How Do You Make a Living?

This is the second in a series of posts that I’m going to write in answer to the questions I get asked the most.

"How do you make a living?"

That depends on your definition of “living.” I’m sure mine is quite different from yours. Currently, I’m still getting my teacher paycheck. The last one will be at the end of August. Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to get my Perfectly Posh and Younique businesses going along with selling homemade goods at our local Saturday Market. I sew all manner of goodies including potholders, cloth baskets, bookmarks, coasters, placemats, table runners, quilts, baby blankets, and the list is always growing. In addition, I’ve been quite successful at canning and selling Fireweed Jelly, Blueberry Jam, Sun-dried Tomatoes in oil, and even Dandelion Oil (a topical ointment for dry skin and muscle soreness). Baked goods, edibles in general, are always the top sellers at the Market, but my oven at the cabin doesn’t work. However, we have one on order and it should be here by mid-August. Then, I’ll be back in the baking business, selling breads, muffins, cookies, cupcakes, coffee cakes, etc.

Between selling my wares, collecting berries, growing vegetables, and putting away fish for our own use, I make a pretty good living. At least, I earn my keep. Gregg will bring home moose and caribou this fall and then we’ll be set for winter.

Our expenses are low. We don’t have cars or insurance, electricity or plumbing, television channels or kids at home. There is no place to go out for dinner, buy a latte, or see the latest movie. We don’t pay for garbage collection, gym workouts, or Schwann’s deliveries.

Meanwhile, I’m considering online teaching, but really want to be free to go hunting and trapping with Gregg this fall and winter. I’m also working on some magazine article submissions, so that may provide some income.

Gregg works 7-days/week at the lodge in the summer, fixing whatever needs to be fixed and guiding as needed. He also has a small-engine repair shop in the village where he stays busier than he’d like during the winter months.

We do more than just get by. We live fairly luxuriously, at least by our standards. We have a generator that costs about 40 cents/hour to run. I use it when I sew. Otherwise, we just use it when we want to use the internet or watch a movie. We have an oil heat stove which also serves as a cook stove in the winter – double duty! I hardly ever have to use our propane cook stove in the winter. We even make coffee on the heat stove. Lights, you ask? Well, there’s very little darkness between March and September and our cabin has plenty of windows. Between September and March, battery operated lamps and kerosene lanterns provide all the light we need. We do have plenty of wired overhead lights and we have to do is turn the generator on to light up this place like the Fourth of July.

Water is free. Air conditioning is free. There are no property taxes. There are fish right out our front door every day of the year, free – well, except for the occasional lost lure. We have a greenhouse full of vegetables. I’ll can and freeze what we’ll need for a year, and I’ll sell the rest at Market. I’m hoping for a bumper crop of tomatoes, since those sell at the local grocery store for $4 each. That’s right! $4 EACH!

I guess the short answer to the question is that I make a living doing whatever I want, whenever I want. I live. The rest just comes.