Once again, one of the prompts from @galenkp's Weekend Experiences Community jumped right out at me and begged to be answered! By the way, there's still time to join, and if you're looking for some fun/thought-provoking/interesting topics to write about - head over 👉here👈 to get some inspiration!
As far as which one appealed to me? Here you go!
Future concerns
What concerns do you have for your personal future? They could be financial, relationships, emotional, physical or anything else about your own personal future. How are you addressing those concerns and how do you see it playing out? Write a post of at least 300 words.
Sometimes, you need to pause and think and start to formulate how you're going to be answering something fully! Not this one. This one could basically write itself with where my heart has been lately with the state of the world.
Lest no one think I'm an ungrateful human being that doesn't appreciate her own country, let me just state for the record that I was born in America, in the state where the Liberty Bell hangs, in 1976 (yes, a true Bicentennial Baby!) and it has been bred in me like every true blue patriot that we are privileged to be born in the "greatest country in the world."
Now, having said that, I respectfully disagree. I have seen a lot of this world, and I have seen a lot of blessings and disadvantages from MANY places - regardless of region. I have seen beauty, and heartbreak. I have seen wealth and destitution. I have seen the illusion of safety, and I have seen fear-crippled citizens. What I have now has come from generations of fighting for what they have, and passing on as much as they can to the next in line. But let's be honest, because of where I was born, I have privilege that a good majority of the world will never have. I appreciate that, I am blessed to have it...
I don't really want to spend a lot of time focusing on the negatives in this post. I want to focus on all of the POSITIVES that I think are in my future, if and when we do finally make that leap of faith to another "home".
The positives that will be the focus of this post are:
- financial efficiency
- provisional independence
- business investment
- lack of relational restrictions
I'm laughing right now, because a lot of those terms up there - I completely made up on the spot! And it sounds so fancy, and oh-so-sophisticated! But I'll explain what they mean, and I think you'll see the benefit to each of them and who knows? You might want to adopt their use for yourself. You're free to do so! I actually hope that the concepts are somewhat contagious and you find yourself infected with the same ideas that will grow in your own heart and fuel your future!
Let's break them down one and time, shall we?
Financial Efficiency
As I stated above, America is a great place to live. It's beautiful, it's not crowded, we have an abundance of abundancies! lol Take a walk through our mega supermarkets, or our club warehouses - and you'll see that we have so much, TOO MUCH. It's great to be able to buy what you need, and live well, eat well, rest well, play well. We have been blessed to live in some really incredible spots, and as you can see below - it's been remarkable, peaceful, pristine and wholesome! But it does come at a cost. Right now I'm living in one of the most expensive states in the our country. Our gas is outrageous, and our real estate is topping the charts. The "American dream" has become the "American fantasy" for the middle class, and the pipe dream for the lower class. It's becoming less and less of something that can be achieved by our children and there really is very little stopping that progression. I think most people are going to wake up to the reality of that way too late, when our children are locked into this prison for which the previous generations are responsible.
My husband and I have tried really hard to break that cycle with our children, and I think we've been fairly successful in preparing them for what's to come. However, the final step of that is to take what they've been learning and apply it somewhere where they can get more bang for their buck. We don't want them to have to be FORCED into making a quick and hasty decision of where to build a solid life. We want to be able to help them take the time to plan, prepare and pursue BEFORE it's too late. This is not a decision we take lightly, and we've been looking at several options for where we'd like to relocate - and most of those places allow us to live comfortably in similar environments that we enjoy now, but much more efficient - finanncially.
There are so many places in this world that just can't imagine WHY Americans charge so much for the same services and products that just aren't that expensive. Some can argue that "you get what you pay for", and sometimes I'd agree. But more often than not, you're paying for a brand, or an elite sense of acceptance from label approval.
I'm less concerned about paying for frivolous things. One of the ways that we have been saving money lately - is by purchasing our groceries through Misfits Market where they buy up extra food that will get dumped by the big chain stores, and then sell it to you at a discounted price. Not only is the food amazing - and not at all inedible, but I'm saving gas money (at $65 a store run) that can then go to MORE groceries. They ship it right to us, have amazing customer service, and even pack them beautiful in cold ship containers that keep even meat, dairy, seafood and cheese fresh! It's a win/win/win/win.
When it comes to our dollar, (or whatever your currency is) we have to be wise. There are people (and governments) that would like nothing more than to keep us in their debt, and financially locked into their system. We want to break free of this mentality, and spend our money in places where we can have more - for less. This not only gives us greater freedom, but also allows us to be much more generous with the money we have left over. THIS is a huge passion that each person in my family has. One of our favorite sayings by a famous financial advisor is that we should "Live like no one else, so that we can live like no one else." It's a call to train yourself early to make these sacrifices and plan, so that in the future - you can live much freer, and with much more generosity! We believe that where we currently live (in America) we are incredibly stifled in this area. Living paycheck to paycheck ties up every cent, and there is hardly any room to grow. We can share in other ways, and we do!! But we want to be able to save, and share, and give, and do this on a consistent basis in a much more tangible way. And we hope, that in the very near future, we will be able to move to a more beautiful environment that opens up more opportunities to appreciate how far money can actually go - when you're willing to step out and see what's available.
