Nicole Lorenz

I am thrilled that my life experience led me to the redeeming point of a worthy contributor on Self Reliance Works!  I am grateful and humbled to write with and for such a fine caliber of people.

I hope I give you much to ponder, and I hope you can glean even a little from my articles. Self reliance was not a concept I thought much about until  recently – you know, the last decade or so, and my, how it has flown.

Growing up in a bustling suburban city where every modern convenience was relatively close and cheap, we ignored any disquieting thoughts of economically depressive times.  Sadly, the wars I’ve lived through were simply blips on my radar screen, mere sound bytes heard while flipping the radio dial on the way to the mall.  I definitely came after the greatest generation, and have never seen a victory garden.  Until I needed to trade in my cute little pinstriped pick-up for a real car to harness a baby seat into did I give any thought to preparedness of any kind.

Today I can proudly say I’ve made an about-face in almost every imaginable way.  It’s almost comical.  Politics and religion aside – although know these did not escape a metamorphosis either – I now avoid malls like a plague.  Same with credit cards, and debt of any kind.  I grew up in the “Me” generation and can proudly say I’ve outgrown the trappings of all that comes with it.  We choose to not own a television and I am learning one step at a time how to redeem my time, my poor choices and my education.

All my education was in state-run schools, yet we now choose to home school our children.  I spent all my growing-up years in the same city, precinct, neighborhood, and house, yet we now move around the country.  A lot.  We live full time in an R.V. and claim the title of road schoolers, meaning we home school on the road.  Many of my articles will address the needs and concerns that come along with our particular lifestyle.

I must give most of the credit to my husband who loves me with patience and endurance in spite of my quirks.  Our whole life together has been one of challenges and change, yet even as he is the impetus for all (or nearly all) of the changes, his steadfast resolve allows me room to grow.  My steadfast resolve came from my parents.  As for my children, my mother says we deserve them.  Our family looks hopefully and joyfully toward the future as we prepare for whatever may come.