Year of the Move: Outsourcing & Compromises

Don't feel too badly. My boys mutinied and now I'm not culturing our dairy products. We have giant (5 lbs) plastic tubs of both sour cream and cottage cheese in the fridge. It's kinda a bummer, but it takes zero time.

Have you all looked for Kirk's Castile soap? I wouldn't say it is Dr. Bronner awesome and it isn't scented, but it is really great and only 1 dollar a bar.

Gutting your life for a move can be rather brutal in places, but it means the ability to start over however you want! I figure if I give a little now, when the time comes I can take a whole bunch later :)

Thank you so much for this post - I feel I can really relate! We are moving in the second half of this year: I thought it was going to be Germany, now we are not sure, only that we are moving. I don't even have a date! And before that move we have a large trip to the other side of the world to get through. So I am compromising like mad - trying to save money, trying to get organised (and doing it all while my husband is working far away and is never home). I had such grand plans of what I was going to achieve this past 12 months, but by trying to achieve so much I achieved very little - I was paralysed by my expectation that I should do it all, do it on my own, do it right.

It took a near 'collapse' to realise that trying to do it that way meant I was getting very little done, and was making myself unhappy to boot. So, like you, I realised compromise is not always a dirty word, and realised that living a 'realistic' life was the way to live a 'real' life.

Even though I'm not moving anytime soon, I can certainly appreciate the wisdom of balance... assessing needs and prioritizing. Oftentimes people get real and ideal out of whack - it's obvious that you will arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to live life there to it's fullest. I wish you the best!

(and thanks for being such an inspiring example, when next I do move, I will have your words to remember!:))

We are a military family so moving comes around every few years for us. I appreciate your post and sharing your feelings about the process. I've come to realize it's the time leading up to moving day that is most stressful. During the months and weeks before we move I tend to compromise on eating the right food. It's so much easier to just whip up a box of mac n cheese (even if it's Annie's) or pick up a pizza for dinner. Pretty soon I'm feeling yucky and so are my kids. Add the packing/sorting and that's a recipe for a grumpy family. :) Your post really made me think about other options I can pursue during pre-move day. Thanks Rennee.

thanks for a great post. our family is also in the midst of an upheaval - a new baby on the way, relocating halfway across the country, and the decision to give up my income (and career ultimately) to focus on our family - all in the next few months. I appreciate your honesty in stating that you just can't do everything during times like these,and you have to figure out what is most important and focus on those things. Our list of (ideally) non-negotiable items is similar to yours but as a two income, two career family, these items somehow always come up short. This is what we are currently trying to fix. I just have to keep reminding myself that change doesn't happen overnight, and to set realistic goals.

I don’t think any of your compromises are “a bit embarrassing” at all. They seem well thought out and realistic. I admire your dedication to the outdoors and family with your weekly hikes—wonderful!

Okay, so are you gunning to always be on my inspirational link love list ;-)

I love this post: both the first part on what you won't compromise and the second part of what you will compromise!

It's sort of funny because we did what you guys are doing (in our own way of course) three years ago. I didn't have a blog then (the move did inspire me to start blogging), but I can relate to the step backward to move forward. We moved here to live more of a simple, diy life with access to better food, but it's sort of funny b/c I used to garden and now we don't grow anything b/c of our downtown urban living situation. There were many things we were moving towards, but in the moment you must deal with what you can.

I think you're pretty smart (and I love that it's a guilty pleasure for you to buy a bar of soap!)

Renee, you inspire me to talk about this over at Old Recipe--it's long overdue for me to confess that, well, we do use plastic now. Our fast was never meant to go beyond four months, but still, it's hard for me to justify this after spending so much time philosophizing about why it was so important. Pregnancy and a super picky toddler forced us to open our lives back up, and honestly, I've found that change happened on much deeper levels, in ways far more important than is my ketchup in a glass or plastic bottle. I'll need to reflect more on this, but thank you as ever for your honesty.

