Living in Poorland

I think I understand Mel Gibson's fascination with the book "Catcher in the Rye" in the movie "Conspiracy Theory." My situation is slightly different because I wasn't programmed by the government or chased by secret hitmen, but I think my desire for 'normal' is similar. As Doug at Carter's Transmission was poking and clanking around under my hood, compiling a page-long litany of necessary repairs, I desperately wanted something normal.

And normal ended up being a cup of black coffee with cream and Splenda at Kerbey Lane. There is something that happened when I wrapped my fingers around that faded white mug and exchanged pleasantries with the waiter. Nothing life-changing - just normal.
...and so enter I into my life in Poorland - that's the endearing term I've given to this year of service. Don't be fooled - I'm convinced it's going to be every magical and charming dream I have in my newly minimalist heart. When it comes down to it, living in Poorland really just means being creative. Let's be honest - people are living in far worse situations, but creativity (a marvelous thing about being made in the image of our Creator) has quite a way of bringing joy from sadness and hope from fear. and laughter. YES laughter! So, here are a few lessons I've learned in my first weeks in Poorland. I'm sure there will be many, many more.

Entertainment
My newest form of entertainment requires less than a gallon of gas ($2.69) and a certain level of stealth. I have always been a bookstore and coffeeshop junkie. I need no good reason or invitation to sit in an overstuffed chair and smell roasted coffeebeans mixed with new book pages. Now, living in Poorland, buying books and coffee is a bit of a problem - err, let me rephrase: it's not in the budget. So, instead of getting down, I drive to Barnes and Noble, pick a book from the shelf, scour the store for an unassuming hideout, and read to my heart's content (careful to not bend the pages). Then, when I'm finished (or the store is closing), I stealthily return the book and remember my page. I politely leave the store, always making sure to turn on the friendship vibes with all the workers. I'm not sure this is exactly ethical, but you've got to admit Barnes & Noble set themselves up for this! All the books - tables - comfy chairs - what did they expect? And, I can tell you there are others like me. Is this justification? maybe. In any case, I'm somewhere in the middle of Ted Dekker's RED (second in a series) and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Shopping
In Poorland, "shopping" is a very interesting word and it can have several definitions. For me, it means perusing thrift stores, yards, and verbalizing my needs in hopes that someone will say, "Oh, I've got one of those sitting around that I don't use - you can just have it!" Since moving here, shopping also means craigslist. Craigslist is a free, independent online market where people buy/sell items ranging from lamps to houses to carpooling (they even do personal ads!). Because I drove down with only a trunkful of furnishings, I needed to find a chair. But, not just any chair - a reading chair that would be my ticket up mystical mountains and onto philosophical freeways. After frustrating searches at IKEA, Target, and Walmart, I ended up emailing someone named Erin about a papasan chair. They wanted $25 and I eagerly moved to seal the deal. Thanks to the skillful mapping of my hosts Darin and Adela, we found Erin's house and without as much as a question regarding quality I whipped out the $25 and that was it. I am not much of a bargainer, to say the least. Actually, I'm quite the sucker when it comes to these things. I realize I probably could have offered $20, but the important thing is I have since spent hours in said papasan chair, to the content of my Poorland heart!

That's all for now. There will be more. Oh, yes - the stories just keep coming!