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Dear eco event organizer,

I’m sorry, I will not be able to make it tonight. I spoke too soon when I RSVPed for this event.

It turns out the bus isn’t an option. I had misread the bus map and schedule.

And I do not feel safe riding my bicycle there, as the route is mainly high-speed, congested roads. 

A concern that I was going to share tonight is how unfriendly this area is to people who are not driving cars. So this is perfect! 

And no, I’m not fishing for anyone to give me a ride tonight. Because it’s not just about me. I choose to represent people who have no choice other than foot, bicycle, and public transport.

I am car-FREE by choice, but I at least know how to drive, am able to drive, have a driver’s license, and would be able to afford the expenses of car ownership (if I were willing to sell my house and live in the car). There are so many other people who have no choice.

We environmentalists need to push more to stop the erosion of public transportation and walkable density. This isn’t just for the environment. This is for the well-being of elders, children, and even the driving population. I am only one person, but at least I can cast my one vote.

Getting there by public transport and/or bicycle was going to be my transportation activist homework adventure for the day, but it just physically is not going to work. So I guess in a sense I did still do my homework. I researched and found that the bus does not get close enough or run late enough for me to attend this event. And would be dangerous to try to go by bicycle, especially at night.

Conversation ongoing, and let’s shape a safe, sane transportation future for our area and for the planet.

POSTSCRIPT: Well, this whole thing ended up coming full circle, in a good way. Because a couple weeks ago, when I first got what I thought was the invitation to this meeting tonight, I emailed the person back to see if it was outdoors. (Because I have been trying to avoid indoor meetings as much as possible, so as to limit unnecessay exposure to Covid and other health risks, since I am in multiple high-risk categories and also work with vulnerable populations.)

The person who sent me the email (a person I don’t know) told me no, it’s only indoors. So then I asked her if a virtual option is available and she said no.

Then I thought, well, maybe it’s important enough for me to risk the exposure. And I decided to make it a transportation activist homework assignment.

Now, fast forward to today, my good friend who is high up in this eco organization told me that the meeting is in fact available by Zoom. And told me she wasn’t sure who I had been emailing with.

Well, it’s a very large organization so I will have to sift through my emails to see who it was who emailed me. And obviously what this other person was inviting me to must be a totally different meeting. (This organization is not only massive but has many many different levels.)

But long story short, I can attend tonight’s meeting by Zoom tonight! A very eco-friendly transportation options: virtual meetings!

POSTSCRIPT POSTSCRIPT: Except no, I had the wrong info yet again. The meeting organizer is not having it by Zoom. Well, as I am often saying, some of the most powerful activism is what we are doing right in our own homes and neighborhoods. And by postal mail and email too.

Comments I’ve posted recently in response to fellow eco folks’ comments on social media:

“[W]e’ve spent a few decades voting with our wallet by not flying, and it’s made absolutely zero difference. I think we need change at the system level – governments, local authorities, national and international companies, that sort of level. And I just don’t know how we achieve that in the necessary timescale.”

— I actually think the airlines have been systematically working to undermine buses and trains, but I don’t have any data about that.

I think the key is that in addition to our own behavior, we have to try to find ways to communicate publicly in such a manner that certain types of consumption become unfashionable.

Lately on social media, for example, I have been posting comments about how unpleasant flying is, and how much more pleasant it is to take the train. Nothing about carbon footprint and all that; just emphasizing the comfort and enjoyment aspect.

And of course now there have been some scary airline accidents so maybe some more people will become averse to climbing into a flying object.

“The only trouble with taking a train vs flying is that it can end up a lot more expensive. And usually takes a lot longer without high speed rail.”

— True, so the people we reach will tend to be people who prioritize comfort, and who don’t like to be up in the air with no escape.

And people who like to not have to worry about having their shampoo thrown away, And people who are done with not being able to bring anything from home to drink for the trip, etc. Some years ago, the last time I flew, I couldn’t even bring in a sealed store-bought smoothie. That thing was pricey and I wasn’t going to give it away to the security dump, so I had to sit there and drink it in line which was silly but at least I got my vitamins. 😆

Trains are so much more civilized in such a basic way. Also I find that the various airport hassles (Including having to get to and from the airport) ends up taking up so many hours that the train trip doesn’t end up being that much longer.

Also, on a train or bus, a person can keep their electronic devices on and get work done if they need to. I have done entire webinars aboard a train trip.

Much harder to do that on a plane.

Air travel is really quite grueling. Plus there is the fact that you’re stuck up in the air.

Regarding cost, I have noticed that plane tickets these days are shockingly inexpensive.

The cheap ticket prices totally do not reflect the damage that we are doing to the planet, and to our own transportation security/resilience, by flying. I suspect that the airlines are systematically undercutting ground transportation.

It seems like bus and train service is getting eroded with each passing year. More people should really be more alarmed about this. I know I am.

Actually alarm may not be the right word. I’m actually quite furious, disgusted, heartbroken, and outraged.

Someone in my social-media universe posted about her water heater breaking down.

I can relate to how she feels; about not wanting to impose on a friend for the costly repair or replacement.

Love what she said about her grandmother who raised her kids without having access to electricity or running water. And it was in a place with cold winters! Good reminder to us all! Especially in times when the conventional infrastructure & conveniences seem to be getting more precarious.

For some years now, I have chosen not to use a water heater (as in the big water heaters found in typical USA residences). I stopped using them for various reasons, including cost, eco footprint, and maintenance hassle.

Usually find cold water adequate for washing dishes. Those occasional times I need hot water, I heat it up in a little electric kettle, or the solar oven.