Not to mention the fact that, right now - I can't live on HIVE. My posts do have VERY NICE engagement and a steady reward for solid writing! My posts usually take me about 2 hours to write, and my formatting with images can take 1-2 hours if I have to find the perfect cc0 image, edit my own photography, or up to 3 hours if I need to design and create my own AI art (which also costs me $30 a month!) lol For me, it's very easy to work 5 hours on a post that makes about $10 in author rewards. (and I'm not complaining! I happen to think that's wonderful that we actually have this option! Try to go find that elsewhere, I dare you! LOL) HOWEVER, I cannot live on this in America. If I write EVERY DAY, and make $10 in author rewards a day - that will not even pay for my fuel for the month, here in California. But, in another country? (and one that we are currently looking at!!!) This will pay for rent for a fully furnished apartment, electricity, water, transportation, and internet. 👉My HIVE AUTHOR REWARDS alone - can supply the money for these needs - IF I LIVE outside of America. THIS is the definition of Financial Efficiency for me!!!! 👈
Provisional Independence
Alongside the financial freedom, comes the independence that allows you to know that you can provide for your own provisions. Now, I'd love to say that I'm a true prepper and can live off the grid for an extended period of time! But - I can't! haha I don't know enough and I haven't had enough time to prepare this kind of lifestyle! However - I do believe that growing your own food is SO VERY important these days.
@samsmith1971 just recently told me that they are having an extreme crisis in their area of UK for fresh foods - and that some markets are even rationing to the point where you can only get 3 fresh food items per visit. This is scary. It's scary because it came upon them without any warning, and at this point - who has their own garden in the winter? Or storehouses in a cold cellar of canned goods from the previous harvest? Not many! And how soon is it before something like this can spring up on any one of us? The answer is - don't let it. Grow your own food from seed - regrow your own food from cuttings`` - and cook your own harvest, as much as you possibly can!
Tacking back to the previous point of "moving to greener pastures", this is DEFINITELY one of the reasons why we want to move someplace else. Though I love living in my peaceful mountains, this last snowfall damaged my greenhouses, my pots, and obviously I can't grow anything year round in this environment.
Though we don't really expect that we will ever be in a position where we can live solely off our own produce, we hope to come to a place where we enjoy growing all year round, and also enjoy eating food that we grow ourselves! Being able to depend on our own garden, without spending a fortune on organic produce is something that we REALLY look forward to in our future!
Business Investment
I actually don't want to go too much into this, because we tend to keep our plans for DreemPort more on the quiet side. haha I'm sure this frustrates some of the dreem teem!! lol And it's not because we want to be secretive, or "hide the ball" from people. The main reason is because with crypto projects there is a lot of HYPE that fails to produce anything. This causes a lot of people to get hurt, invest money that they shouldn't, and pin their hopes and dreams onto things that take a much longer time to develop safely and with stability. Everyone on our team knows that my heart has always been very focused and directed towards bigger drEEms, and I will only say that - it hasn't changed, and if anything, has become more intentional with 2023. This third point goes along well with the previous two, and that's all I'll say about that.
Lack of Relational Restrictions.
Finally, as with ALL of the previous points, this one is nestled right at the heart of them all. Anyone who has been on the Dreem Teem long enough probably knows exactly how all of this ties in for my future.
I wish I could have just made an entire post about how very important this is to me.
Last year, I held a contest where the winners had an all-expense paid trip to come stay here at our camp. Food, air travel, deluxe room - everything paid for. What stopped some of the people from being able to come? Not money. Not time....
I absolutely detest division. We were not created for this. There are so many people in this world who don't want to cheat countries, or live in a way to "suck off the government teet" (sorry for the graphic description lol) . They are so willing to be able-bodied participants in a society that will use their skills and talent wisely to build up the whole. And yet? Will never have the chance because borders, boundaries, visas and restrictions.
These are just some of the people I have been blessed to meet, because of our blogging connections! I want SO many more pictures and memories to add to these!!
Part of the entire vision of that post is to no longer be in a place that builds walls to keep people out. Remember - I said this will NOT be a political post, and I'm sure there are pros and cons FOR a wall that protects and guards and all that. There ARE people who want to take advantage and want to destroy and divide and break down. I understand that. All I'm saying is I would like to live in a country that gives people more of a chance to THRIVE TOGETHER. And right now, America is not that place for so many of the people that I love. I want to live in a place where my relationships can be face to face. Where I can hug, and sit across the table from a colleague and share a meal. Where I can look into their eyes and brainstorm the latest idea for DreemPort. Where I can plan a trip, and not have to wait for multiple governments to deem their "worth" and "risk" and any other thing that they see fit to scrutinize. It's stopped way too many of the people that I love - that I KNOW have gifts to share. And I feel like it's time for me to go someplace that can appreciate diversity, and open doors, and welcome hearts.
but as @kenechukwu97 says about me... "She is the Original Dreemer." hehe
And ... as John Lennon sang beautifully:
I know I'm not. I know there are more out there. And though I'd love to make it a reality for each and every one of you (- and who knows? Someday, maybe I can help that to happen???) But if not, YOU have the opportunity to start making changes in your own life, big and small - to MAKE your future the best it possibly can be. Don't make excuses. Make change. and start NOW.
Love you all. ❤️
All images and banners created with my own photos, unless otherwise noted.
DreemPort screenshot, belongs to Dreemport.com
Hive logo asset from hive.io/brand
Wes...