EATING HUMBLE PIE

John and I have always been such good savers that I've become rather cocky over the years about our future security. The recent trauma in the financial world has me wondering though, just how secure are we, really?

Many of the blogs I read are concerned with living more simple, green and frugal lives. Some believe that it's simply the right thing to do, while others fear we may have no choice in the matter before long. They believe the American Dream of a house for every family, and a bedroom, bathroom, car, computer, TV, DVD and i-phone for every child, is about to blow up in our faces. If and when this happens, we may have to rethink our definition of a reasonable life.

There may come a time when the sharing of one's residence with extended family, and sharing the work of keeping food on the table, will once again be the norm, rather than the exception. People may need to take in boarders, in order to save their homes from foreclosure. We will probably have to forget about replacing everything that breaks or tears with something brand new, and learn again how to mend or repair things. I can learn to knit, sew, garden, cook, can, build or barter - no problem! In fact, none of these things would really bother me in the least, as long as we still owned the roof over our heads and the land beneath our feet. Call it pride, vanity, greed, or whatever, there's just no denying it - I would absolutely frickin' hate having to move in with a relative, live by their rules, let someone else call the shots, all the while trying to remain ever so humble and properly grateful. In fact, God is probably smirking as I write this, thinking "Aha! I know just what to do, when I'm ready to teach this girl a lesson in humility."

In the meantime, I'm thinking maybe I need to consult with John, to make sure that a portion of our savings - at least enough to pay off our mortgage and several year's worth of taxes, is in a secure place that can't disappear overnight. I may not like whatever else comes our way, but I think I can handle it, and I can only pray that, if my friends or relatives needed to come stay here with us, I would always remember to treat them with love and respect, just they way I would hope to be treated, were I ever in their shoes.

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment, or send an e-mail to becky(dot)lane(at)vownet(dot)net, if you would like to be included in this week's prize-drawing. The deadline is whenever I crawl into bed this Sunday night.

P.P.S. Many thanks to www.tvrage.com for the above image.