May
6
2008
6
2008
The Alternative
Filed under: Alternative Housing, Consumerism, Contentment, Following Jesus, Simplifying
alternative:
a chance to choose between two or more possibilities;
one of the two or more possible choices.
Sometimes I forget that our little family is not normal. I forget that our life is a little on the “alternative” side…because it’s just us. It’s just life. But the more people I meet on the road…the more I realize just how different we are than the typical American family.
And yet, we are all so similar. Everyone longs to be free. Free from the burden of a mortgage. Free from the constraints of a nine to five job. Free from the pressure to conform. I see that longing in people’s eyes and hear it in their words over and over again…and yet, comfort usually wins out. It’s comfortable to be like everyone else. It’s easier to give in to the pressure to live the “American Dream” because everyone else is doing it too. Everyone else is at the mall. Everyone else is buying a house and cars they can’t afford. Everyone is charging it on their most recent 0% interest rate credit card. But I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to live in my own little alternative dream world. 
Over the last couple of years, we’ve worked towards making our dream world a reality…and it has all come down to choices. We chose to sell our house and move to a smaller apartment so we could pay off debt faster. We chose to move West and simplify our life even more…with the goal of truly enjoying each day. We chose to go on the road full-time and explore the country while teaching others how to live green. We chose to give up the stability of a steady job in exchange for a wild journey of faith. Here are a few thoughts on the alternative parts of our life…and the variety of choices that are before us.
Employment
One of the most common questions we get asked is “how do you make money?!”. Most people are so accustomed to thinking about making money in the most traditional of ways…so making a living without a 9-5 job is a completely foreign and scary thought. The reason that it’s so scary is that we are constantly told by the media (and sometimes our family/friends) that to be accepted, we must appear to be successful. We must own a house. We must own a new vehicle. We must have a job with a fancy title. None of these things are bad…but they really aren’t necessary to have a happy life. When I started thinking about what was motivating us to have the big house, the car, the fancy job, etc…I realized that it was mostly driven by other people’s expectations. So, we left the very nice steady job and now we make money doing lots of small jobs. And we couldn’t be happier…because we are doing what we LOVE. Demos for the tour, photography, life coaching, handyman work, graphic design…everything adds up, and by the grace of God, we are able to pay bills and stay on the road! God has been so faithful throughout this journey and continues to amaze us with His provisions every day.
Housing
If you browse around my blog a bit…you will quickly notice that I am WAY into alternative housing. Yurts, cob houses, earthships, tipis Anything that looks a little quirky and I’m all over it. So it wasn’t a huge jump for us to move our entire life into a teeny box with wheels and hit the road. And we LOVE it. We love the smallness. We love having our home with us wherever the road leads. We couldn’t imagine it any other way! When we do settle down again somewhere…I’ll be checking one of my favorite books out from the library: Mortgage Free: Radical Strategies for Home Ownership. Love it.
Faith
Relying on something other than yourself is a foreign concept in our culture. We are constantly bombarded with messages of self-sufficiency and using our own “power” to create a new reality. And while I agree that we have amazing power within…I believe that power comes from Christ. He alone gives us power to pursue those dreams and He opens doors and opportunities beyond our wildest dreams when we abide in Him. Living a life focused on Christ is not always a popular choice, but for us…it’s the only choice.
Parenting
It’s a crazy thing…this parenting job. We are trying to do the best that we can with the information that we have…and adding a whole bunch of love and kisses along the way We are a homebirthing, cloth diapering, non-vaxing, gentle disciplining, babywearing, co-sleeping, extended nursing family…whew! That’s a lot of labels. I prefer to think of it as natural parenting. We believe that children are to be treated with respect and mercy. It’s not an easy road and we’re not perfect by any means…but we try to treat Bella the way we want her to treat others….with respect and kindness.
Education
Another question that we get asked a lot is “…but what will you do when Bella needs to go to school?”. And to that my response is “…she is already in school!”. The school of life, that is Bella is learning new things every day…in the last week we have learned about railroads, numbers, seasons, food, money, and more…just by living life. She is learning about the world around her in every interaction we have. She constantly asks questions and I do my best to teach her new things each day. We fall into the “unschooling” camp and it fits perfectly with our lifestyle and beliefs about how a child should learn. For some great reading on this topic…here is a great book to start with.
