Sustainable Living

Accommodation is one of the most difficult considerations in personal sustainability practice. Usually because where and how we choose to live is affected by many factors. Are you single, already a home owner, considering proximity to particular places (shopping, school, entertainment) and the availability of public transport? I have chosen to (re)investigate my previously held conceptions and to consciously trouble my decisions regarding how I live.

Since coming to this country I have chosen to live in shared accommodation. This was a radical personal decision as during the last 10 years I have lived on my own and in properties I have owned (and renovated). This decision was initiated by fear about surviving such scary winters and fear about not having enough money to afford large rent. I had been unemployed (consciously) for the previous 12 months (while traveling) and I was moving to a new country to become a full-time international student (expensive in itself).

It seems that both fears were unfounded as the winters were manageable (with that appropriate knowledge and gear) and I was adequately employed and cared for by the university therefore, I received a fair student income. However, I continued to seek shared accommodation, renting a room in family homes. I guess there was an added bonus of feeling (almost) like I was part of the family while being so removed from my own.

This summer I decided to continue to test my conceptions and I took on a series of house sitting opportunities. And boy, do I mean a series... 3 weeks here (with a big brown lab - oh joy... a dog again!!), one week there - just to fill in, another week here and then three weeks there (with an old ill cat??) and then the final month and a half in a house in a small rural community.

But what was I was actually troubling? Perhaps I was just resisting paying rent! In the end the monetary saving may have been good, but I soon discovered that the "costs" were not totally offset. The time spent finding out about, getting used to, caring for, looking after, cleaning and leaving little thank yous was significant. The constant moving was energy sapping and potentially stressful. How much should we "value" our time and energy?

Additionally, there is something to be said for having a home to come "home" to. Yes, it is certainly a luxury, but a fundamental one that most humans are able to provide for themselves and their families. Shelter, after all, is one of the 4 requirements of vertebrates (along with food, water, and air).

So what is it that I am railing against? Why do I not just go and rent an apartment, buy a condo, build house? I now know how to survive a winter. I am reasonably financially secure. It was time to look outside the box for a solution that would meet my sustainability talk and my desire to have a home.

Consequently, I have been looking to purchase a property with a community of colleagues with the "soul" purpose of exploring how to live sustainably in mainstream society. And what a ride. I have spoken to many of my friends and colleagues and most agree that it is a worthy notion. I have looked at properties in the central city area, and investigated a few. I even got quite close to purchasing a property with a couple I know.

This particular property was in the ideal location, had a great aspect, was 97 years old, was large enough and had wonderful karma/ambiance (having been a vegetarian restaurant in the past). However, it required considerable renovations (currently there was no bathroom). After significant time attempting to find a contractor to even take my call I realized that this is not the time to be even considering renovations in this city. With the current housing boom (and boy do I mean boom) every renovator worth his salt has a message on their phone stating that they will not be quoting on new jobs for the next 2 months.

So what to do... What are the options? Wait for the contractors. Keep looking till we find the perfect (non instant renovation needing) property. Settle for "that apartment". What else is outside the box. How do I live with the smallest ecological footprint with specific regard to my accommodation, and still provide the basics of shelter and sanity/happiness for myself.

What is it that I need:

• small floor footage per person
  
• energy and resource conservation measures FULLY implemented through out the building
  
• access to transport or convenience to the university and shopping
• low financial costs
• a healthy place for mind, body and soul
• a garden and space to be outside in the sun and under a tree (yes a luxury - but this IS a wish list)
• windows to allow sun into the house (triple glass and energy rated)

and that is about it... I want to be able to make decisions about where I live based on sustainability, health and happiness. I want to remove myself from the clutches of the economically driven devils. I want there to be options for me, in terms of places that fit these criteria. And as there are not, at least not in this city, I feel the need to create these opportunities. To lead the way to re-establish the criteria for appropriate accommodation choices. To live well!

In the Summertime - ooooo oooo

Due to crazy hemisphere swapping, I have not managed to put my body through a summer of any significance in 3 years. This is not great... however, I have just experienced my first Canadian HOT day. It got up to a cool "feels like" 40 degrees C today!! Nice!!

Summer in the northern hemisphere is different, what can I say... very different. I like hot weather anywhere though, I have recently discovered. I used to think that I loved cold weather - cos you can ALWAYS get warm... however, a Canadian winter or two cured me of that erroneous belief. I suspect this might just be the "other side is always greener" syndrome!!

I visited some friends out of town the other day and I was reminded about how energizing getting outside the city is for me. Green fields, flowering canola crops, green trees and water - everywhere! And space - the prairies certainly do space well... and I am growing a healthy appreciation for/of it.

I have taken to cycling and running again - so I am actually outside quite a bit. I also garden, albeit in pots... so I do feel in tune with the seasons a little. However, while I remain inside the cement jungle I seem to turn off, become cool, rigid, and hard only to be reignited upon escape of the city limits into the open air where I can breath and relax and feel.

I am reading environmental ethics and loving it. I have found a home in the theory here. A language to utilize as my own. I am hoping to uncover/recover some of my ontological and epistemological ways providing an understanding about my beliefs and passions. An interest in personal sustainability activism is providing me with a useful "position" as I us these ideas and this language to explore/challenge/change my own practices.

Along with school is a healthy amount of play time... I am off to Cyprus Hills this weekend. Check it out http://www.pbase.com/dmcnichol/cyprus_hills This is what I am in for... I can not think of a preferred location (in north america) for reading and pondering environmental ethics!!

So wish me well this weekend. Wish me: blue skies, warm breezes, flowering perennials, rolling grasslands, shady coulée's of trees, deer running the right way, elk standing majestically, satiated bears and maybe, if I am very good a chorus of Coyotes!!

And have a goodie yourself!!