In the 60s and 70s we learned to homestead, to be self sufficient and to depend on ourselves for what we needed. We longed to be away from the suburban sprawls that had sprung up in our desire to be away from the humdrum small towns and family farms our grandparents had grown up on. As we moved into the 80s and 90s we maintained our personal isolation. We moved from house to car to job and back again without more than a nod to the neighbors. We didn't know their names or their problems and we didn't want to. If we needed something we ordered it on the Internet from a store that did not even exist in the real world.

Now, in the 21st century we are realizing that there is weakness in our personal strength. We are dependent on fossil fuels and imported oil like never before. If the electricity goes off we are isolated and alone, even in the middle of the city, we are surrounded in real life by strangers while people we never have seen are considered our friends. We must learn to live locally.

Living locally is simply returning to the small town mentality that we are our brothers' keeper. Living locally means contributing to the local economy, working close to where we live, being a part of the community we live in.

By relearning how to live locally we will be less dependent on others. Living locally might mean that you take a pay cut and work close to home, and yet have more money over all because you are able to ride a bike to work.

During World War Two our parents and grandparents automatically learned to depend on each other. Victory gardens produced vegetables, most homes had chickens for eggs, even in the cities. Gasoline was rationed and rather than complaining people rode bikes or walked. Even though there was less isolation there was more independence as people learned to do without certain items. Houses were built that were smaller than the looming Victorians of the past. The new, modern bungalows were more efficient in every way.

This lifestyle is one of sustainability and conservation. It is one that is easy on the environment and able to survive major economic changes such as are expected in the next decade. Living locally is a frugal option now, but may be a necessity in the future.

Supporting local business sounds easy enough but what does that look like? Is shopping at the local Wal-Mart the same as supporting local business? What about things that can't be gotten locally?

There are several areas that living locally entails. For some one or two will be a challenge but for others most of the ideas will be met with acceptance. Even making small changes will ultimately make big differences.

• Begin to think about transportation differently. Fossil fuels are not the only problem, the way we use transportation is the problem. For too many years people have driven to their next door neighbors and the result of that can be seen in our obesity and polluted air. Bicycles are inexpensive, don't require gasoline or insurance and help maintain a healthy body. They are a great option for local travel.
• Think about food differently. Living locally means to get as much of your food as possible within a 100 mile radius. The closer the better. Put in a vegetable garden and grow what you can. Water the garden with your own saved gray water and make compost from your cooking scraps. Keep a couple of chickens for eggs if your area allows it. Look around for a dairy that is local. Cow's milk may be hard to find but goat's milk might be easier as more people are raising dairy goats. Many people are not licensed to sell milk but there are ways to barter for it.

• Think about energy in a local way. Can you obtain solar or wind generators? Learn how to do things by hand, not because you necessarily have to but because it is good to know how to.
• With fuel prices skyrocketing the age of transport is coming to an end, at least as we know it. By supporting local craftsmen now there will be a ready supply of craftsmen in our area in the future. For example, the local seamstress is a luxury now but what if mass produced goods made in china become obsolete?
• Learn the lost arts. Bread-making, canning, sewing, quilting, knitting, carpentry- many of these things are rare these days. It is just too easy to run and buy a sweater that was produced in ten minutes on a machine.

• Practice voluntary simplicity. It is voluntary now, later it might not be.
• Have a well dug. You know, I used to worry about well water being clean. We recently got a notice that our city water had flunked inspections by the state but the letter went on to say that we should not worry but continue to drink it. Right.
• Make an effort to get to know and build relationship with your neighbors.
• Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!

Really, living locally is a more definitive way of living simply. It is taking living simply into the community and saying," In order to thrive we need each-other's strengths."