Food
We definitely go against the flow when it comes to food…we’ve been vegetarian for almost 4 years and are most recently eating all raw vegan foods. We feel amazing and we’re having a great time teaching others along the way!
Beauty
To be considered beautiful in our culture, it might appear that one needs to be a size 2, have long flowing blonde hair, and wear designer clothing. These are all things that the fashion magazines tell us…and it’s probably the most difficult thing for women especially to overcome. But for me, it’s much more fun to love myself for who I am, in the clothes I found at Goodwill….with hair that doesn’t have to be combed.
I love the definition above of “alternative” listed above…“a chance to choose between two or more possibilities”. A “chance to choose”. There is so much possibility in that phrase. What is your ultimate dream in life? Are you pursuing it? Are you taking steps each day towards that goal? Or do you just lay in bed at night and think about it? Do you think about how impossible it is? How life just isn’t fair? No more thinking. JUST START NOW. Take one step. And then take another. And another. Until you are living your dream and you couldn’t imagine it any other way!
God places passions and desires in our hearts for a reason. He wants us to be in the center of His will…pursuing the passions that He has placed in our hearts. Abide in Him. Listen. Dream. Take one step toward the alternative.
Photo credit: Flickr| tonystl
Posted by Sara @ 3:08 am | Leave a Comment
13
2008
I have been reading your blog for awhile now and I have found it refreshing and encouraging…so I was kind of let down by this post.
It seems to me that there is a movement among Christians to embrace this new “alternative” and define it by outward things. There have been times that I really agree with what is going in people’s hearts, living simply, shunning commercialism, not worrying about what the rest of the world thinks…and then suddenly here is this whole new list of “things” that define a person. And we don’t fit that perfect little picture. And it’s not really our dream either. We’re very happy living in a house and driving a normal car and my husband loves his (7am-6pm) job as a stone mason. God made me with blond hair and I wear it long. We eat a lot of “normal” food and wear “normal” clothes. Yes, we homeschool, we don’t vax or spank and these things make us different but they don’t define us. I guess I’m just tired of people telling us to listen to Jesus..and He’ll tell us to be like them.
The Bible uses the image of two paths also.(Matt.7) One is broad and one is narrow. One is the way of life and peace and the other ends in death. To me these are the paths that Christians should be concerned with.
Ironically, most of the “alternative” people that I know aren’t Christians and most are Pagan. I’m not saying it’s wrong to do these things, just that it not really what God has planned for everyone.
I admire you. I’m not trying to judge you, just show you a different point of view. The main passage of Scripture that came to mind as I read your post is Romans 14, specifically verse 17:
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Paul said that he had learned to be content no matter where he was, if he was poor or rich or even in jail. I think we should strive for this also while finding our dream. Being content in God’s will even if that is in the middle of Suburbia.
May God bless you as you continue to live your dream!
14
2008
Beautiful verse from Romans that essentially affirms a life which eschews material consumption. At the time these words were written, “meat” was a form of currency, as it still is for nomadic and tribal people throughout the world–livelihood, wealth, dowry, etc etc. Thus, Old Testament sacrifices generally involve livestock–that is, they entail not only the giving up of life, but the giving up of valuable individual property, as a way of saying: My acquisitions are nothing I would not gladly surrender to you, O Lord, to receive your Grace. Thank you, Leah, for inadvertently affirming an “alternative” life. Like many others, I grew up in a right-wing “Christian” home and thought for many years that Christianity was synonomous with fear, homophobia, rampant materialism, prejudice. Bless you, Sara, for living the freedom that true alternatives bring.
15
2008
Sara,
I’m a mostly silent reader and I have really enjoyed reading your blog over this past year! Your posts are always challenging and inspiring.
