Introduction

I must admit that for a long time I've been thinking about doing an experiment like this. I'm realizing now that maybe I was too afraid to do it in the past. Afraid of what others might think, afraid of disappointing my family. I think I was even afraid that trying to live outside the bounds of our system would be a wrong choice, and somehow ruin my life forever. I don't know the point at which all these fears vanished, but I can say now with confidence that they are gone.

To get right down to it, I'm disgusted with the American way of life. Sorry patriots, I don't mean to offend you. I'm not saying America itself is something to scoff at. At its core, in the beginning, America was a great idea. The ultimate experiment in rebellion. But now things have gone awry. I'm disappointed with the way things have been operating lately, the way of life we've all allowed ourselves to slip into. Namely, capitalism.

Now I know right off the bat some of you reading this blog will hold great contempt for me at daring to say your way of life is, well, disturbing. You'll write nasty comments telling me I don't know what I'm talking about and you'll try to throw economics lessons in my face. I'll save you some time- I don't care what you think. The motivation for this experiment is not based on any academic economics study. I'm not claiming that the way I am going to be living from now on will somehow save America from itself. Hell, I'm not even suggesting other people follow my lead. I'm doing what I want to do for myself. This blog is just a way to keep an account of that, and perhaps share some of my insights, struggles, and lessons with other people who might have similar feelings.

So, to the details of the experiment. It is my goal to live, work, eat, and play in a non-capitalist way. I would call this something else (something positive) but I'm not sure there's an opposite term yet. Some websites have suggested altruism, others socialism. But these aren't quite right. When I say I want to live outside the realm of capitalism, I mean that I want to pursue a lifestyle of conscious decision-making based on how my activities affect myself and those around me. In our current capitalist way of life, we do not do this (very often).

I'm not setting out to be a freegan, to abandon the use of money all together. I definitely admire people who can live a rastafarian, primitivist life. But this experiment of mine is not extreme. Here are a few principles I will try to live by, and over the course of the days, I'll use this blog to go into more detail about these goals, and also assess the practicality of them.

1. Work for a local company. Find a job doing work which benefits the local community. This company should value its neighbors and provide services or products which impact people in a positive way. This company should not have a national corporate office and should not be part of a chain. This company should not be selling something to people, which they do not need.

2. Use government-funded entities. Take full advantage of parks, libraries, public space, universities, schools, etc... Utilizing these services will save me money on recreation (a picnic instead of dining out, borrowing a movie instead of renting one). Also, it's a way to counter the consumer culture of entertainment.

3. Eat at independently-owned restaurants. So much of our money goes to corporate chain restaurants. Every time we eat at a Wendy's or a TGIFridays, we move money out of our local community and into the hands of big corporate giants. Plus, we are getting low-quality, pre-made, frozen, factory-farmed, unhealthy meals at these establishments. There are plenty of indy restaurants which use only fresh, local, organic ingredients. I want to support them and I want to put that kind of food in my body.

4. Buy local groceries. I want to buy food at farmers markets, where I can get the products that my neighbors are growing and selling. I'll get fresh, non-modified, pesticide-free food, and I'll also be supporting an independent farmer, not a national conglomerate, which produces chemically and genetically modified foods, and which uses my money to keep the poor poor and help the rich get richer.

5. Buy clothing in thrift stores. This one I've NEVER done before. I have always been a slave to the Old Navy brand. But by buying at thrift stores, I'm keeping my money in the local community and I'm reusing materials. Plus wearing a brand and knowing that the company producing that brand didn't get a dime of my money is extremely satisfying.

6. Join local service groups. The 5 goals above all support my local community with money, but I can also offer my time, effort, and talent. Along the way, I'll get to know people in my community better and become more aware of local problems, projects, and goals.