Renee, your honesty is so refreshing. We can't do it all, all of the time -- and it is so important to regroup and reprioritize as needed. We absolutely love Dr. Bronner's bar soaps -- the peppermint is my favorite. :)

Oh, and I've been meaning to tell you, I made your lip balm recipe as stocking stuffers before Christmas, and everyone has been raving about it! It is just wonderful and, as a bonus, I've been using it on my psoriasis and find it makes an amazing balm for dry, damaged skin! Thanks so much for sharing.

I think my life is full of compromise...most of it temporary like when I'm particularly stressed out and allow myself to not walk on my treadmill for a few days. The worst compromise I've made, though, is allowing my spiritual life to really suffer until I'm at a place where I'm not really ok. It is soooo hard to stay perfectly on top of everything all the time.

i LOVE this renee!!

last year was my first time working (almost) full time since having kids and there was SO much i had to let go.

sometimes it felt comical. the irony of what we were eating on our way to work at an organic farm. but it really was part of the process. letting go of some things allowed us to take a BIG step forward in our long-term goals (and to provide a tremendous service to others who are attempting to source local, ethically raised food).

this year i'm gearing up for the summer season with a lot more information that is allowing me to plan much better. i know it's still going to get crazy and there will be places i will have to compromise again but i can also see so many places where i will be able to make better choices this year thanks to what i learned (and let go of) last year.

thank you (once again) for your honesty. you are an inspiration on so many levels!!!!

~erin

What I always find inspiring about how you and Damien are living your life, is how much thought you always give to each detail. I loved the first part of this post. Your compromises make total sense, and I feel that compromising is that special fine art without which life would be miserable. It starts in the family, and among parents: don't we all have different ideas about things, and yet make a life together work? PS I wasn't particularly fond of Dr Bronners in 1992 when I first (and last) used they toothpaste smelling liquid soap, and just judging by the label there I wonder how come Dr Bronners (now) enterprise is putting their name on fair trade soap, which is not the point and ethics of fair trade, as far as I know - just a thought provoked by a bunch of soap labels!

I'm feeling the crunch of tightening our budget...it's hard because I think twice about outings. But, we do lots of things. My kids aren't lacking. When I feel like they are, we go for a hike or hit the library again!

I came across your blog again today and saw this post...I've printed it out...I love it! You've put into words something I've been feeling but not able to put into words. I have to make compromises in my own life due to my health (chronic) and it may be that I will never have the "ideal" that I want. I think that part of the Christian life is also finding contentment even if we never reach (or haven't yet reached) our ideals.

After reading this earlier I got kind of down that I still am not able to do the hiking that I would like to do, and that I used to do. But you know what, we have a trail in our neighbourhood and I don't use it as often as I should...so even though its really cold we dressed for it (only eyes showing!) and I took the kids out.

I can modify my ideals to fit my life if nothing else. We were gone an hour, about half of which was resting (laying on the snow and watching the sky). I would love to do an all day hike, or even hike for longer than an hour, but I can't. I'm learning to be content with the season of compromise in my life (and perhaps always).

Thank you for being so real. Its very refreshing and encouraging!! Oh and what herb book is that you are using? I am curious. The one you are making cough stuff from.

I would like to say sleep and exercise never get compromised for us, nor does time together, but that isn't true. They do. DIY and sustainability as well. Re-accomplishing these things in a current state of "right" was what my steps toward balance were all about. I think you are doing fabulously and I hope you aren't feeling guilty or badly! Nicola

I really enjoyed this post, as usual. My word for the year came to me without planning to choose one: discipline. It is a helpful mantra to remind myself to go to be early and not knit into the night (not being very successful) and in washing the dishes every evening (more successful). Our raised bungalow built in the 50's does not have room for a dishwasher, so I get to live the ideal life of washing all dishes by hand :-). I'm used to it and I don't want a dishwasher anyway.

I've recently run across info on yur AT adventure and have been reading your posts.  Love the idea of simplifying.  I do have one question.  What do you mean by unChurch?  I've never heard that term so I googled it.  But it didn't seem to coincide with what you said was important.  I'm not critizing, but am just curious.