Drinking and Walking is Legal: Though not Endorsed as Safe by this Blog

Don't worry, my faithful readers, I didn't abandon you or my 66 day goal! My birthday was this weekend, and I didn't get a chance to write. However, I did do 3 'g' thangs-one for every day since last we 'met.'

1) Josh and I participated in a community event (Indiana Brewers Guild Craft Beer Fest!). I think that in today's world a lot of people feel isolated. By that, I mean that people used to know their neighbors and care about what happened in their communities. Even when people didn't like their neighbors, I think that they cared about each other because they felt connected enough to realize that they were all fellow human beings and that they were stronger together than apart. People were more involved in their communities because they felt a sense of ownership towards them. Why a sense of ownership then but not now? Decades ago people were born, bred, and dead in the same location for the most part. This made them connected to the location and, in turn, to the other people in that location. Now, people move for work and all sorts of other reasons, and they are often in one location for only a handful of years. This mobility makes any given home/community potentially temporary, and this feeling of "temporary" makes people less inclined to form attachments within their communities. This is unfortunate because all opportunities for connection, whether temporary or permanent, are valuable. They make life rich and fulfilling rather than empty and lonely.

Communities weaken when people don't invest (not merely financial investment) in them. If communities weaken, then so do the people living in them. For instance, one person spouting ideas to herself in the bathroom mirror can enact little change, but a group of 5 people spouting ideas has 5 times the influence needed enact change. Community events bring people of the community together. They make people feel connected to each other. Community events make stronger communities, and stronger communities make a better world. Plus, they're a great place to meet and make friends!

2) We walked to and from Beer Fest rather than drove. Cars create pollution. Feet don't create pollution. A good rule of thumb for reducing pollution caused by transportation is to always use the slowest form of transportation possible. Is there a bus stop near your house? Do you have time to take the bus with others rather than drive your own separate car to buy milk? If yes, then take the bus because it's going that way anyway. Your car, on the other hand, doesn't have to start at all. Was Beer Fest a mere 1.2 miles away? Yes, it was. So, we walked. Nevermind the 95 degree heat... haha It's nothing a good beer can't make you forget!

3) Josh took me shopping for my birthday! My birthday presents were purchased locally. I know I've written about local shopping before, but "goodgollymissmollie" shared a link about the topic with me that I think is worth passing on. :) The 350 Project has some great stats regarding why shopping locally is a better choice than national chains or online shopping. For example, $63 of every $100 spent locally returns to the community. In national chains, only $43 goes back into the community. Nothing goes into the community when we shop online.