Rewarding activities in a post peak age

notacornucopian

Matt suggested I start a thread regarding what we can do to enrich our lives post peak, especially since so many of our activities are energy intensive. I'll try not to ramble on too much:

Before I became educated on the issues of Peak Oil, like virtually everyone else, I did not consider the energy requirements of my various hobbies / interests. It was simply a question of whether I could economically afford a particular activity or not. I had always had an interest in automobiles and found that I appreciated the satisfaction of maintaining and repairing my own vehicles. This moved me in the direction of the classic car hobby. I purchase a few " project cars " and set up upon the task of restoring them. I found that I could do most of the work myself, especially the mechanical stuff, and went so far as to purchase sandblasting equipment and a compressor in anticipation of diving into the realm of bodywork / paint prep / etc..
Then I discovered Peak Oil.
Suddenly, these projects don't seem to be all that important anymore and I am in the process of deciding how to best recover the $$ I sank into these ventures. The good news is that I feel quite confident in keeping our daily driven vehicles running and am able to tackle most repairs. We will not be purchasing any new vehicles anytime soon so I will be required to keep what we have in good running condition.
I will admit I felt a little cheated at first but now have gotten past that. I am much more grateful of having had the good fortune of stumbling upon the Peak Oil message when I did. Having had a warning as to what our future challenges will be has gone a long way toward helping to deal with the situation.
This reconsideration of what I consider rewarding has also led to a lot of deep thinking as to what I would like to try to keep if at all possible in our post peak world. My family is actually somewhat artistic - Dad had his masters of the arts from Cambridge, my sister likes to write short stories, Mom was a painter, and music is the art I treasure the most. So how to bring all that wonderfull recorded music into the future ? I am one of those nuts who still likes analogue more than digital ( although there are exceptions ) so how in the world can I power a monstrous watt hungry stereo without grid power ? Well, I can't. I think the only way I may be able to have access to some of my collection is by transferring the " desert island " titles to some digital medium that can be powered by battery and stocking up on rechargeable batteries with solar cell rechargers. But even that will eventually break down. Looks like I will have to dust off my guitar and learn more than three chords this time !
I am thinking about buying some wind instruments that I may be able to learn to play.
This also ties into the importance of community. Whether it is learning to play instruments together, putting on small scale community plays, or organizing a barn dance after harvest, we will survive best as a group.
In another vein, I plan on building up a library that will provide me ( and others I hope ) some stimulation. The winter nights get pretty long here and curling up with a good book is ideal in that situation.
Well I've gone on long enough, anyone else ?

MadScientist · Heavy Crude Joined: May 19, 2004 Posts: 418

family music- good

reading in your own library- good

walking around in the woods- good

listening to your kids tell your parents how easy they had it when they were kids- priceless Laughing

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"The future power is manpower"

Pops · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

I enjoy working with my hands.

Woodworking, gardening, wrenching. I've more tools than I care too mention (to my wife).

I always wanted to play an instrument. I have several. I’m E-Baying the electric, imitation Gibson and keeping the acoustic Takamini.

Can’t play either worth a dang, but at least I can haul one to the woods where no one has to listen.
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Make a plan and work it:

RedStateGreen

Already like gardening Very Happy

I think people are going to do as the indigenes did long ago -- do useful things in their 'spare' time. Knitting, sewing, weaving, crocheting, woodcarving, throwing pots, etc. The time of mindless entertainment will ebb away.

Music, storytelling and art will remain but as a way to pass the time with friends and family, not as the big business it is now. It should be good. Smile

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Conservation is conservative

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. -- Charles Darwin

wisconsin_cur · Moderator Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 2981

let me reiterate,

homemade music

Church as a social activity as much as a religious one

experimenting with new things from learning to graft apple trees to breeding new varieties of veggies

training working dogs

a nice evening in a circle telling stories and sipping from some homemade "adult beverages"

making babies

I guess as things become more localized than county judges might actually start sentencing people to hang again. I understand it was quite the social event.

Not everything on the list would be my cup of tea but there will be plenty of opportunities for "entertainment."
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Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.

