Some years ago, when I was deep in the cul-de-sac and bored senseless, I went looking for inspiration.  Like most people, I looked ‘ínside the box’ before daring to peek outside.  Amongst my inner-box litter was a faint recollection of The Whole Earth Catalogue (WEC) and things somewhat hippy.  So, in a desperate attempt at finding the answer to the cancer that was my everyday life, I started to roam about the ‘net’ looking up WEC and came across the current edition of Mother Earth News (MEN).  I remember laughing, “Sheesh, after all these years MEN is still selling the dream of living ‘off the land’.” And so I went to have a look.

MEN supported a MEN forum for people wishing to discuss seeds and fertilizer, chickens and tractors, building and even old time skills like quilting and making your own brooms or pickling eggs or getting rid of sheep and chicken diseases.  It was pretty out there and not really what I wanted to pursue. I really wasn’t thinking of going ‘country’ at that time.

I distinctly recall reading a sibling periodical on country farming that had an article on what to do “If Your Toads Have Gone Soft.” This had Sally and me in hysterics.  There were articles on how to suck the phlegm from the noses and throats of newborn lambs (seems they can asphyxiate on there own mucous and the ‘husband’ is obliged to suck it out of them by going mouth-to-mouth).  Clearly, I was too far outside the box.

But MEN also had a forum for general discussion and people on that forum were discussing current events, politics, morality, family and other issues that I had some comfort (but no knowledge) with.  I jumped in.  And, OHMYGAWD! the resources, the characters, the stories and the wealth of community that was offered was unbelievable.  And unbelievable is a fair word.  I was making friends-online who were reclusive religious sects, old hippies, ranchers, witches, single moms, grandparents, ex-military and the list went on and on and on.  They were (and are) fascinating people and they all had something to contribute.

Even to me.  It was obvious that I was now a bit outside the box but their community helped make me more comfortable with the desire to get out of the box in the first place.  Many of them were escapees of the city or wannabees or long-in-the-tooth experts already.  Many were skilled tradespeople who were as trapped as I was but willing to advise others in their field if it meant a step towards freedom.  I got help from all walks of life.  It was wonderful.  And I took it as a hand-hold as I climbed out of the box and headed to the forest.

I can’t honestly say that my MEN forum was the reason we came to live remote but I can say that I would not have done it without them.  With them I went from being a weirdo wondering why I wanted out of the conventional lifestyle so bad to knowing that I was not only not alone but that there many who had already made the leap.  I am forever indebted to all of them and there are a special group of about a dozen who were truly inspirational and helpful.

I just discovered today that a few are reading this blog.  It is an honour.