Stamp of approval.

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Today has been a long one, again. Much was done, and much will yet be done. It is hot, and working only adds to the sensation. Still, I seem to be able to chug along at whatever pace required. Even with a short rain burst and clouds giving partial to total coverage for an hour, the weather has not seemed to affect the temperature at all. Such is life in a desert I am learning. No air conditioning, with temps in the 90's, and still working? Really, this does not sound like me at all, and yet there it is.

While the men who helped me move were here today, while we were unloading and then afterward even more while sipping soda, we discussed the house. I know several people who have been here do not consider it much of a house. The kitchen, to be sure, needs updated. The extra bathroom, the one big enough for a tub and shower combo, the one with plenty of room, is rather nicely done. The upstairs is fantastic, really. And the front rooms have been very nicely modernized. But the rest of the house is dated. All but two of the downstairs windows need replaced. The back door and screen door need to be replaced. There is work everywhere. And, in some eyes, I have seen disappointment in my place and choice.

That is fine. This is not their place. This is not their call. What they can offer for a place is well beyond my means, not of interest to me in one case, or simply not my style in yet another. As well, the land means a great deal to me and nothing to most of them. But today, in the discussion, the elder man reviewed some things, asked some questions, and I told him about a few things. Nice place you have here, was his final assessment. I think from him, and the way he said it, that is about as good as it gets. I even took more from it, in that some of my plans met with his approval (regarding livestock, gardening, and such). Not a sourpuss, really, so much as a pragmatist who is not easily impressed. He even showed me something I had missed, a wild rose bush hidden by another bush (which he recommended cutting well back to allow the rose to grow). And, looking at him, I realized he is more on target than the others, even the other man with him. Most people want a bought, immaculate, move in-do nothing home. They want the lawn and garden watered, on a timer, automatic. Mowing, if they must, is to be minimized. They have no other use for the place except as a means of social or economic gain and a place to lay there heads. This I do not mind, but there assessments are also less valuable to me. So, today, I received the only type of approval I would want. And, yes, need to a degree. Perhaps I am being too judgmental myself, but that is how I see things.

What this home offers, if I will work toward it, is self-sufficiency, security, some comfort, and a quieter way of living. I do not believe in organic, if I may end up using heritage seed. I do not believe in what goes for "environmentalism", especially of the activist varietal of the disease, but I will do my utmost to cut my costs and perhaps figure out how to live off the grid. And I worry nothing about much of what the world yammers on about on a thousand topics. I will do fine here, assuming I survive my health issues, better than almost anywhere else in the world, I should think. Even my health issues will be dealt with better by living, should I become functional even in a more minor way, here than by taking medicine. So, having a stamp of approval from a man who has worked his whole life, starting with less or nothing, working with what he has and could make, and making a living for himself and his family, yeah, that was good.

Is it self-serving to accept one compliment against a host of disappointments? No, it is weighting the reasons for the various reactions. If he had merely said that because it was expected, it would mean nothing. If he had said the opposite, because it is not like his place or a McMansion, it would have had no impact. This was purely weighted on meaning, much of which I gained from his questions and interest in certain parts of the discussion. Let us say Vox and D.C. visited, can you guess which one's opinion would matter the most to me? Not a slight to either, but their approaches, means, and ways within those means are very much different.

Well, beans of many sorts need to be attended. The wheat can be done right before bed, though I have room if it needs to be fit in. A loaf of bread, sourdough, was purchased, and I am hungry again. I suppose I should get to it. With the table set up, the chairs around it, and room to access the lot, I might end up having a simple but pleasant dinner tonight. Yes, time to get back to the work at hand. A stamp of approval means nothing if the product is not utilized. I cannot utilize it on my butt, mostly.

Oh, I did finalize the storage shed, so that is done. I did make it to the store and bought the goods I needed, and some bread as I mentioned. I picked my friend up and took him along for a ride. I stopped at the place I mentioned, though my friend was not hungry. He was thirsty though, so a few beers (and a side of chicken wings as they are not allowed to sell beer without food, they are a restaurant and that is the law here). Yep, got a lot done, if I did not make it to Church but it will happen (or even find my shoes! Where are those! I used to lose shoes as a child, all the time, literally, but not for years! Mommy! Hmmm, she will be here in a few weeks, maybe she can find them for me?) Bah!

Later.