And according to my standards, this dream is still in a bit of the fantasy category as I have yet to start making any plans to take me there. No roadmap devised as of yet. So what is this dream?? A variation of the long standing fantasy.... the dream of owning a few acres and building a "green" home. Grey water recovery, low energy requirements and construction that is reflective of the area. Y'know, using those rammed earth, local materials, or straw bale construction. Boy, has green construction come a long way since I first came across straw bale and environmental systems at an outdoor centre I worked at over 10 years ago.
It's funny, I have been fascinated with the whole concept of green building for some time. But, it was with the past couple of jobs I have had that I have come to truly appreciate the potential importance of green building. To be able to get as far away from dependence on conventional systems is increasingly appealing to me. Am I turning into one of those wild eyed, crazy idea'd, apocalyptic people? No. Highly unlikely. I am however increasingly aware of the unchecked growth of our society and its unsustainable nature.
So I dream my dream. A dream of independence. A dream of a lighter environmental footprint and sustainable future. Independent yet still connected to a community. One where interdependence creates stronger ties and goes against the Walmart's and strip malls of today. A sort of back to the future dream. Where what was good about the past is combined with the technology of today. Really integrating our knowledge instead of ignoring the wisdom of other cultures and times, to blindly push forward.
A dream of a personal space that is in rhythm with the earth, meets the needs of my life, and is a part of a bigger picture where society moves toward a more connected and ethically conscious. A dream, a fantasy..... whatever it is, its mine.