I have various ways to bathe / shower that don’t need hot water. (Have written about that elsewhere on this blog.)

But, for hot showers, the little inexpensive solar shower bags they sell at sporting-goods stores or online come in handy. Those things can get really hot!!

At an eco school I attended in New Mexico years ago, we even found out we could put the bags in an insulated cooler overnight if we wanted a hot shower early in the morning.

For people feeling anxiety about climate change & social/economic chaos:

I highly recommend reading fellow Deep Adaptation member Terry LePage’s excellent book “Eye of the Storm: Facing Climate and Social Chaos with Calm and Courage.”

The author points out that fear, calm, and courage are all contagious. And that we can be in service by cultivating calm & courage. She shares some unhelpful stories we’ve been clinging to; and offers some more meaningful, compassionate, authentic stories.

And please join the book discussion group on Zoom; details below.

From the author:

Hi all. You are welcome to join a book group starting next Sat. Jan. 13, 10am Pacific time. No charge. Facilitated by the author! I love the feedback I’m getting that this book gives people comfort and practical tools for coping and living well.

Free audiobook at https://soundcloud.com/michael-dowd-grace-limits/sets/eye-of-the-storm-by-terry-lepage-audiobook; paper and electronic editions available from all your usual sources including internationally. Let me know if you need a PDF.

Register here. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/opendoorcommunication1/1018746.
(Eye of the Storm book group)

A fellow author posted that question on their timeline.

My answer:

I’m doing it!
I wanted to be an environmentalist and now I teach people how to restore ecosystems.
I wanted to be a fashion designer and now I make my own clothes and accessories out of old clothing & scraps that were otherwise destined for landfill.
I wanted to be a psychologist/therapist, and now I help people explore their consciousness and liberate their minds.
I wanted to make art and now I do what I want.
I wanted to be a book author, and now I am.
One thing I might want to do next is secure ownership of a vacant duplex or fourplex in my neighborhood, and let the tenants become the owners, and I would be a Permaculture property manager.
Having a little community coffee shop / bookstore wouldn’t be awful either! In the meantime, I have a little free library out front of my place.

What a great post, thank you fellow author Ajay Howarth – Author!

Things just got a little bit easier for people like you and me who might want to invest in developing “missing middle” housing in our neighborhoods.

The following post is from Eric Brown, one of my co-authors of the FREE book. (You can visit his Facebook page Growingfree SimpleLife here.)

This is a HUGE Deal,……Can’t Afford a Single Family Home? Buying a 2-4 Plex Got Easier in 2023!

Important #missingmiddlehousing milestone: In 2023 Fannie Mae Made Missing Middle Easier to Finance, Requiring Only 5% down on 2-4 Plex Mortgages

Article Highlights:

This new option presents a great opportunity for individuals looking to invest in multifamily homes while also enjoying the benefits of homeownership.

Fannie Mae has announced that, starting from the weekend after November 18, 2023, it will accept 5% down payments for owner-occupied 2-, 3-, and 4-unit homes. This marks a departure from the previous multifamily financing requirement of 15-25% down payments for duplexes, triplexes, and four-plexes.

The maximum loan amount allowed for these 2-4 unit properties is set at $1,396,800….

Additionally, the elimination of the FHA self-sufficiency test for 3-4 unit properties means that buyers will face fewer hurdles when seeking pre-approval for these types of multifamily homes.

For owner-occupant landlords, this policy shift represents a significant opportunity to reduce mortgage payments by leveraging rental income. The ability to make a smaller down payment not only makes multifamily homes more accessible, but it also allows home buyers to gain valuable landlord experience, as they have the opportunity to collect rent from other units while simultaneously building equity in their own property.

Here’s the full article Eric was describing: https://themortgagereports.com/107690/fannie-mae-introduces-5-down-payment-option-for-multifamily-homes

Someone in a different Permaculture group where I shared Eric’s post made a comment that sounded like they were questioning the relevance of this post to Permaculture. They typed “Relevance? Admin.”

Not sure what they meant by this question. I suspect they are questioning its relevance to permaculture because they think Permaculture is just about gardening? (That’s a very widespread and persistent misconception.)

BUT! One of the most important aspects of Permaculture is where we bank, how we invest, how we spend our money.

Also, housing is one of the core aspects of permaculture. It’s one of the basic human needs.

I immensely appreciate this post. Housing is a really serious issue, and the missing middle is a big part of the solution.

Another really serious issue is how much of everyday people’s money is parked on wall street (in the form of 401ks etc). Regenerative, community-building Investment options such as “missing middle” housing can help solve this draining of money from communities as well.

BTW one thing notable about this policy change making it easier to get loans for missing middle housing, is that it applies to owner-occupied missing middle housing. There is a great qualitative difference, in terms of communiy cohesion, between owner occupied rental housing, and not owner occupied.

A friend/fellow activist posted on her feed, asking fellow Floridians where are we thinking of moving when our state turns full fascist — because it’s happening before our very eyes.

My answer:

Staying here to be a part of helping to fix things. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t have much to lose. In that I am not in a vulnerable population. So I figure my best contribution is to stick around.

In any case, assuming it gets worse here it will definitely spread elsewhere. So I figure what better place to be to try to contain it than here, at the worst spot, before it spreads more than it already has.

Also, Florida is a hotbed of climate disaster in the USA. For someone like me who has relatively little to fear, I figure what better place for me as a permaculture activist to be to try to help people adapt & soften the suffering, than on one of the front lines.