dreams
So I am sitting here this morning, enjoying coffee, and conjuring up hair brained ideas of a home. Not just any home, but the model home of sustainability. This begins of course selfishly because I want to own a home and unfortunately cannot fathom that in the near future, but crazier things have happened and I am trying to be creative an think of ways to make my dream come true, rational and realistic, or not 
But just for a second, let’s imagine I had really deep pockets. My dream home would be a converted commercial space, maybe a warehouse or a gas station, in the city of Portland. Maybe in an industrial area, perhaps inner east side, but somewhere accessible to the inner city. This lot would have a reasonable sized living area and a realtively large space for outdoor living and farming. My goal would be to show how you can take an industrial lot and turn it into a self sustaining mini environment in the middle of a bustling city. I can’t imagine a better place for this to happen, than Portland.
The project would embrace all forms of sustainability from deconstruction, reusing/recycling, green building technologies and materials, energy efficient appliances, solar and wind power, grey water recycling, urban agriculture, raising small livestock in the city, complete stormwater management, and a gazillion other things.
Now let’s realize the obvious, I have no money to do something like this and am no where close to being in a situation where I could even make this a reality. I project something like this would cost $1-$2 million dollars. I could be way off in either direction. I mean afterall what is the point of doing all of this if it is not cost effective and reasonable for other people to employ these strategies in their own homes.
If someone were to fund a house for me and let me be in charge of the process, trusting that the ultimate vision would be achieved, I would be more than willing to blog about the process and make my home open to the public as a learning center to promote green building practices and sustainable living as a whole. Or possibly other ideas that make it a model for the community.
Where oh where could I even find people willing to invest in some crazy idea like this? I suppose, at least a girl can dream…………
Well it never hurts to dream and who knows, someday it might come true. I’m just happy you are blogging. You are so far away and I get to see you so seldom it is hard for me to know what’s in your head, and where you want your life to go. Keep dreaming.