Surviving Without Money: German Woman’s Year-Long Adventure

Gulf News ^

[nickcarraway]

For one year, Greta Taubert renounced our consumer society. Eating, drinking and dressing without spending a cent, the 30-year-old German woman wanted to see what life would be like if the economic system collapsed.

The first thing she badly wanted after her 12 months of consumer abstinence? “Tights,” she replied spontaneously, nursing a cappuccino in a café in Leipzig, a city in what used to be East Germany.

SNIP

“I even made my own shampoo,” she said. “But I started to look like a Neanderthal. My friends told me, ‘Now you’re going too far’,” she laughed.

[familyop]

"~~~All of those things you mention take M*O*N*E*Y. Her claim is “no money”.~~~"

"We have a winner."

With more study and preparation, she could have prepared to stop using cash for anything but property taxes for ten years. That would also allow for much time to focus on advocacy and activism to decrease or eliminate property taxes.

Such activism is not really necessary, though, except for the future health and safety of individuals and families who work in advance to be more self-sufficient. In the remainder of the default process, the remainder of the bureaucrats and their many associates will lose their incomes and political influence anyway. Bond problems and austerity measures are going to happen.

There's nothing conservative about excessive private sector dependence and extorted consumerism to suit socialists who produce nothing more than schemes to officiously steal from others.

[familyop]

"Boy you really take this personally."

Those who depend on government directly or indirectly for incomes take their declining flow of debt/revenues and returns from government-linked investments very personally. I'm rather more analytical about helping people to leave the dying commie/fascist plantation.

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http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp

Heating and Cooling (much on rocket stove mass heaters including a cast core design)
http://www.permsteading.com/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=747dfccee7aaf8e677ba4ede2fc79226

Rocket Stoves.. Experimenters corner.. Answers questioned!
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http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/DHWplusSpace/Main.htm

hugelkultur: the ultimate raised garden beds
http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/
[Works well in the over-regulated West with stealthier trenches covered to match surrounding grade instead of raised beds.]

The subject of the article posted above--the "German Woman"--should try it again with more study, projects and savings in advance. She could be much more self-sufficient.

Go Galt. Have fun. Enjoy the slide.

[familyop]

"heck, all she would have to do is move here to the Philippines and wait for a typhoon. been there, done that."

That's very true. I was in a hurricane that destroyed power and telephone infrastructure along with many of the hurricane-resistant buildings (sustained winds of 160 mph, much higher wind gusts). That was in the U.S.A. of 1970, though, and we rebuilt very quickly. Our nation is not what it was.