What Next?

This question has been on my mind much before the house was built. In fact, those around me had started asking me this question then. There are multiple possibilities. Therefore, there is a need to do deep thinking.

1. Our attempt to live sustainably and be as self-sufficient as possible can be furthered by taking on the next logical step – farming. This will require sustained and substantial efforts for at least a few years. To move towards the objective of self-sufficiency may be a full-time engagement.
2. Is self-sufficiency of material needs of the family all? Is there no ‘larger’ objective? Many people are tracking our story. Will it not be an anti-climax if all the effort is just to satisfy the same needs, which we were doing in our urban life? There is no denying the fact that there is a need to send out a message, latent as it might be, but there is. Even if that need doesn’t exist, a message still goes out. People do look at us, talk about us. Instead of letting them talk and think whatever comes to their mind, shouldn’t we communicate? Shouldn’t we reach out to a much wider audience and tell them our story and our thoughts?
3. What message gets communicated apart, “is there a need to work for a larger cause?” Sustainable lifestyle, natural farming, traditional construction, alternative education, conservation of the ecology – there are facets of our lives, which adhere partly or fully to these philosophies and ideologies. Should we endeavor to take up one or more of these philosophies and work to propagate them, encourage people to walk the path, help those who’d like to walk?
4. I should stop flattering myself about any larger cause or larger message and just live for the day with no lofty objectives of self sufficiency or social impact. I should try to earn all the money required to take desired vacations and make life on the farm comfortable and safe.

Strange as it may sound, the fact is that I’m attracted to all of them, though prima facie, they may seem different directions. It seems improbable that we can actually walk on all of them or even two of them. What if between the four of us, we want to walk different ways

Of course, there is also the fifth option:

Do nothing. Make do with whatever money is available. Don’t bother about any larger cause. Ignore what people think or talk about us...Grow whatever is possible, without being stressed about self-sufficiency.