Everything Must Go

Trusting beyond what we can see.

I had planned for today’s newsletter to be a follow up to my last one, a continued POV on education, part 2. But alas, plans have shifted. I like to leave space for my dreams to take shape and fulfill what people need, so I have had conversations with many of my future members and listened to counsel from those who have been participants in alternative education communities. Through those conversations it became very clear to me that I am not trying to create a school, but rather a supplemental program to SUPPORT and ENRICH those seeking alternative ways to work and learn. I will revisit these thoughts on “education” in a future newsletter.

Today, I want to share something more personal but still relevant to the movement and the dream of birthing this village.

Due to a sudden change in living circumstances and the need to bootstrap the finishing work on our new tiny home, we’ve been gifted the challenge to pare down even further. If you know me, you know I like a good challenge. 

We may be “van-lifing” for a bit, if all goes as planned (which it almost never does). 

Nearly three years ago we started the journey of purging all our possessions. Going from a 2,000 squarefoot home full of furniture, decor, toys, clothes, kitchen supplies etc. I wouldn’t say we had an exorbitant amount of things, we could fit 2 cars in our garage, and our closets weren’t jam packed…but still, things have a way of hiding when you have enough doors and cabinets to close. 

We sold, we donated, we trashed and “garage-saled” our hearts out, and still we were left with storing some things at family’s homes and in a 10x10 storage unit. Over the course of another year we got all remaining belongings to fit in our 350 square-foot home and a 7x7 shed. 

And here we are today, ready to embark on our next greatest purge. 

In order to prepare for a more nomadic summer, I am going for the suitcase test. If it doesn’t fit in a suitcase, it has gotta go. This means furniture too. The new tiny house we’re building will have mostly all built-ins, so there is no need to hang on to anything anymore. If you need a couch, china cabinet, end tables, etc, just holler. 

I’ll be setting aside a few bins for extra toys, homeschool supplies, winter gear, special china etc, but that’s it.

This is what we believe it takes as founders to do our due diligence and do whatever it takes to launch the village. When we first embarked on this journey, I said “I will camp before I give up on this dream.” Seems God called my bluff, and is challenging me to see how serious I am. So here we go as we head into the unknown with trust and excitement for a better plan.

The startup life isn’t for everyone, you have to be willing to cut costs, overhead, and live like many wouldn’t to build something that most will never have. 

But in our case, we’re building something so that many people CAN have it. This is not a zero-sum game, we can all WIN. 

Our purpose is to help you nourish your purpose.

The path we’re on requires us to not hold traditional jobs, or send our kids to traditional schools, so that we can remain intimately connected to solving the problem independent workers and home-educators face, in real-time. 

We had a photoshoot Tuesday with the talented @gina-reese-photography, and the picture she captured (above) of us walking through the meadow channels some major Von-Trapp Family vibes…you know the final scene when the family retreats into the mountains to pursue freedom? That’s us.

I watched Sound of Music A LOT growing up (thanks mom!), and when I saw this image, the song “Climb Every Mountain” came to mind. It was actually my least favorite from the musical, but for some reason it has been playing over and over in my head this past week. So I revisited the lyrics and felt an immediate connection to the words.

Here they are:

Climb every mountain

Ford every stream

Follow every rainbow

Till you find your dream

A dream that will need

All the love you can give

Every day of your life

For as long as you live

“A dream that will need, all the love you can give.” That hits home.

If you haven’t found a dream that requires all your grit, all your love, all your perseverance, keep working to envision and actualize it.

There is nothing I want more than to support pioneers trailblazing a new path of working, learning and living. I will not rest until the solutions have been actualized.

A good friend of mine turned us onto the show 1883 (prequel to Yellowstone). We absolutely love it. It reminds me that we’re all here living out west because of those who were brave enough to forego safety and comfort and go before us to prepare a new way to live.

When we first made these life changes, we assumed we were stepping into a turnkey life of financial and time freedom but Freedom isn’t Free and it never has been. We had to go through the valley before we could get to the next mountain peak.

We have had to pay our dues in unexpected ways.

Our journey hasn’t been easy, but we know it’s been FOR US, so that we can go before others and make a way. 

I look forward to meeting more of you who seek this new way of life. I am an open book and receptive to guidance, council and feedback. Don’t hesitate to reach out and forge a connection.

Cheers & Peace!

-Brooke

Get in touch: 805 914 7537

P.S. If you’ve got some land or acreage in Ventura County, or North LA County and want to support us….we’re on the search for a new spot to park our tiny home and finish out the build. We’d of course pay monthly rent but are seeking people who truly believe in what we’re doing an understand that these ventures can take time and unexpected turns. Grace upon grace.

Until then, we will most likely be van-lifing and living with family from late June until whenever a new home arises for our Tiny house sanctuary.

Here’s a picture from our van-life adventure nearly 3 years ago that was full of “adventure” we shall just say. Fin’s body language says it all.

And here’s a picture of our tiny home that’s on its way (albeit slowly, to being finished).

HERE’s THE SHELL (pre-windows and siding) we purchased from Tiny Topanga. They did a kick-ass job on this build. Solid trailer, steel structure. It’s well made. It’s going to be GORGEOUS once we get those big windows in everywhere and the reclaimed redwood siding on. PATIENCE is the name of game here, while we seek financial abundance to finish this project. As they say in the startup world, the project will get finished, capital will just help expedite things. This home is our first asset in the business. It will eventually be used as a vacation rental space to community members when we upsize some day.

And here’s a look at ONE Way it can be finished, but we’re letting the availability of materials dictate new finishing looks. If you’re a builder who believes in what we’re doing, get in touch. 805 914 7537| Brooke@freestory.co

If you’d like to help us cross the finish line on this journey, whether it be through investment, labor, resources, please reach out.

Peace out!