A slower lifestyle

Living in the United States we commonly use certain words that represent some very deep values of our country. One of these words is "Freedom."

We have been blessed to have many freedoms here in the United States: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms, among others. We also often hear the word freedom in reference to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I would like to propose another way of viewing freedom: freedom from time. I often find myself being trapped by my lifestyle, by my commitments, and by my possessions. It is time constraints that are most trapping in my life. Time most often dictates how my decisions are made and determines what food I will eat, how I travel, and how I interact with my friends and peers. Unfortunately it always comes at expense to the quality of these things. If I still want that quality then I must pay more. This then comes at the expense of my bank account, in accordance with the theory that anything you can have or do is a balance of three different factors: Cost, Time in preparation, and Quality. For example, you could have something with a high quality and in a short amount of time, but it will be expensive, or something fast, cheap, and low quality. If you are one of those with little money who want high quality, I hope you have time to cook your own food. Another way to express this theory is Product Expense Now vs. Increased Satisfaction.

So my response to this rushed, expensive lifestyle is to maintain the importance of quality but take the priority off of time. When driving home I rarely drive on Interstate 81; though it is faster, driving Route 11 is certainly more enjoyable. I also live in a house where we prepare and eat our meals together every weeknight. Recently I've tried to think of other ways to allow time to increase my quality of life with no expense to my wallet. What follows is an account of a small and timeless experiment in a slower lifestyle.

On Saturday four of my friends and I rode our bicycles to Staunton, Va. We took back roads and spent roughly two hours getting there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, but enjoyment was not the lone purpose of our ride. We were headed for the Queen's City Brewery. In addition to brewing and selling their own beer, they have a program where you can go make your own beer. Here, finally, is an inexpensive way to have fine quality beverages. It's understandable that as college students living on smaller budgets we often go for the relative inexpensiveness of Keystone Light (rumored to be the best of the "cheap beers" and only $10 a case, roughly 42 cents a can) but why? Keystone is readily available at most college parties, yet it is tasteless, watery, and leaves much to be desired.

For those with a stabler, larger income, there are more options. Dogfish Head brand ales are available at the Downtown Wine and Gourmet, located at 20 West Water St. These are fine, full beers, but cost a staggering $2.25 a bottle. For that price you could purchase five cans of Keystone (I still don't think I'd want to). These, however, are both "Now" (from my earlier theory) beers. If we are willing to spend a little time at Queen's City, we can follow the easy instructions and use the help of their friendly staff to brew our own high quality beer. This past weekend my friends and I brewed two batches one of a triple Belgian Ale, and an Indian Pale Ale, FULL of wheat, hops, and FLAVOR. How much did these beers cost? Just 63 cents a bottle.

I am worried about the state of our country, our demand on the immediate and our carelessness about quality. To that I say slow down, relax, and have a beer.