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Monday 21 May 2012
The Perks of Being Gainfully Unemployed

Over the years, our gainful unemployment portfolio has evolved with our changing needs, resources, and interests. In the beginning we mowed lawns, rented out rooms, helped on construction projects, did community development consulting work, did graphic design, painted decks, weeded people’s gardens, and worked on two different farms. Today we keep bees, sell meat, make salves, candles and soaps from our animal fats and beeswax, weave baskets, write and publish books, work on the family farm, lecture, and teach. Our income portfolio is always changing, and we are always investing a portion of our income in new ventures to replace any we may phase out. Last year we planted an orchard. The year before, we started a small vineyard to support a small organic fruit enterprise. This year we’re experimenting with growing our own willow for baskets and furniture making. For next year, I’m toying with starting a fiber business. We’ve made and sold Christmas ornaments from found objects, catered local food events, and baked for hire, too. Over time, once the house was paid off, we acquired financial capital that we’ve been able to invest according to our values, helping to further diversify our income stream.

Gainful unemployment doesn’t make for a glamorously high income. But when partnered with the skills of radical homemaking—growing one’s food, home cooking, making gifts and household goods rather than buying them; cooperating with friends, family, and neighbors to get work done or care for loved ones, learning how to manage finances in a local life-serving economy, making rather than buying entertainment—the net proceeds can be substantial. These come in the form of increased savings, increased fun, greater economic and emotional security, and tremendous self-worth.

26 notes

  1. trexcommentary reblogged this from azspot
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  5. dessertandtimetravel reblogged this from azspot and added:
    And I am living it.
  6. bankingbot reblogged this from azspot
  7. aatombomb said: So I shouldn’t accept the job offer from Luis the import/export guy from Bayonne I met recently?
  8. originalface reblogged this from azspot
  9. azspot posted this

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