I often wonder what stirs up such ire and just plain resentment, in people, when you do something that isn't in lock step with convention. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about joining a commune or piercing every orifice on my body, this subject is on the conservitive side - homesteading. I've often written about taking "the road less traveled", but, haven't gone very deep into the subject, and I never had to question that because I've always had a clear picture of what its meant to me.

I found out early on that if you want to learn to do something there's always someone who needs a job done that will be willing to train you. It's usually a dirty job that no one else wants to do, but, hey, how else do you get experience? That's how I've come by most of my "job knowledge", and that is also where I get the most criticism; I'm told I need to go to college to get a degree, to show that I am a person of conviction, since, I have finished this course of study and am, thus, employable.

In my estimation its more important to display your knowledge and to demonstrate your ability rather than flash a piece of paper that certifies you as competent. I am not putting down higher learning, I know it is a time tested, and proven method of gaining knowledge needed to succeed in the job force, it's just not for me.

I respect anyone that has the discipline to go the college route; it's years of study and a little "socializing", but, it's still specialised knowledge, knowledge in a specific field needed by that person to advance in their chosen career. My chosen field that I wish to succeed in is "homesteading", a field that requires a wide range of skills, and in most cases if you are an expert in one field, other fields suffer from lack of study or practice in those areas; so "jack of all trades" is a title I strive for.

It's a funny thing, to be the one that people call to fix or design something and then have those same people critisize you for not having a real job. I've never had a down time where I had to wait for the right job to come along, because that is the only job I know how to do, I've always had a wide range of job choices or have been able to make my own employment.

Finally, I've arrived at a place in my life where, when confronted with stinging criticisms about the choices I have made for myself, I can acknowledge peoples criticisms as "only their opinion" and resume my day. I am sure of my abilities and, also the fact, that I will continue my learning though out my life. So, that is the whole philosophy in a nutshell and as far as I'm concerned it's unshakeable.

Self-sufficiency started a long time ago for me, so when a "Naysayer" takes it upon themselves to show me the error of my ways, I'll just smile and say, "have a good day", knowing that, that same person is probably going to call "ME" and ask, "could you help me out, pleeeeease?".