The Social Porcupine

  I hosted The  Yellowstone Outpost   at a Libertarian event in New Hampshire June 2022. It was a fantastic time meeting all sorts of liberty minded people. We provided food, music, tatting lessons, goats to pet, and presented on a few topics important to community welfare and happiness. I spoke on not existing .  A couple New Hampshire reporters came through while working on their Free State Project docuseries, a collection of thirteen-minute videos on a Libertarian manifesto. Some of my story is featured in episode two. You can watch it here .

We live in a time where women can be eccentric without being burnt or drowned for witchcraft. It's safe to be sentimental. Naivety isn't foolishness; perhaps foolishness even is the fuel to a successful trip. The world has always been dangerous. Always will be dangerous. But where has fear gotten anyone?  I've been on the road for five months.  I hope to never pay for a hotel room while I could car camp. My flax cat and piles of wool and down linen duvet is so much more comfortable than any sanitized (or lice-ridden) hotel bed.  I've stayed with many  strangers.  I never pay for a hotel room: I've spent weeks car camping. I've stayed in several major cities. I've parked at rest stops, gas stations, churches, and restaurants.   Here is what I've done to prevent car burglary:  1. Never lock doors  Locking doors prevents nothing (or presumes I have something worth stealing).  Locked doors incite broken windows.  I've locked my c...

It was Halloween night and I was around a campfire with friends, tatting my lace. A friend leans toward me and whispers, "Were you homeschooled?"  I giggled, holding up my tatting. "Is it obvious?"  He laughs, "Yes."  How many stitches are in this quilt? Probably as many miles I've traveled. And yes, this quilt is marked with the memory of many places seen.  I've reached that five-year deadline, and it's not quite done yet. I'd just finished getting the quilt mostly together last year.  I worked on a lot of other projects throughout spring and summer but began working on tatting some lace mid-June.  End of August I decided to go on a five-month road trip. My quilt was still not finished, and I didn't want to bring all of it with me. I labored every spare quiet moment and finished quilting it by end of September using a large embroidery hoop, thimble, and thread. I often had to wear bandages on other fingers . . . my callouse...

I'm in that last stride before stepping homeward.  I've been accepted into a six-week work study program at the John C Campbell Folk School, and my second week is half over. It's one of the fairest work exchanges I've ever found myself doing. We work three weeks for lodging, food, and for up to three weeks of classes plus two weekend classes. But even the "work" is arranged to be pleasant, if you don't mind sharing some full-hearted effort. I've grown at least half a muscle in each arm, and I've been much too busy to do anything except soak in abundant opportunity. The staff like to let you know the place is haunted by friendly ghosts. Last night my roommate and I awoke to find our bedroom door wide open, so maybe it's true. I like the idea of Olive's ghost watching over the place, walking through the gardens, and visiting the students in all her favorite places. This school seems to have a theme of unnecessary but a...