Lately I’ve been asked how I manage living in the woods for long stretches of time without amenities such as electricity and running water. I feel like I haven't answered this question adequately, and that’s probably for fear of sounding flippant. I don’t want to romanticize something that others feel would be a real struggle for them, personally. But the short answer is, these woods mean more to me than light switches that magically illuminate a room, or turning a faucet for an unlimited supply of hot water. I’ve waited decades for this land, and now that it is under our care, there is no place I’d rather be. It doesn't feel like I'm missing out, it feels like I'm having the best time of my life. Also, I'm hardly roughing it (Birdy sure is a sweet little pad and that shower works great), but again, I hesitate to say that because I know some people see this set up as hell-no-I-am-not-doing-that. I get that. To me though, it’s about as cushy as camping gets so I kind of feel like I’m not roughing it enough. I’m hardly earning any back-to-the-land scout badge over here. I mean, I have battery operated twinkly lights for crying out loud that can be recharged whenever I’m in the car. The car! A trusted vehicle that takes me wherever I need to go, and even plenty of places I don’t need to go. And if we don’t have a fire going but want to cook something, we have two, two! propane stoves. I’m able to keep food chilled thanks to a general store three miles away that sells block ice. And I freak out about that because this habit has left us with an obscene collection of plastic bags that i’m not sure what to do with. Maybe I’ll use them to make a braided rug, just like my grandmother made with all of her saved bread bags. Now if I could just find a recipient for such a thing because I sure don’t want a braided rug made out of plastic bags.
In other words, there are plenty of modern amenities and resources at play here, the lack of hardship is real. Oh! And let’s not forget, I am here by choice. Anytime I get the urge to not shower in 36º crisp autumn air, I can point the car south and head back to a home that has all kinds of bells and whistles. Total luxury.
Speaking of, I am back in Connecticut for a few days and it took me no time at all to play my favorite seasonal sport of room-swapping and furniture rearranging. It’s the very best remedy for stirring up static juju, and you get a whole new living space to boot.
And how about all those lights that are on, you know, for ambiance… geez. Easy come, easy go.