STUFF HAPPENS

No matter how much you may try to simplify your life there will still be things designed to complicate it.

I took a working vacation to be able to go out to the land and get some serious work in before the cold settles into my bones.

I’ve been building the foundation piers for the cabin we want to bring in from the local Amish builders. I had made fairly good progress up until last week when things began to happen.

I had purchased a new generator to handle my saw and compressor requirements, and was doing fairly well. Some days I would tire out a little sooner than I had anticipated. But, all in all, I was happy with the progress.

Then—stuff happened.

I needed lumber longer than I had anticipated. When I laid out the spacing for the piers, I measured, but not critically. Consequently, a few of them required slightly more than the eight feet I had allotted.

This necessitated another trip to the lumber yard, which is an hour away. The lumber was upstairs in their warehouse, so it required help to get it down. It isn’t easy getting help at most stores today. 

The trip was time-consuming, therefore a day was lost. The property is two hours away from the store.

Got that taken care of and then—stuff happened.

The new generator I had purchased decided it did not want to work after lunch. I would shut it down to go eat, but the thing absolutely REFUSED to start again after lunch. So, I would lose those 3-4 hours of afternoon work on the foundation.

I decided that the best work-around would be to just let the generator run during the lunch break. After all, it doesn’t waste “that much” fuel.

I go out to the site with that in mind and then—stuff happened.

The generator wouldn’t start at all!!

FRUSTRATED, I was on my way back into town to head off to the town which is an hour away (in the other direction) to buy another generator. (I tend to make stupid decisions when I’m frustrated.) A friend who is battling cancer called and wanted to buy me a coffee.

I figured that he needed the company and I needed to breathe, so I agreed to a 30-minute respite. As we prepared to leave, he wanted to go out to try to fix the generator since he was a good mechanic. I agreed.

We made the almost hour-long trip back out to the property, and then—stuff happened.

He discovered I didn’t have the necessary tools with which to attempt much repair. We did manage to discover that there was no fire getting to the spark plug. That is at least something that I can relate to the service department along with the other things that are messed up with the generator.

Just so you know—the generator arrived in very poor condition, but I tried everything I knew to keep from sending it back.

Then stuff happened—I missed the return window by one day.

To top it off, we were informed the cabin will only take three weeks to build instead of the six weeks I had allotted in my planning.

I’m telling you—stuff happens.

WRITE IT DOWN

 

As a public-school teacher we were told that if it wasn't written down, then it didn't happen.

This was mainly in relation to any problems or disciplinary actions with our students. There was no proof if we did not record the event soon after its occurence. The obvious rationale was that without proof it was simply my word against the other.

It is also true that we tend to forget details the further removed from the event we become.

THIS IS ALSO TRUE FOR YOUR
HOMESTEADING LIFE
IN THE BEGINNING.

Write it down.

What should you write?

EVERYTHING—

your plans, experiences, thoughts, results, dreams, etc.

Whether you are a "writer" or not is immaterial. Do it to the best of your ability. If YOU can read it, that is all that is important. The only 'posterity' you are after in this is your own memory. 

Get a wirebound notebook, a journal or your computer, but it is important that you have a 'system' for recording your thoughts and insights. Keep each page separate according to date which you put at the top of your page along with a title.

Titles only help you know the general thrust of what you wrote. They do not have to be catchy. Remember this is for YOU. So, a title like "Garden Plans" as you try to map out how you are going to do your garden. Or, "What I Planted Where" so you can remember for next year.

The important thing is that you are developing your own resource for reference. Using books, blogs, magazines, etc. are great, but nothing compares to your own specific site and experience with it. Therefore, KEEP RECORDS.

THOUGHTS occur to you while you are out on your property working. How do you record them? 3x5 index cards in your pocket is a good method; but so is voice recording on your phone. Whichever way suits you, begin TODAY establishing a system for keeping track of your thoughts.

You know how they show up at the most inopportune moments—like when you are passing on a hill—but they need to be recorded.

AT THE END OF THE DAY sit down and think about your day. What did you do? What worked? What caused problems? Where was the joy? How do you feel? What are your plans for tomorrow?

I know it may sound like you won't have time to do your work if all you are doing is writing, but, believe me, you will be glad you took the time.

BENEFITTING FROM THE JOURNAL

I made it a habit years ago to read through my journal once a year on New Year's Day before the ball games come on. This practice allows me to see the progress I have made through the year, which until reading, I had felt as if there was ZERO progress.

START TODAY—If you wait to begin this practice, you will lose valuable information and may never actually become good at recording your life. People spend inordinate amounts of time taking pictures of everything they are doing without actually enjoying the moment of doing it. Don't let this be said of you. 

Take the time to enjoy not only your adventure, but the remembrance of it.

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