Let me know if you need the hookup. I came here for lack of convenience. Not everybody wants to run their garbage to the dump once a week. I look forward to it. Always run into friends at the dump. During hunting season, many a hunter will bring his kill to the dump to show off. Not everyone would feel comfortable walking up to an Amish home to buy bulk spices and such. Many on here have said cash should die. Hell no. It’s the only medium, besides trade, that works in the community. Get used to spending cash. Hurts my airline miles. Many can walk to where they shop, eat, etc. Not here. BUT, many more grow/make/raise their own foods. A lot of my frien ds and coworkers will raise one or two head of beef, some chickens, a pig or two, lamb or two, along with mega gardens, canning. You know the rest. Very inconvenient living. I will die here, I love it so much. But, my friends from MIlwaukee come to visit all the time, and love it. Not enough to leave their bigger salaries, short drives, amenities, garbage pickup, and all that.
I love all that stuff. Just wish we had decent Italian bread, or anything crusty out, soft in. I like to make my own when I have time. I’m also trying to curtail a bread addiction, so that a good thing. Mind you, the Amish are great bakers, but they prefer the sift breads. Man, I need some crust!
I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I also understand why many would prefer urban/suburban life.
Since you make less money, you make do with more money savings. I heat with wood (so, making wood is a hobby of mine.) I make probably 3 full cords per year, then buy another 3 or three in slab wood from an Amish mill that’s kickin’ out a ton right now. White oak. :). I shop Amish and local. I buy cheese at $2.50/lb. Lamb ran $3.60/lb last year. But you have to buy the whole or half. You run to your freezer more than you run to stores. Shop the Amish produce auction and save big on damn near anything. Saplings, vegetables, chickens, mushrooms, all goodies.
My egg producer right now sells the browns for $5 for 36 eggs.
Once you get to know who raises what and who to talk to , you’re good. Just took me 23 years to figure it all out. Still learning.
If I moved, though, I would miss : good manners, not much road rage here, stop and talk to anyone, even kids have good manners ( the real social lubricant), slow down and make time for friends, family and neighbors. This is what has become of me, and I’m a contented person.
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