Howdy my dandy little comrades,
Hooray for Kate and Eli for starting the initiative on making this blog happen. I'm not much of a blogger, nor am I much of a computerer, but if there's anyone who is worth operating one of these soul-sucking machines for, it is you guys. I hope this can turn into a venue for sharing resources, plans and ideas in hopes for reconnecting with one another in the future around activities that can both benefit the soil, the people, the non-people and each of us individually.
My current dwelling is a remodeled basement on Clinton St in Saratoga, just a block away fro the Getty and Price Chopper. Yes, I'm still here. My former landlord from last year offered me to crash in his basement for free, in exchange for helping him build a root-cellar and a 3-story porch above it on the old brick house that he and his family live in. He's a really cool guy, a Skidmore alumni from '92 actually, who owns a few houses in Toga and knows a crap-ton about building almost anything-- porches, foundations, doors, windows, stairs, art, gardens. His specialty is converting basements into beautiful, functional spaces that are packed with chalk-board walls, art and light switches. He's been inspiration to become a do-it-yourself type of person, and I am learning all sorts of things from him.. This is a good way to live, both in terms of understanding what you own and manage and saving money. It's also part of a semi-interest of mine: learning how to retrofit old homes and buildings to incorporate more ecological/appropriate technologies into them. It seems less resource-intensive to work with what is already in existence, rather than tearing down the old and building new.
Anyway, hopefully we will finish the addition by late October, and I will be returning back to western Mass for a few months to reconnect with friends and family for the holidays. Then, Mexico. My tentative departure date is January 15th. I desperately want to drive there for the experience of really seeing how far away Oaxaca is and for boycotting of using airplanes. BUT tickets online are like $200 dollars if I buy them nowish, so I'm having an intense economic vs. moral debate with myself on it... and I can't find anyone who wants to drive. Anyone interested? I envision driving a junker down there and abandoning it or selling it at some point before returning to the States.
Kate and Eli, your in Limbo, wanna go to Mexico? Learn spanish, work with Gustavo, get your hands dirty, come up with urban agriculturally/ permaculture projects. Farm. Meet up with old friends. Go to the beach. Be Merry.
If only I had a camera to show you all this basement. Too bad. You will have to come visit!! Seriously, I'd love to see any and all of you. It's my first time living alone and it's been a difficult transition.
Best of luck to all of you, get in touch whenever, 413 320 7052
Will Coffey
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