It is definitely true that there is a lot that is wrong with the current “American dream” lifestyle and (while we are right in the middle of living it) we, too, are truly seeking to live the life that Christ has called us to live – which is NOT what most people consider normal – thus the term “alternative.” =)
I was wondering about one thing in your post in regards to parenting and thought maybe you could clarify or maybe you just hadn’t thought about this before: I notice that both links you provide for parenting info are very secular/worldly in nature in the sense that they seem to be not talking about parenting from a biblical worldview. I’m actually NOT saying that I don’t agree with and practice most of what you mentioned in regards to parenting, but I was just wondering if you have sought out scripture and godly advice from godly men and women in this area (I am guessing you have) or if you mostly process your thoughts on this through these two websites. Just wondering b/c some of my friends and I were talking today about how important it is to make sure that our “mental commities” are made up of people/organizations who have a biblical worldview and who are seeking to love and serve the Lord. We are (especially as women) so easily swayed by what sounds like a good idea especially if it is what we are surrounding ourselves with on a daily basis. . . does this make sense. . . (this is coming from a healthy eating, home-centered learning, non-vaxing mom who doesn’t co-sleep and does *discipline* for outright defiance and takes slight offense to the insinuation by these 2 sites that I am not merciful and loving or gentle because of this).
I really do love your blog and I love that you challenge me to think about all of these things!
Thanks!
15
2008
Wow! Thank you for this post! I was just writing on my blog about listening to and not shutting out the passions that God has placed on my heart. I really appreciate your words. God bless.
16
2008
Sara-
I have 2 books that come to mind when I read your posts.. One about money stuff/ Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace (so awesome- from a Christian’s perspective and helped my husband and I too give up credit cards completely, save and have live debt free) http://www.daveramsey.com
Another about a Christian guy who took 2 months with a buddy to live as a homeless person- Mike Yankoski’s “Under the Overpass” can’t say enough awesome things about this guy and his book, oh how it opened my eyes to so much. http://www.undertheoverpass.com
Check them out, and keep inspiring, God bless.
16
2008
Funny how I feel like such an outsider with just the food piece (and we’re not raw vegans, just half raw and mill your own flour kind of folks) who parent in most of the same ways. sigh.
If you ever have insomnia or need to engage in tomfoolery, I tagged you for a new meme. Big fun, good times.
16
2008
one of my favorite posts you’ve written yet. it totally spoke to me and my husband was inspired by it also. i also totally get what you were saying, that most americans are blessed to have choices, and i want to thank you for sharing your families choices with us. i enjoy reading about how unique your life is right now and how you got there. keep em coming.
17
2008
were you in the New York Times article today 5/17?
18
2008
just this week i think i spoke about each of these categories with others….marching to the beat of our own drum. being okay with being different. it felt so good. perfect timing for this post….encouraging
19
2008
[...] Sara from Walk Slowly, Live Wildly (and the famous Live Lightly Tour…and Happy Foody…and a host of other interesting things) always writes with such heart and authenticity, and I just can’t help but love her. I bet you will too, especially after reading this post on going against the American Dream and choosing an alternative lifestyle. [...]
19
2008
I’ve read this blog from time to time, and it really is inspiring… Even in this post there are many things that make one think what way live her life. Even though I can’t think on the same way about everything… well, mostly God. Christian country, christian culture… and I don’t really feel that I should believe. But well, that’s my choice.
What I wanted to say was simply, that you can think about those same things (living without credit, simple life, travelling, etc), without a christian point of view.
Your choises ask a lot of courage, I wish you all good.
And.. what did I want to say…? oh, yeah, that’s almost 6 years ago that I said goodbye to comb. I like my hair
19
2008
Very interesting post! I am inspired by you and your blog. My husband and I like to think we dance to the beat of our own drum as well but… we can’t get over the no health insurance thing. Maybe I need to trust more. I don’t know. I think I’ve just known so many people who got cancer randomly at a young age I feel like health insurance is just something we can’t live without. I see that you are non-vaxing do you have any sort of health plan? We’ve looked at paying for one out of pocket but it costs soooo much money. So for now DH still has to keep his job even though it isn’t for the money… give and take I suppose.
20
2008
Sara,
You are living proof that if we really want to share God’s love then all that actually matters in life is a roof over ones head, clothes to wear, and food to eat in the company of those we love and care for.
We were called to ‘live’ our faith in the way that Jesus did trusting God in whatever direction He leads us. May you continue to be blessed in having the courage and will to do as you have.
20
2008
I just stumbled upon your blog,but I loved what you had to say!
