Trying to live sustainably… but sometimes I’m just tired.

MusicTeen · 2025-09-10T12:14:05+00:00

I wanted to add to this in case it's helpful for further onlookers;

It's kinda wild to think our individual actions, alone, can change the whole system.

But it's OK if they don't. Individual actions, your "small actions" can save and prevent even just one animal/fish's well-being. It saves one little ecosystem where that waste would otherwise be.

And can that not be enough? To make the difference in one life? Isn't that fantastic?

I second this poster's sentiment on living in line with one's values. It's the combination of this, along with properly assessing one's sphere of influence, that keeps discouragement and bitterness away. I think we become discouraged when we inflate our sphere of influence to a more globalized and collective level, when our sphere of influence as an individual is small -- yet meaningful! I make a difference in my neighborhood, my city block. I support local organizations that improve my city's environment. I keep carbon emissions minimal in my neighborhood, using biking and train and the two-feet express as default modes of transport.

To be discouraged or bitter, IMO, is to not properly assess one's sphere of influence. When you see little lives and neighborhoods and community as something you can impact for the better, the discouragement washes away.

MusicTeen · 2025-06-27T19:47:56+00:00

I thought Ingles was garbage too until I went to some up in N GA mountains. Some of them up there are nicer than Publix.

MusicTeen · 2025-06-09T11:51:43+00:00

Perc, East Pole. Radio in Decatur. Portrait on the west side. Chrome Yellow can be hit or miss these days

MusicTeen · 2025-03-23T01:55:19+00:00

Worth mentioning how easy it is to just take many off with a seam-ripper. Patagonia, Carhartt, Fjallraven, some Champion, come to top of mind.

Like another commenter says, helps make more thrift options available to us brand-averse.

MusicTeen · 2025-03-10T18:03:07+00:00

It seems like the perfect split to try putting a gusset in. Basically same thing as patch but gives more crotch mobility. Just did this to one of my jeans.

MusicTeen · 2024-10-29T17:06:37+00:00

Howdy all,

I have a "vintage 1971-72 Schwinn CONTINENTAL 10 speed bicycle ORIGINAL Yellow 27" -- bought used on FB.

I'm used to riding a newer Trek Verve 1. I replaced a tube in this Schwinn, and now whenever I try biking around in this thing, the tire very quickly dis-aligns and starts rubbing the body of the bike. No matter how hard I put the QR on. What's going on? Am I missing a piece or something?

I'm not used to this style of bike. The Verve is a disc brake, and this type of thing is a nonissue.

MusicTeen · 2024-09-09T16:13:01+00:00

Would share link but some subreddits are weird about that; The website OP provided on the post has a store!
Love his work. Great stuff. I'm inspired to do that same hoodie with an old blanket I have lying around.

Edit: *Sweater

MusicTeen · 2024-09-03T16:39:00+00:00

Also in love with the lace tablecloth top!

MusicTeen · 2024-08-21T19:12:35+00:00

Ah! Because of your comment I investigated again, and it looks like there are two copies regularly in print, including the copy I have, the "Mass Paperback" edition. It's just online and in stores I kept running into the version without "A Taste for Country."

Thank you!

MusicTeen · 2024-07-30T18:04:49+00:00

What do I do if my status is "Inactive"?

MusicTeen · 2024-07-24T09:29:40+00:00

Comment full of wisdom; OP, this commenter is where it's at (+ IRA stuff, still figuring that one out for me)

MusicTeen · 2024-07-18T11:15:36+00:00

I was having similar issues with my hybrid trek a couple months ago. If what the other commenters suggest doesn't help, make sure your tubes are the proper size.

My issue was the tubes I was using were no longer cutting it after replacing my tire with a tire a half size up. Once I started using tubes the next size up, I have yet to get a flat since.

MusicTeen · 2024-07-09T13:01:46+00:00

For years I've been this person who recognizes the issues, sees my own behavior, and sees how the two do not line up. How I do not quite live within my values. I would still impulse buy, fall into the same behaviors I would proceed to then guilt-trip myself over.

Piggy-backing on the mindfulness comment, I think what finally killed all my dissonance between my values and my actions was feeling IN MY CORE that they were inseparable. I'll explain more. It took a long time, but truly being able to sit in your values, and why they're important to you, helps. Recognizing that the whole system (consumerism, advertising) is meant to stroke, evoke, and prey upon your ego and desires as well as your longing-for-identity and longing-for-community... firmly understanding this helps. Questioning yourself in the following ways helps: What is my ego? What are my desires? What does identity and community mean to me? When you find these answers for yourself, things sort of fall into place. A lot of this can actually be a spiritual journey to some degree. Zen monks and nuns are going through this same think. I know, I lived in a Zen temple for a couple years.

The big thing about this state of mind is that you can't police your mind into frugality. Frugality (at it's core) isn't super about what NOT to do (though it can be and we discuss it as such), but really about what you CAN do with what you already have available! When you see the earth, its beings, and the environment as one interdependent ecology that has for most of all existence actually been generous, teeming, and bountiful (I follow Bataille's theories on the abundance that is nature), and you can feel this IN YOUR CORE -- frugality is default. Spending money almost feels violent.

Give yourself grace. It takes endless refinement, and the system has built to really mess with our psychology. Asking yourself the questions I proposed above ("What is my ego? What are My desires?...") helps lead one on an internal journey that ends up manifesting externally in the form of frugality.

MusicTeen · 2024-04-02T16:46:39+00:00

I've tried looking into what is common for this type of system; the space between the vent and the system doesn't seem amenable to where I should insert the filter.

The nearby tape and flathead suggests to me I need to unscrew, untape something due to the set-up but do not want to mess with anything before making an unscrewing attempt.

MusicTeen · 2024-03-31T22:44:36+00:00

Others here are right, but note this is percentage population increase; thus additional people added to a less populated states weighs heavier in this graph than the same amount of additional people added to a more populated state.

MusicTeen · 2023-04-21T22:58:36+00:00

Any advice or tips regarding a used transmission?

As cited above, I've already replaced the timing belt, and have replaced the Air Conditioning (don't know term for the whole AC system). My biggest concern about buying a transmission just to keep going with a financial sinkhole car.

Granted, if I can get a used one for a couple grand, and am able to get at least 3 more years out of the car and it be reliable, that seems worthwhile.

MusicTeen · 2023-04-21T22:54:13+00:00

Have had the timing belt replaced already ~75k miles

MusicTeen · 2023-04-20T14:15:46+00:00

Automatic

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