Urban Poly Princess

Looove my Thursdays because they R the start of my weekend. I didn't want to turn on the heater during the Summer so last night I slept in the sweater I wore yesterday AND used my comforter too.

I finally did talk to my dean about being raised on a farm. It reminds  me a lot of the stock market. You project what you will produce in terms of milk or meat and try to predict what these will sell at later but Eli said when you plan for this there's no way to determine what these prices will ultimately turn out to be. This is why although there is some degree of specialization it is rare to put all you efforts into just one venture. This is like buying a variety of and having a diverse portfolio of stocks. You minimize your loss by investing in diverse items. You have the potential to make more when you put all your efforts in one area but the potential for complete loss is also there.

My dad was a contractor so I'm well aquainted with the feast or famine thing but that is consistent with any business. The potential for huge profit is there but it is also there for huge loss. During the "feast" moments you shouldn't spend wildly so during times of famine and/or slim profits you are fine. ANY business that has huge dividends will ALSO have the accompanying risk. Bryan said they had about 100 milkcows and an equal number of meat cattle. The farm he grew up on was maintained by he, his brother and dad. Their farming uncle, a couple cousins and his grandfather would also help. They helped at their uncle and grandfather's farms too and they didn't have to hire outside help. They had to milk their cows twice a day and Bryan said it took between 2-3 hours to milk them all.

Eli said with corporate farming it is very different. Eli had lots of different animals on the farm he grew up on. Bryan said they just had cattle, dogs, cats and I think horses. Bryan's farm is in Idaho and he said they grow hay? on it now. He lives in Logan with his wife and son so I don't think he's involved much although he said when his dad died he owns it now but he doesn't own any animals.

I consider Logan isolation although Corinne and the part of Idaho I don't remember that Bryan grew up in really is that. Wellsville is close to Logan so it does offer some alternatives although these are limited and definitely not diverse. I think it would be a nice place to grow up ALTHOUGH I don't think it would work for me. Diversity is severely lacking. This is probably the whitest valley I've ever lived in. It is Utah so the church is everywhere which is nice, BUT I think what I hate about isolation is how easy it is to limit your view and forget about being a part of a larger world. Sameness can be stifling. People are friendly. People are nice BUT I think unless you make a concerted effort you can live in a safe little bubble without a care about the rest of the world. While I enjoy that I have always lived around church hubs, it is important to know people who don't share our experiences and faith.

I like that I attended 5 different elementary schools and that I lived in Hawaii, Utah and in Tonga when I was young. I am grateful for the perspective it gives me.