We also live an alternative life and have been traveling the world in an older small RV for the last 2 years. We eat mostly vegan, my child has never had a vax or antibiotic, I don’t have to comb my hair because it is very short and I love that freedom, we unschool our child and live very well on 25k a year.
I understand completely and living this free life has been the best decision of our lives!
I only wish we did this sooner!
Blessings to you and yours!
21
2008
What an answer to prayer! I found your website by accident and started reading. Thank you for your inspiring words. I too live an alternative life, compared to those around me, and lately I find it hard because of the lack of support I receive. It is refreshing to know that others are also “alternative”. Thank you.
22
2008
What gorgeous sentiment…
22
2008
This is totally off subject…
I finally cleaned out my kitchen cupboards! We have 4 people in our family. We now have 4 bowls, 4 small plates, and 5 large plates (1 used for serving).
I just got so fed up with never catching up on the dishes. Even if I did them 3 times a day it still seemed overwhelming.
In addition to paring down, I now have a tub filled with soapy water all the time. Even the kids will wash their dishes after they use it. I’m loving it!
22
2008
You have alot of good thoughts I really enjoyed it…
24
2008
I just wanted to write and tell you that you are such an inspiration to me. I believe I am a true “hippie” at heart. I could easily give up my home and either hit the road or live on an homestead, but I am married to the love of my life and he is not at all into any of it. I have/had settled. I am/was how obese, sick, and depressed. But you know what I told myself that this was going to change and it has in someways. I now eat a much at least a 50% raw diet, compost, recycle, clean organically, and am losing some weight. My husband may sometimes shake his head but he is not stopping me and has started to do some little things himself. I guess what I wanted to say is although we might not all get to live your life ( and not everyone would want to) you have inspired many of us to think differently and change and I for one want to think you for that.
28
2008
Sara, what a great summary/reminder of how your family’s lives have changed over the past few years! I’ve read all the comments thus far for this post….and while my family’s life will probably always look different from your family’s, it’s great to see that you CAN exist, thrive and be joyful without many of the things our society considers necessary. I’m always challenged and encouraged by reading your blog, so keep on truckin (or should I say, RVin’). I’ll probably never live out of an RV, have my hair in dreads, or enjoy a green smoothie daily, but your blog reminds me above all to keep it simple, keep it real and enjoy life to the full–keeping it pointed toward the One who gives full life. He gets all the glory from our efforts anyway.
I will say, though, that you have singlehandedly convinced me to cloth-diaper, clean green, learn to banish plastic, and switch to a simpler, greener beauty routine. Its all in-process, but its been so good. So thanks, friend! So glad I checked the Freecycle posts that day…:-)
28
2008
What a great post – in fact what a great blog. I have only just stumbled across this blog and already its kept me awake at night mulling over some of the things you have said – its a huge inspiration
29
2008
Gosh I’ve been needing to find a blog that speaks to me like this one does. Chile turned me on to your cloth wipes post, and I’ve been smitten since. Thanks.
30
2008
Wonderful post–Thank you!
Julieann
30
2008
Hi Sara,
I just tagged you for a blog game where you write 6 of your unspectacular quirks. It looks like you are one popular lady, so maybe your readers would enjoy that from you. Personally, what I would really like to hear from you is how you came to Jesus. When did you become a Christian? I would also love to hear more about the different churches that you mentioned you have visited over the course of your travels. Is there one branch of Christianity that you feel drawn to? Peace.
31
2008
Great post!
Have you checked out Container City?
http://www.containercity.com
2
2011
You may like this Container building
http://www.twotimestwentyfeet.com/p/hilfiger_s2010
saw it last Summer in Berlin
2
2008
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog! Am so glad to have found it. So much of what I’ve read really resonates with me. I’ve bookmarked it for future perusal. Thanks~you’re inspiring!
3
2008
Amen, mama lady!
4
2008
I just found your blog as well and this is the 1st post I’ve read. I know I am many among commentors but wanted to say how it really encourages me. See I am into natural parenting and am a Christian but sometimes feel so alone in the world;d with y beliefs. I blogged about it the other day in fact. I so wish God would send someone like you in my life, But for now, I’ll have to be content to subscribe to your blog RSS feeds and know that somewhere in this world is someone like me with the same dreams and thoughts and beliefs. Thank you for your post!
