2019 Goals

After watching Sustainably Vegan  on YouTube I got inspired to make some goals for 2019 for myself. Most of these goals were/have already been made at this point, but putting them in writing and planning the steps out makes it more real and will hopefully keep me from going over board. I have a habit of focusing on one thing to the exclusion of other things.

First goal is to complete the AutoCAD certification I started in 2018. This is my primary focus for the year as well, because it is my future. I do not like the person I am slowly turning back into at work. So getting out of the toxic environment is needed and it is not just the location I am working at, the whole field has gotten toxic because of the way those not in it treat those working.

The next piece of the puzzle for the life I want is multi-faceted. It is very difficult for me to maintain the amount of living space I have, so I need to reduce this. This is a need, not a want, it must happen and the sooner the better.

I was looking at the #vanLife movement, but realized while it is a great idea the application of would not work for me. #VanLife would be putting all my eggs in one basket; home and transportation. I like back up plans and living in a van would leave me with no back up. Instead I am looking at converting my existing old 14ft fiberglass boat into something livable. By using a trailer for a living space I reduce the moving parts in my "home" that need maintenance and provide myself a back up place to live aka the tow vehicle. I am going to plan/design for the total out come, but build toward it incrementally; thank you Daddy for teaching me this. This first step will require my newly acquired AutoCAD skills to create a blue print of the final design. The first build's goal is minimal investment to make tent camping in a solid structure happen with the ability to add on after. After the viability of the build and planning is proved in the first step then it will be incremental increases to the "comfort" of living in the boat/camper.

The next part of reducing my living space actually comes from the Minimalist and Zero Waste Movements. Finding items that are easy to acquire, but all have a function. This comes from the Minimalist and Zero Waste Movement, because they have done quite a bit of information spreading on things I need. Storage of food, good nutrition, cleaning. A lot of this information is not new to those older than me, and frankly some is not new to me, but there are many ideas out there that I have not encountered before. Focusing on this has also made me aware of how much the American Culture has conditioned me to buy things. For example; my first inclination for the trailer was to purchase one when I have a trailer stilling in my back yard. The mentality behind the Minimalist and Zero Waste Movements will be a good one for me to adopt if I am going to pull off living in a tiny home on wheels.

Then we have fitness. I have always been someone who likes to be fit/strong physically. Physical exertion helps me process stress and emotional issues for some reason. I am done trying to argue with this part of myself and just accept that this is the way I am. That being said it must be planned for, but in a manner that I will follow through with. After the motorcycle accident in February 2018 I am also left with an extra complication of catering to my knee. For some odd reason when you shatter your knee it causing all kinds of interesting results.

Fortunately I have gotten far enough in my recovery that my Personal Trainer Certification can take over as I am in the scaling of exercises that I know. Another good thing was that I was heavy into fitness prior to the accident, not only did this improve my recovery, but I also know my body much better than those who are not physical. All of that said, I still can't walk more than 3/4 a mile without the knee swelling and becoming difficult. So storing a bike will be needed.

That is my over all goal for 2019. The following is a bit of a monthly break down and I need to come up with a list of random challenges for myself to pick from.

January Goals

• Wolf Moon Jan 21

Fitness

• Cardio Circuit 2x / week

Education

• 1 Autocad Lesson / week

Project: Transform Boat - Tent Camp Level

• Plan Lay Out - use AutoCAD
• Plan Building Steps
• Cost out supplies needed

Waste Reduction

• Face Cleaning pads from cotton crochet yarn
• Research Alternatives to Disposable Pads

February Goals

• Snow Moon Feb 19

Fitness

• Cardio Circuit 2x / week
• Total Body Strength Training Circuit 2x / week

Education

• 1 Autocad Lesson / week
• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

Project: Transform Boat - Tent Camp Level

• Purchase supplies
• Prep / pre cut
• Build deadline Mar 16

Waste Reduction

• Alternatives to Disposable Pads
• Research Cleaning (body and space)

March Goals

• Worm Moon Mar 21
• Phoenix Fest March 20 - 24

Fitness: Plan next 3 months

• Cardio Circuit 2x / week
• Total Body Strength Training Circuit 2x / week

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work
• Find Social Networking Locations

Education

• Waste Reduction Ideas
• Heath

Project: Transform Boat - Tent Camp Level

• Purchase supplies
• Prep / pre cut

Build deadline Mar 16

Waste Reduction

• Cleaning

April Goals

• Pink Moon Apr 19
• Body Magic Apr 18 - 20

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

May Goals

• Flower Moon May 18
• FPG May 1 - 5

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

June Goals

• Strawberry Moon Jun 17

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

July Goals

• Buck Moon Jul 16

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

August Goals

• Sturgeon Moon Aug 15

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

September Goals

• Corn Harvest Moon Sep 14

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

October Goals

• Hunter’s Moon Oct 13

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

November Goals

• Beaver Moon Nov 12

Fitness:

• Cardio
• Total Body

Future Career

• Contact Places of employment for freelance work

December Goals

• Cold Moon Dec 12

Review of Sunsport Gardens

Sunsport Gardens; the place to go be seen in more ways than one.

