Thinking about the future...

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Thinking about what the future holds for me and my family. What is important to me. What I can and cannot live without. In today's world, material/unessential things are rated high on peoples' priority list. To high. And I can't say I've been guilty of some materialistic/unessential indulgences. Air conditioning is probably my biggest indulgence. 

Sure, Northern NY temps are no where near as severe as say, Texas or Florida, but this chick simply does not tolerate the heat. Whether its a "dry" heat or a "humid" heat. It doesn't matter. If it's over 70 degrees, I'm sweating like I'm in a sauna. Its gross and uncomfortable. As soon as temps start reaching 80+ in the summer, my two air conditioners come on, and seldom go off until about this time of year when temps resume the perfect temperature range of 60-70 degrees.

With that said, and with all the thinking I've been doing... Can I live without the comfort of an air conditioner? Sure, I could live... but do I want to live without one?  That is a HUGE question that anyone thinking about becoming a self sufficient homestead has to ask themselves about a multitude of materialistic/unessential products that so many people today seem to not be able to live without. 

Another one for me... International Delight French Vanilla Creamer. Now let me tell you this - I am a caffeine addict. I generally drink coffee from the time I wake up in the morning, until the time my head hits the pillow at night. Summer, Winter - it doesn't matter. If I don't have my creamer (and only French Vanilla please), I don't drink coffee... and me without coffee is not a pretty sight, not to mention I am utterly useless!

Now, since my eyes have been opened by so many fellow bloggers, I know this creamer is laden with a bunch of crap I don't need, and isn't good for me. I shouldn't be drinking it. In my thoughts about my future, I've been thinking of giving up my 'beloved' creamer. As just one of many, many steps to becoming more self reliant. Anyone know of some good homemade, flavored creamer? Plans for the livestock in our future include a milking goat and/or cow. Any tips on using their milk for coffee creamer (if thats even possible??) is much appreciated! 

And with my caffeine/creamer addiction comes Tobacco. I am a smoker, and honestly don't think I can give it up. I've tried numerous times with not even a hint of luck. In my thoughts these last several days, I've thought of growing my own tobacco. A fellow blogger (MM @ Self Sustained Living!) mentions she grows her own, and smokes it. No chemicals added by the big wig tobacco companies, no outrageous taxes imposed by the governments. (GREAT post here that hit close to home with how I feel about the way our society is going, and exactly what I want to avoid!)

Now this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as things I was thinking about giving up as I enter the world of self sufficiency. Many things will be "trimmed" out of our lives. Hubster may not like some of it; but he will learn to live with it, or hit the road ;-)