Here in Northern Idaho we're not (yet?) confined to our homes.
Although bars and restaurants are closed to entry - we can still pick up food at restaurants on a "drive thru" basis - there remain a few things left to us that we can do to maintain that much-needed social distancing. Going for a walk or a hike are a couple of those things.
Nature and bodily movement are physically gratifying and emotionally uplifting. While gyms are out, walking, hiking, and gardening are physical activities that we can still enjoy until the stay-at-home orders are issued here, as they have been in some States.
Where I live in Northern Idaho, we do suffer insufficiency of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, rice, bread, chocolate (?!), pasta, and most recently avocados!
Thanks to my LDS (Mormon) heritage...six generations! - I was programmed early in life to maintain an emergency supply of food and other needful things at all times, such things as are now missing in the stores these days.
I also dehydrate and store the extra produce that I buy on sale - buy one to eat, buy another to dehydrate. I'll blog more on food dehydration and storage in the next post.
Check out my previous blog post series on "Elective Frugality" for some ideas on how to survive things like what we're going through right now. While I predicted that a recession was coming, I had no idea when I posted it, what we'd soon be going through. Such things are cyclic and will come again, often with decades between that lull us into a sense of false assurance and security.
Being a pet owner I also have in storage, dry and wet cat food and kitty treats.
As soon as I heard from my water/sewer company that they were cutting back on personnel, I filled every jug, quart jar and bottle I have (a quart or greater capacity) with water and set them on the floor of my laundry room under the ironing board, next to the washer and water heater...about 14 gallons worth. As I empty 1/2-gallon nut milk cartons I'll clean and fill those, too. If things start to look dicey, I'll fill my pint canning jars, as well.
Living in a small condo, I don't have a lot of room to store bottled water, but I do save bottles, canning jars, etc., for making homemade herbal vinegars, herbal tinctures, canning and pickling, and have called them all into service to store tap water in case things go badly, and the folk that service our water supply and keep it pure are unable to do so.
I also save and reuse gallon vinegar bottles because they are sturdy and I can use them to haul water when I go dry camping. Those are now filled and sitting in the laundry room. I'll have to look into getting a water purifier...
Those flimsy gallon-size plastic bottles that you can buy distilled and spring water in, eventually begin to leak as their seams fail. They don't hold up for long term storage of water. But, if I had one I'd fill it to!
If the lack-of-clean-water scenario doesn't occur (hopefully it won't), I'll simply use that stored water for my potted plants and crops this summer.
Tap water may be stored in clean bottles and jars for about six months without treating it. For longer storage there are methods found on-line to keep the water pure for longer periods. It's cheaper (more frugal!) to store your tap water, rather than purchase water!
Share my adventure! Watch the video...of course, YouTube will take you to a #@!!$& commercial first!
Joanne and her "doggy girl", Sophie
Of late, I've been not only reacting to the virus situation by taking stock of my resources and going for hikes and walks, I've also been looking for that not-always-apparent silver lining.
Is there a silver lining if people are sick and dying?
There is, IF you're not living that tragic outcome in a personal way...yet.
Tragedy and trial have a way of grounding us and bringing us to a realization of what's truly important in life...if we are open to the possibility.
On the trite side, is that I can read those books and magazines that have been awaiting my undivided attention. Oh, I can finally begin the knitting projects that have been on the back burner. These things will keep my mind occupied and give me a needed mental and emotional break from the non-stop Covid-19 news coverage.
Another, use of my spare time is to get back to my blog! I'd promised readers that I'd share some of the "perks" of Elective Frugality, such as Natural Abundance, Easy Elegance, and Simple Grace.
A time, such as we are presently enduring makes these techniques and values, well, invaluable. I took an extra long and lazy Christmas and New Year holiday, and put my blog on the back burner for these many months while I dealt with chronic and debilitating back pain.
Fortunately, that pain is now healed. So, back to business. Perhaps, in some way, the things I share may aid others in enduring this time of uncertainty. Personally, I'm contributing money and food to charitable organizations to aid those that don't have what they need. Perhaps, my blog will be of help, or inspiration, or share a useful idea, as well.
The things I worry about and pray about are my friends and family, most of whom are in the virus-dangerous ages of 50- to 90- years old. Balancing fear, sorrow, and worry with faith, prayer, and helping others in whatever capacity we can, is likely what will get many of us through this tribulation.
Being 70-years old (in a few weeks) puts me right into the dangerous category targeted by this virus. Yet, I cannot see living my life huddled in fear.
I'll do - and am doing - what is reasonable to protect myself and others, but will strive to keep a positive attitude, too. This is something that will make my days, however many more remain, easier to bear under both legal and self-imposed restrictions.
Having reflected - and acted upon - the physical ways to (hopefully) survive all this, it seems that there's more to be looked at here.
I've also been reflecting on the more ephemeral emotional and spiritual responses that will allow me/us to face this pestilence with wholeness and grace.
I do not believe that God sent this virus to punish humankind. God doesn't punish us, we punish ourselves by violating His and nature's immutable laws.
May we receive His Grace?
Most certainly, although it may not always come the way we think it should. We might even miss it simply by neither asking for it, or not even looking for it.
I've asked myself, "What Grace and Blessings are given me presently?"
As I've begun to list them - mine will be different than yours most likely - a page has begun to fill...
Taking time to be grateful in times of trial will be a worthwhile exercise. We may find that we're suddenly grateful for the very things we've taken for granted...a home, those we love, an income, wellness, perhaps money in savings to tide us over. Toilet paper, food security, a place to walk...yes, even chocolate!
These things and much, much, more!
If you've lost your job, my prayer is that you have savings, or are able to apply for unemployment, that God and others will come to your aid...and hopefully that the government will bail YOU out this time, instead of BIG corporations like they did last time...they're talking about many good things to help people and small businesses. Let's pray they do it. Let's pray that those who truly need help will receive it this time around.
If you have loved ones who've died, or are ill, my heart and prayers go out to you. This is a good time for us all to pray and ask for comfort for ourselves and those that are ill.
It's also a time that calls for inner reflection. Asking ourselves what is truly important may aid us in realizing that we are ALL God's children, regardless of where we've come from, our race, our beliefs, and so forth.
The Coronavirus isn't a respecter of persons, or political orientation. It is an equalizer, for none are safe from infection, regardless of age-related severity.
Are we being given the opportunity to rise above our petty squabbles, bigotries, political ideologies, etc.?
What is the "weight" and worth of an idea? A philosophy? An ideology?
Absolutely nothing if it doesn't heal, feel as other feel, or aid them! And it's worth less than nothing if it harms others, physically, mentally, or emotionally, or is used to oppress them.
I'm thinking that leaving harmful, divisive, bigoted mindsets behind - and the stupidity of war - would only benefit and elevate our entire species. We are all God's children, He doesn't favor one above another. Perhaps it's time we all realized that what one does to the whole, one ultimately does to oneself.
We are our brothers' keeper!
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*If you're unable to find alcohol-based hand sanitizer - which is still missing from the shelves in most stores - see my previous blog. You'll find a recipe to make your own. The ingredients are still mostly available.
In the meantime, God Bless us all, each and every one!
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