[SustainableTompkins] relocalization

[Margaret McCasland]

I think the main reason efforts should primarily be local is because 
local is the best place to replace consumption with community: seeing 
ourselves as family, friends and neighbors rather than as "consumers."

I have a very generous sister-in-law who is always shopping for other 
folks--always doing things for people, but rarely doing things with 
people (other than shopping). I think she is very typical. We need 
more real ties to real people, with shared activities that happen in 
real time.

But what is your family isn't local?  I hope--when the oil is gone 
and the coal plants are finally shuttered (I'm willing to help)--that 
we still have a version of the internet. I just had a video 
conference with my 18 month old grandson in Australia.  We sang songs 
and read books and I talked with him while he ate his lunch (virtual 
babysitter). Better for many aspects of Earth than flying to visit 
him.

I remember attending one of Elan's simplicity workshops in about 
2000. When people shared why they were there, it was very clear that 
most people weren't so much looking to have less stuff as they were 
looking for more meaningful connections with people--more community.