Some of you that visit my blog regularly know that my husband and I live an old fashioned vintage life. Those new to my blog, we enjoy doing history projects and doing much research about days ago that are a bit more unfamiliar. We did the one year study living like 1943 so we could learn about ww2 rationing. We moved to 1948 so we could study how it was after the war ended and we found we did not like it there because this is when more processed food was ramping up and gadgets and the like. It was a feeling of been there done that so we decided to study the year before most of the war rationing started, the year 1942 which is where we are today.
My heart draws me further back. I miss my Parents, Grandparents, Great Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and when they passed away they took a library of information with them. They were the folks from the mid 1800s, early 1900s and they lived with strong morals and character.
Many people have emailed me over the years and quite a few, especially the younger ones tell me that they feel they were born in the wrong era. I have pondered on that. We see many teens trying to find their identity, they may dress very different or act out. Parents are trying to guide them in the direction everyone is going, well most everyone today. We are suppose to fit in, be normal but what is normal and who is directing what our time/era is suppose to be?
It is big business and we are moving along to whatever the era of what is being manufactured and sold to us. Well, that does not work for me anymore. People today are mere numbers, lab rats, compassion has turned into rage. We cannot stop what is going on in our world but we can be examples of what is good, moral and kind.
Do we really want to live a non purposeful life of endless spending and being like so many others that find themselves weighted down with debt, gadgets that come with fees to use what we have purchased? We do not have to participate and we can break away from these things by just starting right now. Some of us have already started living a more simple life and we may never know if what we do has helped some of our younger generations but I often read emails of people describing people from their past that have given them good memories to hold to. At least we can stay steady and help that happen today.
I like to name things, I have been this way my entire life. If I could call the era people live today I would call it the Rewardian Era. Or Instant Gratification era.
Since we are ending our 5th month living like 1942 I have been doing some thinking and decided to start my own Era, I figured out what we are doing here at our house is Sensible Vintage and since I like to name things I am calling this Sensible Vintage Era "The Vintarian Era". Somehow it helps me to feel more settled by creating my own time.
I do not want to live modern anymore because I grew up in a slower time, a much better time than today in my opinion and our studies have led us to ridding clutter and getting ourselves to a better place where we have gotten out of debt and been able to save money. There is nothing that makes sense to change this other than learning even more ways to be frugal.
Am I just romanticizing the times of the past? No because I have always enjoyed keeping a romantic home, now I just have a clearer mental picture. I don't "need" a name of the era in which we live but I do like the idea.
Our new old era has some benefits. Since I am making up the rules we get to keep with us a few modern things, only the important ones though. A lawnmower, a electric vacuum cleaner, this computer I use for my blog, air conditioning for the days above 85 degrees and just a few more things that are helpful.
This Vintarian Era is about living sensible, responsible, being Diligent in everything we do and refrain from partaking in nonsense of today. We do our best to not waste anything and recycle or re-purpose what we can and then do as many things around our home the old way which is often very physical because that normally does not cost. I picture a time before the 1940s.
I have plans on sewing more and redesigning some of the clothes I already have. I just do not feel comfortable in clothing of today.
In the heat of the day I am trying to not use the oven. We are cooking more meals outside to keep the heat out of the house thus less need for air conditioning.
Hurricane Season starts June 1
In yesterday's paper they are telling us it is time to stock up on our emergency supplies. Charles and I do that all year around but now it is especially important and this year is predicted to have less sheer so that means more storms. In the years past people stocked their pantries/Larders and we need to stockpile food to get through storms and financial set backs. Since we never know when a disaster could happen (or and illness) it makes sense to just live prepared.
It also helps us to save money because we don't need to eat out and we can wait to buy when something goes on sale. This leads to being able to put money into our savings. All those extra trips to the store and being so unorganized that we eat fast food can take a toll on a budget.
Our outdoor laundry area has helped so much. It has given me another alternative to how I do laundry. I wash our laundry by hand every time I can and each time I do this I get more skilled at washing this way. Most things we do in life we improve the more often we do it.
The laundry area is more aligned now for the process of washing the clothes. It takes less time because I am getting my rhythm and I am also gaining muscle strength in my upper body. That is a very big deal since I am getting older and muscle strength is declining with age. It has not been easy, I have had to push through the sore muscles but I can tell you it can be done.
I started off using 5 gallon buckets from the paint section in Walmart. Then washtubs, then I then ordered a washing stick thing. Later on we found some 15 gallon barrels that did not cost much and the narrow tall buckets help to wash better because you don't use as much water as you do in a wash tub and it being tall and narrow I can push the water through with more force.
Then we purchased a sink from Lowes and we had saved up years ago for a wringer so we had that.
I don't like to spend money on shoes, purses, manicures, clothes and such, if I am going to spend money it needs to be on something that will help us to save money over time because and once you get it and start using it the savings begins.
Each of us have our own places we live and we all can take charge of reducing the the things that drain money. It is a decision, either do it the physical way or the easy way. Easy costs money, one of my favorite quotes.
I put covers over the barrels, sink and roller to keep the dirt off and small creatures like gecko's from falling into the barrels and getting trapped in there.
Our Vintarian Era may look different than what was really in the past but it is a good place to be, living Sensible Vintage in today's time.
Grandma Donna
