Blue-Collar by Choice

Hands-On Work

You know what? I don’t think the rate my employer pays me is the problem; I think the problem is what it costs anybody anywhere to make ends meet in the United States of America. Words I would use to describe cost of living: abusive, predatory, unsustainable. And take it from a small-town guy, Main Street is every bit as culpable as Wall Street. My current focus is working the job I enjoy, wealth be damned. Find ways to live more affordably. Avoid early adoption of new tech. Take overtime on a regular basis. 40 hours of physical labor as hospital housekeeper should be enough.

Vocation

I cherish the English Degree I earned as an undergraduate. Creative opportunities took me away from the traditional teaching route. Nevertheless, I keep my love of reading and writing alive through blogging, and through affordable and enjoyable WYSIWIG content creation. Sometimes I even get published. Mindfulness practice and fellowshipping with compassionate and inclusive religious communities, participating in Lent and Easter for example, also play into my efforts to maintain quality of life despite limited income and loner tendencies.

Orange Kitty

In December of 2023, I lost a longtime friend and neighbor. Over the years, I developed a rapport with her cat, like me a contemplative loner. My friend often joked that we were sharing him. An elderly COPD sufferer, she suggested I adopt her cat when the time came. I agreed. Now, Orange Kitty comes to my door, curls up in one of my chairs, and tolerates when I trim his nails or drag him to the vet for his annual physical and vaccinations. In addition to hiking content, I enjoy posting Instagram reels of my adventures rooming with a tiger. Here’s a reel example.