I am a new retiree. Retiree, that is, from the daily grind of 'working for the man'. I decided to retire because I couldn't ethically keep working as part of the 'system' that has resulted in the kind of world situation that we see around us, if we care to look, today.

My avatar is one of the Old Bernie, the one that used to be. I might replace it when I have one of the New Bernie, or I might just leave it there as a reminder.

So, I find myself in a situation where I am debt free, I have some funds to invest in a desirable future, no encumbrances, children all grown up, ready to go, but... What to do next? Which direction to go in?

I have some ideas of what I want to do. I've researched extensively for the last few months, joined a few organisations like The Australian Conservation Foundation and The Global Footprint Network, made a nuisance of myself by writing to the Prime Minister and various other politicians. Upset a few people by my posts in various blogs. Made an extensive list of vacant land and/or houses I might want to buy with my limited funds. Even took a field trip to look at some of them, subsequently to find that most are now under flood waters. I have even investigated certain Intentional Communities that profess permaculture as a part of their lifestyle, with a view to possibly joining one, although I am really quite a private person, in fact I think I must have been in the wrong queue when the gregarious gene was being handed out.

It boils down to this:
1. Do I find a piece of land that I can design as a permaculture based lifestyle (perhaps 1 or 2 acres; couldn't manage much more at my age) and self-build a suitable dwelling? Would it be fairly isolated or close to a small town/village?

2. Do I find a suitable existing dwelling that may be converted to be energy neutral and located on enough land to allow me to live sustainably?

3. Do I continue to search for a community that I can feel comfortable to live among usefully?

I am sure there must be many people relatively new to permaculture and awakening to the need for an appropriate lifestyle that are facing the same sort of questions of direction. People who don't necessarily see themselves as wanting to be international pioneers but do want to change their way of life while there is still time to do so.

...more on my progress as it happens; advice graciously received.

A move to the country

I now live in regional Victoria and have been putting into practise some of the knowledge gained on the PDC and subsequent research.