I have  only been one time, but I know I will be back. The drummers at the drum circle were awesome. The staff helpful and knowledgeable. The buffet caters to vegan and omnivorous as well.

Having been to a clothing optional beach prior nudity was not a new thing to me, however if you are squeamish about these things Sunsport may not be the place for you as they have nudity requirements rather than options.

Going to nudist camps, beaches, etc. is something I recommend to everyone as it really forces you to confront your body issues. I still remember the first time I went to a clothing optional beach, I had to take off my glasses so I could remove the need to stare and study. Studying is how I get around being uncomfortable, I focus on the logic side of the brain. However as I said being in and around people who are comfortable with their bodies is a real eye opener for your own insecurities. Why does it bother you if you see all of a person's skin? What does it matter? Being around nude people also forces you to confront how much stock you put into appearances as well. Being around nudist has actually opened my eyes to how personality is expressed in a body; again there is that study side.

Over all the camp is a mix between primitive camping and the normal comforts of home. They have a hot tub, pool, and sauna, then there are nature trail walks. The over all feel is of a place that runs a tight budget, trying to fulfill multiple goals, and has been around a while. Talking to the regulars revealed that the camping sites with built in sewer access (can hook up an RV sewer) are hard to get. Another issue that many who stay there regularly commented on was the washing of dishes, because you cannot just dispose of the water anywhere, instead you have to dispose of it in the proper places. There are public showers and bathrooms, so at least as long as you do not mind sharing that is covered well.

Conversations with Red Vs Blue

I have been talking with a few people lately about Democrats and Republicans; the following is a bit of a summary of these conversations. Folks do have these conversations with everyone, but be respectful and do your research too. Pro-tip: News Outlets, talk shows, and the like are not research. It qualifies for research when the scientific method has been used or history proves it.

We all know that the kneeling during the national anthem was a protest. Did you know that, whether or not it was meant this way, it was done during the anthem because of what the anthem represents. The national anthem is an outward display of nationalism and this protest is about how their nation is oppressing them. Learning that blew my mind and now the protest makes perfect sense to me.

There is an opinion out there that breaking American financially will solve the destroying of the earth. My opinion is that if American is broken financially it will only slow down the destruction for a short period of time before it comes back with a vengeance. This is due, in my opinion, to the fact that those who do not only survive, but find a way to thrive the down fall are going to be rather near sociopathic or psychopathic as we define it now, if not both. In times of limited supplies over a long time the most ruthless survive. In times of limited supplies with a known end time frame, like recovering from a hurricane, charity abound. This is because it is easier to be very charitable when you know it will end and can compute the exact cost to yourself while maintaining your own accustomed level of living.

Destroying America financially will re-enforce the might makes right mentality that is the root of all the behaviors that got us in the position we are in. Find another way.

Democrats; can you change the way to talk about inclusion to mean also those who you think are resisting you? Why do I ask this? Because apparently Democrats are willing to let Republicans live as they see fit yet until I asked a campaign worker, who I believe knows the party well, I did not know this. 

In the conversation about Democrats being willing to let Republicans live as they see fit and with the topic of abortion it became apparent that there definitely is a line that needs to be defined; personal sovereignty. This is actually the root of the dispute for abortion. Can we stop fighting over abortion and start talking about the root problem? Where does personal sovereignty begin? It is not going to be an easy question to answer and it should not be, because answering it will affect so much.

Personal Responsibility. This is another seemingly unanswered issue that has been laid to rest, but is costing so much to everyone. Every time a doctor is sued, every doctor's insurance rates go up. Every time a person gets into an accident with out insurance, insurance rates go up. Should these people be held responsible; definitely! However; how much are you really entitled to for compensation? Example: suing McDonald's for being burned by their coffee. What was your coffee doing in a location that it could spill and burn you? And honestly; did you really need that amount of money to reach maximum possible recovery from the injury? I was in a motorcycle accident February 2018 and as of this writing total cost covered by my insurance and myself is less than $500, 000 as of this time. The bills seem to keep coming in, but I doubt they will break 500, 000 as the ones who would have the biggest numbers have already weighted in.