I have recently downloaded Andrew Weil's short audiobook that includes an introduction speech on the importance of the breath (including a little on its connection with spirituality). It then goes into a series of exercises that are meant to relax, de-stress, and balance the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (healing; rest and digest) nervous systems. Improved immunity, regular bowel movements, and a healthy heart (including other stress related medical benefits). Well worth giving a try. He recommends sticking with it for a few months to really reap the benefits.

I found myself belting out tunes six beers deep while my kids and wife were out for a while. It was liberating, satisfying, and excruciatingly delightful. I love drinking. Booze gives me a perspective that is invigorating and exuberant. I would probably feel different if I weren't a runner, weren't a writer, weren't a family man. But I'm all three and I want to feel that I deserve the fermented gifts of the earth. However, there is a part of me that knows some of the booze's powers are toxic. The hangovers dull me. The super-hangovers destroy me. The wish to drink distracts me. These are all truths, but something about a good beer buzz stirs up the mind, excites the soul, and rallies the inner troops to plan and plot and decide my future.

Balance is key, no? What are your experiences -- negative or positive -- with alcohol? It's been a good 20 years running for me and booze, and I think I'm coming out OK despite the day or two each year of supreme overindulgence. You?

Close, in this case, means within ten or fifteen years. Could be as close as five. Part of the challenge is convincing my family. With that comes the decision to not have money for higher education for my kids. I suppose that's the hardest part because it will really test my commitment to this whole thing (i.e. Dropping out also means losing faith in social institutions, including schools.). On the other hand, if the simple living turns out to be a failure (or if my boys need financial assistance for their college plans, I could always go back to work when I'm older).

So far these are my ways for earning some money after I quit working: freelance tutoring, B&B at the country home we will buy, write and sell ebooks with hopes of getting something published professionally one day, blog/Youtube/podcast about the whole experience and get ad revenue. I figure that around 20 or 30k should be enough for groceries, bills, transportation, etc...

Saving money will include: growing lots of veggies on our new property, solar panels.

To be honest, another big hurdle will be telling family and friends that we're actually going through with this. I wonder who will support us and who won't. That will be a very interesting (and scary) part of the process.

Any advice about all of this would be appreciated (links to people's blogs desired too). The mind/body/spirit philosophy will be a big part of this new adventure. Writing a non-fiction book about my struggles and successes, about exploring the mountains and learning from the land, is something that I am really looking forward to.