7
2008
Sara,
For various reasons, my husband and I are contemplating a major life change for our family and hitting the road full time in an RV. We are putting the pieces together right now and praying our way through it. I found your link on the FOTR website and have been sitting here reading your site. I just wanted to tell you how ridiculously heartening it is to know that there are people out there that love Christ with all their hearts AND still care about creation, living naturally and slowing down to enjoy…not buying into everything that’s peddled to us.
Thank you for your sweet spirit, your godly “alternative-ness”, and for taking a complete leave from being ethnocentric. You are an inspriration in a time when it feels like saying one is a Christian means one must then all into a certain camp..one that cares nothing for the earth, caring for people regardless of who they are or what they have come from. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I pray that you and your family will be a reflection of Him and a blessing to all you meet. I pray that people like you will put a fresh, realistic and compassionate face on Christianity.
Very sincerely,
Laurie Schindler
28
2008
wow. i am so completely encouraged by you and the respondents on the blog. i love God and believe that He is first, lifestyle second…meaning i would like to practice a certain lifestyle, because for me, that would honor God, but i feared that i might get off into a i-am-better-than-you category. and some of that i believe is personality. i used to be repulsed by christmas tree shop items etc but now i look at the person’s heart. yet, it has never been for me, so i have worried that it might make me judgmental. finding this blog, the ppl who wrote to you, makes me feel so connected, like i am not “religious,” alone, and quite frankly crazy….i am seeking counsel on a yurt, among other things. thank you for honoring the Lord with your life and your words.
28
2008
hello! i just came across your blog while googling “frugal organic.” anyway, i love it! you are an inspiration, and i’ll be back to read lots more.
take care!
16
2008
So glad you’ve you’ve been able to make work a lifestyle that you are suited to. It’s wonderful to have a vision and see it come to life due to your own efforts.
I do have one point of contention though. While your family may have been in a more conventional lifestyle previously due to a need for meeting societal expectations, many others fear giving up the “security” you refer to for other reasons.
For many it’s not that they have accepted that “to be accepted, we must appear to be successful. We must own a house. We must own a new vehicle. We must have a job with a fancy title.” Rather, it’s that they are dependent on the necessities that their lifestyle and the accompanying “security” provide, like healthcare and medication, safe housing, access to healthy food, education, childcare, etc. Most of these are necessities, most for not just “a happy life,” but for life, period.
A lot of people in this country are struggling to get by. Trying to meet some arbitrary standard for status and societal acceptance is the farthest thought from many people’s minds. No doubt some live as you describe, but many do not, especially in today’s sociopolitical environment.
Best wishes to you and your family!
18
2008
m…thanks for your thoughts. I did address this in part in another comment above. In this post, I am speaking to the people who DO have a choice…not to those who do not. I am speaking to the people who have placed unnecessary constraints on their life and are scared to let them go. I do realize that we, as a family, are blessed beyond belief to be able to live the lifestyle we do. I thank God for it daily.
25
2009
okay, so this is an old post, but since i only discovered your blog a couple of weeks ago, i can be forgiven, right?
so much of what you’ve said here resonates with me – i love the idea of being non-conformist! i love the idea of living gently and parenting my two girls gently. i’m growing more and more in my understanding of what it means to be gentle – although from when my elder daughter was born (nearly four years ago) i knew that one thing i always wanted to do was to speak to her kindly – like i hope she learns to do. recently we were on holiday and i met a lady who asked “do you always speak to her like that?” (you know, after i said please and thank you…). that wouldn’t have been so bad, had she not followed it up with “come on, you can tell the truth…”. ummm… the truth is yes, i try to… *sigh*
i have a couple of goal for next year – one is to look hard at what i’m eating and move toward a more natural diet; one that relies less on refined stuff, dairy and meat (although we’ll keep eating kangaroo (we’re in australia, obviously…) for a couple of reasons i’d be happy to share if you are interested). another is to look into homeschooling options for 2011 – i’m not quite at the unschooling point yet…
.
another goal is grow my hair long so i can get dreads. neeeeed dreads!
(oops! essay!)
~anna
11
2010
[...] The Alternative [...]
3
2010
well, if you really want to be healthy, i believe that veggan foods are the best ‘.,
2
2011
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30
2012
I like this post. We are kindred.