Au Cochonnet Marin

Today, the cottage industry is the new voguish trend!
For those unfamiliar with the concept, a cottage industry is a small manufacturing activity practiced at home with your own equipment.

Due to the Coronavirus plague and its dire financial consequences, many people are jumping at the chance to generate some new income. Their guiding mantra is “Find a need and fill it” and they are looking hard at those needs. So now is the ideal time to start your own business… from your kitchen or your garage. Bill Gates did it, why not you?

From the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a shortage of face masks in America and many homepreneurs? jumped at the chance to fill that demand. Anybody with a sewing machine could manage it and many people (my wife included) did it. The field is now getting crowded with big outfits horning in.

But this is not the only product offering cottage industry opportunities.

I did a little research on that subject and Google presented me with a few possibilities.
In the products area, I found that toilet paper, deodorant, disposable diapers, shampoo, hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, t-shirts and socks, were very much in demand. But I don’t see an opportunity there for myself.

Then there is knitting, sewing, baking, soap making, noodles making…
This is Tamara’s line, and she is very good at it… especially the knitting and the baking… I will leave this field to her.

In personal services, I saw on-line tutoring, freelance writing, proofreading, marriage counseling, mental health treatment, masseuse, personal waxing… Occupations more in tune with my experience and capabilities.

I don’t want to brag, but I think that I could do some of those things… especially the massage thing and the mental health gig. We have a good ironing board at home and because of my pétanque experience, I have a solid grip. I guarantee satisfaction… especially if you are  beauty contest material.

As far as mental health issues are concerned, I have seen enough movies to adequately deal with this. My patient will lie on a couch… I will sit out of sight, at a social distance of course, and I will listen to him/her, without ever interrupting.

Soon my watch will vibrate indicating the end of the session. I will say as they do in movies “your time is up” and I will collect my fee (below the standard rate). My client will leave satisfied, having unburdened his/herself without being interrupted.

As you can see, there are many opportunities for small cottage industry and since we are not yet out of the woods, I encourage you to find your own niche. It can be very rewarding.

Alain

Introspection usually occurs during periods of inactivity, especially after reading something that intrigued you … and forced confinement is a very propitious time for this activity.

I get most of my information from my computer. This is because magazines’ fonts are getting smaller and smaller (or so it seems) and because I find it more convenient to zoom and resize text as I am going along.

In the morning, I generally start by reading the news, usually through Google News. From there, I hopscotch from links to links to plow through whatever catches my attention.

Not too long ago I came across an article about Emma Becker; an elegant and educated young woman, author of a best-selling novel called “La Maison” (the House). In this book she describes the surprising 2 years that she spent as a prostitute in a Berlin brothel. She did this she says, as a research project for her novel.

We usually live in a society that was at one point highjacked by religion. Cults were most entirely created by men who were nothing but power-grabbers. And they made all the rules.
In their credo was always Rule Number One which says “I am the boss” and you will do as I say without questioning my actions. Rule Number Two was “woman should always be subservient to man” because the role of women is to serve men. And for a long time, this scheme worked. Women were too intimidated to say anything, and they had practically no rights.

But fortunately, things have changed. Despite of blatant discrimination, women have become educated, more militant and have obtained most of the rights usually conferred to men.
Society, long still-standing, has evolved. Old sayings or customs are disappearing conferring women almost all the rights long enjoyed by men. And this includes sexual equality.

In various YouTube interviews, Emma Becker is saying that she was well treated, had no constraints and enjoyed working in the House.
Sex workers, who were for a long time held in very low esteem, are slowly gaining some kind of respectability. And the vocabulary describing their activity also reflects that trend. Starting with the degrading “whore” appellation, the description of their chosen profession evolved to prostitute, model, escort and sex worker.

As described by Emma Becker and many women involved in this activity, the profession of sex worker has become semi-respectable. And why not?Humanity has two basic needs: nourishment and sex. As long as these two needs are satisfied, there will be relative peace everywhere. If any of those necessities are denied, soon or later violence will erupt.

It is obvious that with universal healthcare, the ruling class must provide food and sex for all. This means that prostitution should be decriminalized, legalized and regulated. And it is so in many countries around the world.

But the conservative ruling class is highly hypocritical. Their motto is “Do as I say not as I do.” The sanctimonious leaders tempesting against the evil of the sex trade are usually the most avid patrons of that commerce.

Sex workers, as well as any professionals, are needed. If they have an inclination for it (and many do) let them do their chosen line of work in peace!

It is time for some needed introspection and revaluation of an obsolete moral code!

Alain

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” –John Maxwell

And this is what my wife did. Instead of lowering the sails, she adjusted them. Rather than dropping anchor and cowering in the hold of the ship, we are now tacking to handle the storm.

Like many others, my wife has been laid off… a thing that she does not readily accept. She is by nature a restive person who needs to be active to thrive. Idleness is anathema to her, which is a curse a blessing at the same time.

It can be a curse because she will constantly bug me to provide entertainment. But at the same time, it is a of blessing because, in this insane period, she will devote her excess energy to clean and sanitize everything in sight… whether it needs it or not.

“Our housekeeper is working from her home. She called us to tell me what to do.”

Cleanliness is one my wife’s fixations. Even under normal circumstances, she constantly cleans and washes… So you can imagine what is happening in our house right now. I suspect that she even considered putting the cat through the washing machine…
And when she does not clean, she bakes. Another mixed blessing. I like what she bakes… but my righteous body objects to that.

When she does not bake, she sews or she knits. She has put together a string of facemasks, and she has also knitted some amazing sweaters, scarves, baby clothes for friends and family.

And she does all the grocery shopping. Yesterday she raided Montecito Plaza’ Trader Joe’s and she had nothing but praise for what this merchant is doing to protect its customers. After coming home, she thoroughly sanitized every purchased item before stocking it. I am afraid that I would be much laxer in doing that.

After living with somebody for a long time, you tend to forget that person’s qualities and contributions to the household. But in extraordinary times, this involvement becomes more apparent, and this little essay is an ode to celebrate my wife’s unique talents and devotion to our well-being.

Many people (myself included) often forget to acknowledge their spouse’s accomplishments. Through this little piece, I want to publicly say how much I appreciate and love what she is doing.

Tamara, my dear wife, you are tops and I wouldn’t trade you for all the tea in China.

Alain