Our Right to Self Reliance

My Dad used to say that everything boils down to three hots and cot; everything else is gravy.  Three hot meals and a place to sleep up off the ground.  It was, I suppose, his own version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.  After plugging along for the better part of five decades, I find I agree.

If you start from that premise and build from there with a focus on self reliance, you can create a whole new perspective.  Assume that your personal three hots and a cot are covered; what else do you need?  Of those needs, what can you take complete responsibility for providing to yourself?  Remember—self reliance is a continuum, not a switch to flip.  Knowing how to bake bread is skill; resolving to never buy bread from a store again but rather bake your own, perhaps every week, is using that skill to manifest your self reliance.

You can see to much of the food your body needs—but it may not be the varied, enticing diet that you now have.  That actual ability may be impinged upon by your current situation, whether by legislation or location.  Can’t really raise enough food to support a human body in a studio apartment!  But if that apartment has a balcony, you might raise some things to ease your budget and brighten your meals, such as strawberries, snow peas or even just a window box of mesclun.  Eggplant plants are beautiful in addition to providing a tasty vegetable.  Even a couple of different heritage tomato plants are both lovely and functional.  If you’re lucky enough to have a good three foot square spot, you can put a tree pot in it with a combination fruit tree in.  The fruit cocktail tree is pretty fun!

Can you change the oil in your car?  No?  Learn.  A set of wrenches has fewer choices than a key board…you can do this.  Yes, it can be messy.  You’ll wash.  Barked knuckles will heal.  And once you discover the savings and satisfaction that removing and replacing one disposable item, pulling out and screwing back in one bolt, and pouring several jugs of oil in the designated hole in the top of the engine can bring, why, who knows what flights of mechanical self reliance you might be drawn to next?!?!