I was documenting our own personal journey; step by step in great detail. I have a very rough draft of the first chapter started, and want to spend more time, possibly today, writing more. It's funny how little details about our choices come back to me as I write and remember. I'm doing my best to document every one of them, just so someone out there may understand our decisions a little better. I'm really enjyoying writing this.

I have no desire to be a best seller or to get famous. I just want to share our experiences with anyone that would want to listen to them. I want people to try understanding that just because you live in the suburbs;or anywhere else for that matter; you don't have to live the same cookie cutter life as everyone surrounding you. You don't have to keep up with the Jones's. You don't have to die with nothing to show the world of your existence but a nice little house with a perfectly manicured lawn. You don't have to rely 100% on the grocery store. I have a lot of topics to cover,and plan to make each one a chapter. The first one I have started is, of course, on one of my favorite subjects to despise-television and video games. I'm trying to do the same as I have lately in the blog, and play nice guy. In previous posts here, I've tended to be pretty opinionated, and I want to get away from that. I have to face facts that no one will listen to anything I say if I come across as being insulting, or insisting that my way is the only way. I've leared to keep that part of myself restrained, and I'm happier with my posts because of it.

Since I am due to start the new job next week, and the busy spring outdoor season is almost here, it is going to take some time to write this book. I won't have the spare time that I do now, so this will have to be pushed to the back burner while I concentrate on more important things. I'll definitely finish writing this one, unlike the other two that I started, just because this one is closer to my entire life than just one or two aspects of it. I'm excited bout doing this more than I have lead on to most people so far, but a lot are catching on to my childlike giddiness. I've talked about it to friends and on Facebook, and I'm getting a lot of encouragement that I never really expected. Maybe I'm just too used to getting strange looks or getting somewhat ridiculed by my family and a few others. Thanks to those people, and also the ones that read this blog, I'm inspired to write this book, and encouraged by all of you and your words and comments.

Well, so much for that whole going Amish bit. I don't think I could go without the internet and everyone that's kept me going. DRATS!