We have been laser-focused on repairing our finances throughout the life of this blog, so it makes sense that there would be many, many posts about frugality and side hustles. However, one of the reasons we work so hard is to have more time for family, travel, and hobbies. As we inch closer to finally achieving our goal of financial semi-independence, it’s been refreshing to finally allow myself to indulge in planning for my future extracurricular activities – even if it is something completely new and spontaneous.
I taught myself how to crochet around the time that this blog was born, back in 2014 or 2015. In looking for a crochet baby blanket for the impending arrival, the choices on Etsy were just too expensive for our budget at that time. I decided to watch some YouTube videos to see what was involved and found myself thinking, “Oh, I can do that!” Now, I love to crochet. I joke that it is my “anti-anxiety medication,” because there is something almost meditative about the process. And, there is an added benefit that something productive comes out of it.
My plans for our near future, with more living and less working, have always included crochet. I look forward to making more items, for our family, for gifts, and probably my own Etsy shop. I’m also excited about trying things like spinning my own yarn and learning how to knit. I was even reading up about Angora rabbits the other night (since we’re going to have a homestead with other animals anyways).
Now, after a serendipitous discovery on Facebook, it looks like I will also be learning how to weave on a loom. A very nice, elderly woman was looking for a home for an antique loom – for free! I always have a hard time passing up things that are being given away, especially if they might otherwise wind up in a landfill. Mr. Smith graciously agreed to go pick up the behemoth and with some reorganizing, it is now living in our garage.
Yes. This is very, very random. The neighbors are definitely convinced that we are totally nuts now – the family with a school bus in the driveway and a giant old loom in the garage. Oh well. I absolutely LOVE this historical tool for creating fiber products. It will take some work to fix her up and figure out how to get weaving, but it should be a fun project. The loom is the Weaver’s Friend model and was manufactured by the Reed Loom Company sometime in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.
The really funny thing is that we just visited a local historical village last month and they had someone operating an old loom during our tour. It was so neat and interesting; but I never really considered running out to buy an antique loom. And then, surprise!
I was showing off some of my finished crochet creations to a neighbor the other day, and she commented, “Don’t you have a job?” Why yes, I do have a job, which is the problem. While I can dabble in different hobbies, there are only so many hours in the day. We’ve been working towards a life with more flexibility and the freedom to be frivolous and indulgent with our time. With a full-time job, it is very difficult to follow all of your passions, and I have a lot of interests and seem to keep discovering more of them. For example, I want to learn all different crafts/fiber arts; languages; beekeeping; how to raise chickens; and more about gardening, herbs, and types of food preservation. Then, of course there are the regular responsibilities of home and family, as well as travel and adventures. Fortunately, we are getting ready to transition to frugal living supported by part-time work, side hustles, and rental property income, giving us more of the most precious commodity in the world: Time.
After years of being responsible and sacrificing, I will be able to follow the passions that excite me. It’s wonderful, invigorating, and a relief to see that finish line up ahead.
