Out with the new, in with the old.

I’ve decided I don’t much want what’s coming up. A nose-diving economy, a changing climate that might push the mercury up way beyond comfort level and dwindling oil reserves doing the same with the price of everything - it’s all a bit much!
So, I’m going backwards, returning to a gentler time when the news was better (it’s never been perfect, but a lot of what I’m hearing now is pretty grim). To help with that process, I’ve shunted the television into another room, beyond the reach of the aerial and abandoned my habit of watching the 6 o’clock news. So far, I’ve not missed a thing, so far as I can tell.
I’m taking steps to stay away from the supermarket too. The tremendous growth of my vegetable garden, both in size and in content (you should see it; just like the vegetable section of the supermarket, only fresher and no plastic wrapping in sight!) and our orchard’s the same, with all sorts of fruit attractively arranged … on branches! We’ve even freed ourselves of the need to buy bread. We’ve gone part-shares in a grain mill (small, electric, quiet and the flour is so fresh!), so I guess that’s breakfast covered as well. Ah, porridge!
The need for 3 new tyres and a warrant of fitness for our car has prompted me to douse every moving part of my bicycle and get back on the road in the old way - it’s pedal power and it feels good! I’ve even taken a job that I can get to (on time) by bike. Working close to home, in your own town can’t be beaten. I think I’ll downsize a lot of other things as well. Picnics down by the water (2 minutes walk) or up in the bush reserve (10 minutes by bike) or, just as relaxingly, in the orchard (20 seconds - you could do it with your eyes shut!) will satisfy me when an evening at a restaurant is too much of a stretch.
I’ll bet there are a lot of other people doing the same thing - simplifying their lives, taking time to enjoy the things they already have and entertaining themselves in ways that don’t involve the worries of the world. I’ll probably meet a few of them along the way. The future’s looking a lot more cheerful already.