Category: Germany
This is a repost, here is the original post from December 2009. I have edited it to reflect where we are now with all of our stuff.
“A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.”
George Carlin.
Stuff. It fills our lives right up to the edge. Think about all the stuff you have. Especially as a parent. You have the stuff you need and then there is the rest of it. We are so guilty of it, and by we I mean me and my husband. We aren’t the type to just shop and fill our spaces, but when you have children, and you have friends & family, stuff just flows your way. We have a house filled with stuff and we have a barn filled with stuff. Stuff we need and stuff we don’t. But we have gotten better about weeding through it all over the past few years, whittling it down. Making donations twice a year. But it can take over your life if you let it.
I spent three weeks in Germany this past August with my family, and one thing I noticed right off the bat there – all the solar panels. Everywhere. Thousands of them! On businesses, farms, small and large homes, in big cities and in rural towns. I had some serious solar panel envy.
I thought I would look further into why so many people had taken the solar leap.
Now that I’m back from my extended stay with family in Germany, I’d like to share with everyone some of the greener aspects of the German lifestyle that I would love to see here in the United States.
Let’s start with recycling!
As I sit on a plane bound for Boston, I have plenty of time to reflect on my 3 weeks in Germany with my family.
If you read my blog, you know I opted out of putting the kids in day camp for a couple of weeks this summer. Instead, we went to Germany to spend time with my father, stepmother. My children’s Oma & Opa. I have the best memories of the summer I spent with my Oma & Opa, summer of 1982.
I knew it would be good for us to get out of our comfort zone. I’m 40 and plenty set in my ways. My days have a routine that (mostly) works for me and my family. I needed a jolt out of my perfectly content place.
Like I said before, I am away from home, in Germany with my family. I’ve been staying with my parents since August 8, and my husband is (finally!) joining us this Thursday. Some quick updates…
It isn’t always easy traveling with children, especially mine who aren’t open to trying new foods. They eat quite a few peanut butter sandwiches. And Nutella. On the other hand, I’m eating very well! Lots of bread and cheese. There is a fresh bakery on every corner. Germans take pride in buying small amounts of fresh bread a few times a weeks.
