I realized I should be straight about where I’m actually starting from, not pretend I’ve got it all figured out.

Here’s the honest state of things.

Energy

Current state: Regular grid-tied house, electric bill around $150/month. I’ve done some basic efficiency stuff (LEDs, sealing leaks) but nothing major.

Working toward: Solar setup that covers a meaningful chunk of my usage. Looking at both small starter systems and full installations. Haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet.

What I’ve learned so far: The math works on paper but there are a lot of variables (roof condition, local regulations, utility policies) that make every situation unique.

Food

Current state: Small garden, just started planting an orchard. Definitely not feeding myself from what I grow. Still heavily dependent on grocery stores.

Working toward: Expanding the garden every season. Learning preservation (canning, dehydrating). Building up to where I’m growing a real portion of my own food.

What I’ve learned so far: Everything takes longer than you think. My first garden season was humbling. Lots of things didn’t grow. But I learned a ton.

Money

Current state: Employed, have some savings, no passive income to speak of. Working on reducing expenses and building skills that could generate income.

Working toward: Multiple income streams so I’m not dependent on a single employer. Not trying to get rich – just trying to not be one layoff away from panic.

What I’ve learned so far: Cutting expenses is more powerful than I expected. The “latte factor” is mostly a myth – it’s the big fixed costs (housing, transportation, insurance) that really matter.

Skills

Current state: Can handle basic home repairs and some intermediate projects. Decent with computers. Not great with engines, plumbing, or electrical.

Working toward: Being able to handle more of my own maintenance and repairs. Learning as things break, basically.

What I’ve learned so far: YouTube and a willingness to try will get you surprisingly far. I’ve fixed several things I would have paid someone else for a year ago.

The timeline

I’m thinking about this in years, not weeks. Here’s my rough plan:

Months 1-3: Energy audit, garden planning, expense tracking Months 4-6: First solar quotes, expand garden, start side income exploration Months 7-12: Make solar decision, second garden season, evaluate what’s working

I’ll be writing about all of this as it happens. The successes and the failures.