Forging Time: The Backstory
In May of 2020, two months into the pandemic, my husband and I came to the abrupt decision to move from the Denver area to Durango, Colorado, which had long been our dream. We were the privileged ones; we still had jobs and these jobs came with the flexibility to support our daughters' online Montessori lessons (oxymoron anyone?). We were suddenly remote employees and it seemed indefinite.
Like all decisions made over multiple glasses of wine, there were unexpected hiccups along the way; my mother became very sick from surgical complications, spent two months in the hospital, entered hospice, and then made a miraculous turnaround; after we sold our home the four of us moved back to my hometown to care for my mother; we finally made it to Durango in December 2020 but had to find two temporary rentals while finding a permanent home in this crazy housing market; our daughters then 6 and 8 were not ready to leave the Denver area, especially our eldest who was quite angry after we moved four times and started a new school. After all of this, I do sit writing this post from my home office in Durango. We made it.
So why did we do this? We wanted more time to do the things that feed our souls and make life worth getting up for each day: more time with our girls, more time for each other, more time for friends and family, more time for creative and outdoor pursuits. I also was diagnosed with MS in 2016 and the fatigue is very real; an 8 - 10 hour workday is no longer realistic for me (but is it really realistic for anyone?). As any modern working parent will tell you, making time for the important things feels fleeting and unrealistic given we live in a system that doesn't always fairly compensate us for work and leaves us little leisure time for the things that matter.
This is where the idea of forging time came along:
To Forge (from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary) - to form or bring into being especially by an expenditure of effort.
Forging Time is an experiment (like all small businesses?) to see if there might be ways to earn a living outside of an employer, to support the need to be creative, and to build a community with others who are looking to forge their own time.
Our first product aligns to my deep passion for gardening and growing food. My husband jokes that I will not be satisfied until I have achieved total vertical integration of our food supply. The Year-Round Gardening Calendar is the tool I have been missing to cue myself all year round to move closer to the total vertical integration of our dinner plate. This year's calendar is a start and each year as I learn more and grow more so too will future calendars. Remember, I am starting with a blank slate in my new Durango garden, so there are many new lessons on the horizon.
So proud of you Sarah! As your mother who had a pretty tough time last year medically, thank you for forging time for our family. It made all the difference in my recovery. I believe your idea is so warranted in this day and age. We tend to believe that our modern world is providing all we need. In truth, we are moving further & further away from what truly matters to make our lives whole & satisfying. Time is the key ingredient in developing strong people connections which is all that really matters in this life.
Good luck in your endeavor, Sarah! It is ‘timely’ and such very important work: to show people a better way to ‘forge’ their way into a more gratifying existence.
Love you so, Mom
Sarah you are a bright spirit. I love that you are doing what is right for your family and realize the things that really matter. Your sis shared your link on FB. I went down Westwater with you and took your pictures in the Room of Doom. 😋 Good luck to you in your new adventure and good health.
Best wishes, Kesha, for you and you delightful family in your quest! I love what all of you are doing!