Edit My Profile

bobferris	Planet Earth
" Making progress will involve connections and communications between a number of diverse local networks and efforts. The green networks are the... "
Greenopolis Points Tracker:	bobferris is:
	Significant Other:	married
	Age:	57
	Interests:	Non-Profit ExecutiveRead More.. Non-Profit Executive
	Location:	Planet Earth

bobferris Blogs

The Return of the $5.00 Date

03/17/2010 - 11:46am

When I first stuck my toe in the dating pool many years ago, I was pretty much able to do the whole soup-to-nuts date thing for about $5.00. That included a sip of 35 cent per gallon gas for my grandfather’s monstrous Pontiac, burgers and fries at Linda’s Diner, and two tickets to the Buena Vista Drive-In. Good times. Of course, I was making about $1.35 an hour at that point so this was really an extravagance. Last Saturday night my wife and I were able to resurrect the $5.00 dollar (or so) fling with many of the same elements. How did we do it?

First, we took public transportation and were willing to walk a little. So there was no need for us to blow 20% of our fun budget getting there. We also travelled at non-commuter hours so the fares were reduced. The walking - even in the rain - was a nice interlude leading into and away from the movie. It also gave us time to talk and reconnect.

Second, we searched the internet and found a free movie showing locally. The movie was a little dated but it was a big screen and a night out so it counts. The movie was nice, but it could just as easily have been a free lecture or concert. Our goals here are: Going somewhere, enjoying a nice experience, and having your wallet live to tell the tale.

And lastly, we used discount coupons for food. We also didn’t order much. We shared a large bowl of butternut lobster bisque and a wild-caught salmon salad. And we went out happy and not stuffed. (I should confess that we did break the already bruised $5.00 barrier on our walk home because we spent $1.09 on glazed chocolate crueler for desert.)

All in all it was a wonderful evening. But what likely made it better for us was that we knew that through a little planning and consciousness we could create a wonderful evening for about one twentieth of what most couples would spend for a similar evening. As money generally also reflects environmental impact, we suspect our impact and our waste were quite a bit less too. So we basically had fun, kept our impact low, and saved money. What could be better?

As I talk with folks about the difference between quality of life and standard of living, the above is pretty much what I am talking about. My wife and I spent a lot less than what is traditionally spent, but we maintained the core value of the experience. And while standard of living is measured by growth in gross domestic product and productivity (and, therefore impact and waste), quality of life‘s currencies are time, respect, connectedness, and love. It is not a hard choice for us to make.

I Dream of Flying Refrigerators

03/03/2010 - 2:33pm

I used to have a friend who grew up in the desert around Barstow, California. He was a pretty funny guy and he used to tell me tall tales about his childhood including a game they played with refrigerators. According to him, he and a few other teenagers would form two teams, retreat to their respective sides of a canyon and with help from some judicious dirt piling and a little dynamite left over from the area’s mining days, they would launch ancient refrigerator carcasses across the canyon at their foes. Luckily, no one died or was seriously hurt, but remembrance of this tale makes me think that there are likely some equally creative but less destructive re-uses for these retired appliances.

(Disclaimer: Although the little boy in me yearns to launch his own Frigidaire, the adult in me knows this is a tremendously dangerous activity and I strongly urge the readers to not try this at home, but be content with safer mischief like potato cannons. Oops, did I say that?

Also, refrigerators are not toys and are dangerous because children can climb inside old refrigerators and suffocate. Be careful.)

So what could be on the list for safer, more responsible reuse of those ancient and energy inefficient cooling machines? Here are few options:

1. Back porch cooler during the cooler months

2. Moth-proof storage areas for winter clothes

3. Smokehouses for curing meat, fish, or fruit

4. Pest-free storage for pet or livestock feed

5. Storage place for paint in a cold garage or basement

6. Compost Bin

7. Tool chest

8. Mini-Root Cellar

Helpful Resources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2205241_refrigerator-smoker.html