It has been a frustrating start to our project. Trying to use bikes and the bus, when there are guitars, amps, etc is pretty much impossible. We've used bikes and feet where we can, but I am still driving Brendan to and from school. He has nothing to carry tomorrow, so he will bike then and probably most days next week. After that he is finished school so we will be able to hang up the car keys for good. It has become VERY apparent that living where we live makes it IMPOSSIBLE to exist year round without a car. Even with a bus that runs between Ladner and Tsawwassen, we just can't cover everything without a car. The other frustration that has surprised me is that it feels like there are many people who don't want us to actually succeed. I know that sounds weird, but when it comes to the food part, people are quite motivated to sabotage us, or guilt us in to not sticking to what we are trying to do. I am reading a book called "Living Among Meat Eaters: A Vegetarian's Survival Guide", by Carol J. Adams. The whole book addresses all the issues vegetarians/vegans face when they make the change from a meat based diet to a plant based diet. I didn't realize quite how crazy people are about what they eat. I had honestly never even thought about it before.
Just to make one thing clear... The Pearson's Unplugged Project is in no way a critique or judgement on how you live. It really doesn't even have anything to do with you. It is about us. What we are doing and how we are living our lives. Please don't take it personally. We are not asking you to give up anything or change how you eat or live. Interestingly, people either seem to be for or against this project - there is very little middle ground.
I think it's going to take a few weeks to get used to the guidelines and change our habits to our new ways. For example, yesterday I took a grapefruit and my tea bag to Starbucks (I meet a friend there each week for a chat.) along with my book and settled in for some quiet reading time. I got my mug (yes, mug from home) filled with hot water and started to peel my grapefruit. It all started to unravel when I realized I had forgotten my cloth napkin at home and what was I going to do with my grapefruit peel? If I was at home it would go in the compost, but now I had to throw it in the trash, along with my napkin. I started out with good intentions, but ended frustrated. It was like the first time you go out with a new baby and you realize mid diaper change that you didn't pack enough wipes and a change of clothes! I need to pack up a green living survival kit for every time I leave the house.
Then there was the time that I just walked to the fridge, poured myself a glass of milk and drank it down. It wasn't until I put the glass on the counter that I remembered I wasn't supposed to drink milk - ooops! As I said, there is definitely going to be a learning curve...
2 comments:
It's a challenge to get around without a car in a world built for them. Since the school year is almost over it's probably not worth investigating this stuff, but I've spent a large portion of my life hauling around musical instruments and there are a few tricks I've encountered along the way. I've seen great soft guitar cases that have backpack straps, which make them easy to manage on a bicycle. They also make tiny lightweight practice amps these days which could be easily attached to a bike rack and hauled that way. Probably not worth it since the school year is coming to a close, but maybe something to consider for next year.
You know, I have often heard people who aren't bought in to "living green" criticizing those who are, for thinking that they are somehow "better" than everybody else. I think this sort of attitude and defensiveness betrays a real internalized guilt on the part of those expressing it! I mean, how does your project possibly affect them at all? It's only that you're reminding them that there is another way, and they'd rather not think about that fact!
And remember... living green is a process not a destination... one step at at time!
xoxoxo
Rebecca
Thank you for encouragement yet again! The tips for the music were good - we will definitely look in it for next year.
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