The sage places himself after and finds himself before,
Ignores his desire and finds himself content.

He is complete because he does not serve himself. -Lao Tze

Laurasia · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 10, 2004 Posts: 533

Hand sewing clothes and other articles - I recently started doing this because, well, actually, I couldn't be bothered to drag out the electric sewing machine. Hand-sewing is so portable.

Regards,

L.

keehah

Bradley method of bush regeneration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_method_of_bush_regeneration

AKA: Editing the Woods. In may area of the world, misuse of earth moving eqipment and weeds started F-ing-up most ecosystems anywhere near human activity.

I kid not. It is my main hobbie for the past several years. At the end of the day, you know you helped make the world a better place today!

Cornelian

I have adored gardening for many years, as well things like preserving. So doubtless these will continue to be big part of my life.

I have a fine library (including many 17th to 19th century manuals on home practicalities, gardening, cooking, etc) that I think I might finally have time to really, truly, deeply, appreciate.

Also. Learning to just sit, and enjoy the feel of air in my lungs.

auscanman

Fishing: it'll give you something to take your mind off the stresses of just trying to stay alive, and help you to stay alive at the same time... That is if you know how to clean fish.

On the same note, if you live close to water, aquaculture would also be rewarding. Just need to make sure you have the means to protect your fish from the hungry hoardes!

CarlinsDarlin · Moderator Joined: Jul 02, 2004 Posts: 1395

We'll likely do a lot of the things we do now. Home made music - lots of friends around with a variety of stringed acoustic instruments makes for a fun evening. We love to play and sing, and visit.

Church is social as well as religious for us already, and we're fortunate to attend a small, rural church about 2 miles up the road (walking distance, I've done it many times in my youth). One that is unplugged, so to speak, and we like it that way. No fancy powerpoint presentations and electronic instruments. We have a potluck once a month, a singing once a month, and a variety of other activities for young and old scattered here and there throughout the year. This past weekend was the annual hayride, along with hotdogs on the fire, and lots of singing and socializing. It was a hoot. I look forward to more community-minded activities like that.

I also garden and love being outdoors and don't see that changing. Well, with the exception of a lot more manual labor, perhaps, and a lot more serious gardening and less experimenting. We probably produce half of the veggies we eat in any given year now, though that could certainly be increased - it would just be a matter of expending more effort.

Lots of folks around here love to horseback ride, trail ride, and camp. Again, I don't see that changing. All we need around here (that we haven't found yet - and I'm working on it) is a knowledgable blacksmith. My nephew can shoe horses - we just need the shoes.

Fishing and hunting are also pleasurable and provide food for the table. I enjoy sewing, as well. I also have a good library of books that I have not spent enough time in as yet - I figure less computer time (I rarely watch TV) will free up a lot more time for my library.

I'd love to learn to crochet and knit.... I can think of a lot of activities that require no electronic input at all. The problem is right now I just don't have the time to enjoy them all. There's a lot of bad coming down the pike, but many of these things will indeed be pleasurable and, in my mind, an upside to all the negativity.

K

raober · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 18, 2007 Posts: 25

Good ol' fashioned card and board games. You know, with *real* cards, dice and such...no CRT or LCD required! Promotes togetherness, strategy, and is just plain fun.

I vividly remember playing chess with my father during power outages...made the time pass so much more quickly and enjoyably.

ncgoatgirl · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 24, 2005 Posts: 49 Location: NC

Knitting, spinning, some sewing.

Messing around with animals; experimenting with food, i.e. making cheese; just finished curing and smoking bacon from our own pigs (boy is it good); growing sorghum and making molasses with neighbors. Buying a set of harness and playing around with plowing with our horses.

Reading, walking, singing, playing baseball with black walnuts. Hanging out with friends and neighbors. Practical jokes.

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3255 Location: Maine

I don't think you have to quit messing about with cars. You just have to change the kind of cars you are building:

www.sunnev.com

I like to make maple syrup, and that uses a renewable fuel source. I like hunting and fishing, and gardening. Making apple cider is fun too.
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.