katlupe's Thoughts For The Future

Leaves Changing Color and Falling

As summer slips into fall, I contemplate some changes I am making in my life. In the course of uncluttering my house, I was selling items on eBay. Yes, I sold off a lot of things, but the time and money spent on eBay was not conducive to what or how I want my life to go. Especially at my age now, in my sixties. I want less stress and a more relaxed lifestyle. That was not how to attain it. So I have stopped selling on eBay or anywhere for that matter. I am still getting rid of stuff but just taking it to my local thrift store.

Tree Tops Around my Yard

I like to write and that is what I am best at. This is the pursuit that suits me best. Writing my thoughts, as on this blog, or describing my lifestyle on my other two blogs. As all my readers know, I wrote two cookbooks which are still for sale on Amazon in the Kindle store. I would like to add a paper book version of both of those using Amazon's Create Space option eventually. Some of my Facebook friends brought to my attention that they would like me to continue my story on my Enduring Word blog, which I haven't written on in a very long time. So I shall look into that too.

Peaceful Forest

On the home front, I am desperate to clear out a bit of space in this crowded house for a small exercise area. Long before I moved here, in my previous life, I had a whole exercise room that was devoted to all my equipment. I used free weights and had a few pieces of other equipment. When I ended up divorced, I had no place for that equipment in a city apartment. I still have the hand weights and would like to buy a new incline/decline bench and a recumbent bike. I am really feeling the need for a regular exercise program. When I first moved out here, I race walked. Plus I worked at the horse farm where we bought our horses, which was a real exercise program in itself. Now with my knees being in such sad shape, I need to find an alternative. I think this will do it. So I am very hopeful. I found the equipment I need which is not very expensive. Now to make the room!

Copyright © 2016 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2016 Kathleen G. Lupole

Updated 2020

Making Friends Online

Photo Source: Petr Kratochvil

The funny thing about the internet is that you can do your business on it. You can plan your meals from it, from your menus to your recipes to your shopping list. You can broaden your knowledge, getting into some subject and researching it and studying it online. You can do you banking and paying bills on it. Even pay your taxes on it. And you can even make friends on it. "Friends? Oh how can that be?" I can hear you now.

 Photo Source: April Sommers

What is a friend anyway? According to The Free Dictionary it means:

1.  a person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty; an intimate
2.  an acquaintance or associate
3.  an ally in a fight or cause; supporter
4.  a fellow member of a party, society, etc.
5.  a patron or supporter a friend of the opera
6. be friends (with) to be friendly (with)
7. make friends (with) to become friendly (with)

The truth is, that I have had made some very good friends online. In fact, some of them know more about me than ones I know in person. The reason I think that is true is because I am a writer. So when I talk to people in person, it is just that small talk sort of conversation. When you write a email, a blog post or a forum post, you can express yourself much better. No one interrupts you. No one corrects what you are saying. No one acts bored with your conversation. In fact, they really listen (or read). Then they have time to reply back after having looked at your message again if need be. My NY homesteading forum all met online and now we have met each other in person many times. Even been to each others's homes. 

In person, I find that I can't keep up with friendships. I am very busy at home. Driving somewhere to meet for a lunch or dinner is not something I really like to do. In front of my computer, I can devote my time and thoughts on what I am writing. Not worrying about what time it is or how bad the roads are, or if I have enough gas to make it back home. 

Over the years I have met some very awesome people on my computer. I reconnected with some people that I knew in person. Many people that I had lived near and gone to school with. I thought I'd never see any of them again!  Just a few months ago, I reconnected with my own cousin. It seems to me that we get to know each other so much more by writing. It may be an old fashioned method of developing a friendship. Such as letter writing was in the past. But now with the computer and internet, it has become modern technology! 

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2011  Kathleen G. Lupole unless otherwise stated.