Homesteading Misnomer

-Running water and electricity preclude this place from homestead status: Dangit!

The word "homesteading" is thrown around pretty loosely these days by the fine folks at places like The History Channel, National Geographic and most of the TV shows about Alaska (my favorite DVR category is Alaska).

In my view, living on a few acres of land just outside the city limits and within a fairly short drive to a grocery store does not qualify as homesteading.  Also, if you're able to watch Naked and Afraid (perhaps one of the all-time stupidest ideas for a TV show) or have internet access, you're probably not a real homesteader.

To qualify for homesteader-status there should be some basic qualifications; like no electricity or running water for starters.  Also, if you have an online bank account, curbside garbage/recycle pickup or routinely shop at Piggly Wiggly, you're homesteading status should be called into question.  Not that there's anything wrong with having amenities or buying your bacon, eggs and milk from a store.
But by definition, homesteading is about living without amenities.

Most of the folks who will read this post over the coming years will likely have electricity and indoor plumbing.  It's also likely they won't be overly concerned with what life-style category the good folks at Old and Ridiculous put them in.  But that doesn't mean they don't care.  And I have several reasons to believe that most actual homesteaders will appreciate someone taking a stand on their behalf.

With all this in mind, I'm for redefining homesteading to mean you:
1) live off the land
b) barter as a means of acquiring stuff and
trace) don't shop in a store more than maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

Now this is just a suggestion--not a mandate.  I'm in no position to mandate anything, especially another person's living status.  But for my money, I'm going with "They live in the country" versus "They're homesteaders".  As a note, I'd be willing to reconsider any homesteader situations that are brought to my attention providing that, for starters, the folks in question are willing to give up their indoor toilet and homogenized milk.  If that's the case, I'll convene a special quorum with Nick-Nick-Nick and Klietus and we'll get back with you.  In the meantime I'll try to keep you posted.

Post Script:  If we've offended anyone who considers themselves a homesteader even though you have a weekly standing appointment with the fine folks at Hull Dermatology and pay your monthly connectivity bill on-line while waiting to have your oil changed at WaltonMart's "Not So Fast Tire and Lube Express", you have our sincere apologies.

NOTE:  In this post I've used words like our and we instead of my and I because it makes us (me) sound more like a group.  Which, incidentally, is another old business trick.  Using the word "group" in your business name sounds like a big organization instead of just one person.  Kind of like being a LinkedIn CEO (me and half the folks I know:) or the founder of a LinkedIn company (also me and half the folks I know).  Not that there's anything wrong with that...