Where do I begin

 If I did not like this culture I would not be living here.  

I am in a very rural area.  The main occupations are guns, chainsaws, wild game, church, trucks, snow, mud, the size of one's tomatoes and other peoples' business.  

All are pretty benign.  The other peoples' business gets out of hand sometimes but most people are pretty harmless even if they do pry.  Folks are pretty nice as a rule.  The changes of seasons are a treat, the blackflies and mosquitoes are a nightmare some years.  Deer have not been browsing at my garden so far.

In general the people are lovely, generous and helpful.  My neighbors immediately beside me and across from me are shining examples of good neighbors in general... though I am still wondering how pigs are going to work out near my bedroom window.  After all...what could go wrong?

I am near mountains, lakes and endless woods with opportunities for fishing, boating hiking or just being in touch with what is really important. 

I am able to say that I am living off grid.  However, I do not think that the phrase really conjures up an image that is truly representative of my lifestyle.  The tiny house that I built and live in is less than 200 feet from a state highway.  There is a bit of noise from logging trucks.  I can see most of my neighbors from parts of the property.  But I do not have electricity except for a single solar panel that will have some brothers and sisters soon.  I have no water source except a stream at the edge of the property,(soon to have a solar powered pump to get garden water up the hill) and a planned rainwater system that will provide water for the shower and dish washing.

The phone is a cell...a little "iffy" sometimes but generally reliable.

Walmart and other general shopping, including Mcdonalds and groceries, are about 15 miles away along with a library that has most of my copious collection of books that I donated. (a new collection is growing as I read new ones).   So, we are not that isolated.

The really off grid part will be more obvious when I build in the back of the property away from the road and closer to my gun happy neighbor.

I am very happy being alone.  I have friends and neighbors so loneliness is not an issue.  In fact, I like "alone" for the most part.

My issue, I guess, is the lack of something fundamental to my character.  I need to talk about and live surrounded by things and people that stimulate the cultural part of my mind. 

I can only talk about how to put a roof on a building, how I mounted the screens on the screen house and why I like goats for just so long before I need Art, drawing, antiques, truly great foods that are akin to a religious experience, porcelain, gold and silver, great dessert wines from my family's islands. I love frightfully expensive, sip at a time, liquors that are there for the flavor and warmth instead of the high. And I like experiencing all these things while reading a 19th century novel or a book on natural sciences or history.

I miss people who share those interests and experiences.

So, feel free to contact me with news of your latest antique find, a wonderful wine, or wine glass for that matter.  Tell me how dinner was with rarely seen friends who made a meal that was filled with puff pastry, chicken and mushrooms.  Or let me know when you had an unforgettable afternoon tea with friends(tea party is a bit too feminine for me).  I would love to hear from you, and if your remarks are appropriate, I may set them up as a real post to the blog.

Here is the deal though.  Tell me about the rich, cultural things that you are doing and experiencing, but pair it with the gritty parts of your life alone.

I think that the format might be good if I alternate whenever possible (I am miles from the nearest internet access) between the wonderful cultural thoughts and events I want with working off grid on any projects I have going.

This is a new computer, so the photos for the posts may be a while in coming.