Week Seven

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New Pilgrim Chronicles:
One man's story of the trials and rewards of moving to Free State

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Week Seven: Back to the Future

by Brian Wright (copyright 2005)

So many uncertainties when you walk out to hold hands with people on the leading edge of the freedom train. This week I've finished my business in Michigan, cleaning up some loose ends and prepping myself for an extended residence in the southern Free State hills. "Come Home to New Hampshire." (Someone at the festival thought this would make a good slogan, and I like it.)

Because of the uncertainties, pledgers and movers realize the nature of the choice they're making. It's a life-altering commitment, especially if you're accompanied by family. For almost anyone, though, the decision to be part of this project rises above practical benefit into a morality plane, where the focus is on the long-range conditions that make any practical benefit feasible.

Was talking to Steve Cobb and others regarding other leading libertarians' varying perspectives on the FSP. With exceptions, my experience has been many of the celebrities in the movement (including Harry Browne, Mary Ruwart, Carla Howell, to name a few) have been at best cool to Jason's concept. The same is true of the LP national leadership, I do believe, but I haven't read much in the LP News lately, whether it's taken an official position.

I also had the experience in Michigan of one local LP activist dissing the FS generally because apparently one FS representative in Michigan denied him a literature table one day—I think I mentioned this in an earlier column. He succumbed to a fit of pique, as it were. "Oooh, cocktails on the veranda, dear?" But what of the esteemed people I've mentioned who have major skin in the liberty game already? Is it a NIH (not invented here) thing?

Personally I've seen many instances of people wanting to stay comfortable as big fish in a small pond, then being averse to ideas or people that would make the pond bigger. In the case of FSP, the pond stands to become substantially bigger, which may make them feel unacceptably less vital to the future of freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Also, the Free State is going to happen naturally, without a lot of repeat fundraising. My problem with several of the existing LP-peripheral movements is they continually tap the seed corn for sustenance, keep coming back to the well of stalwarts who always send money. Instead of self-financing through constant influx of new blood.

I'm pretty sure Free State solves the new blood problem, because you have so many willing bleeders, so to speak, on the ground. Relatively speaking that is. A great thing already about the Free State is you can fall out your back door any given morning, then turn around and join a meeting of libertarians or near-libertarians on the lawn. It was only that way for me back in Michigan during the Clark-Crane phenomenon (Ed Clark, LP presidential candidate 1980; Ed Crane, current CEO of the Cato Institute) roughly, 1975-1985. And I do love it so!

Why don't more of the elevated ones see FSP as complementary to their work, rather than detracting? Indeed, FS is a microcosm of what's going on nationally in any given organization. It stands to reason the Free State is the best soil for the growth of all these pro-liberty efforts. Because, relative to the surrounding population, there are so many of us! As Paul Gere mentioned to me at the festival, if we get 1,000 active people moving here, the state is done like a dinner.

That's true. According to the site, we have 377 here now. The political establishment in New Hampshire, such as it is, is already at the point of being unable to ignore all the pro-liberty people who continually "act up" through various groups. FSP is serving as the fireman stoking these groups with good, solid people. So we freedom people, especially the FSP, are close to the threshold of common public perception right now. Critical mass is just around the corner.

That being said, readers should know that in response to the letters I recently sent to my new senators and representatives at both national and state levels, not one responded. I had high hopes that when I returned from Michigan after three weeks, I'd be picking up several responses from these poobahs. My letters regarded the depleted uranium issue, which is potentially a massive public health problem. (Well actually, it already is a massive public health problem, it will become a catastrophic public health problem.)

And no one wants to even talk about it!

Scary, isn't it?

My point isn't to revisit the horrifying topic of DU. Rather I'm just sharing the observation that beyond the local town level, it you have an issue pertinent to general liberty, let's just say public officials aren't going to beat a path to your door to find out more.

New Hampshire has a land area of 8969 square miles with 1,235,786 people, per the 2000 census. This works out to approx. 140 people per square mile, of whom 377/8969 = 0.04 are FSP, let's say 1000 active liberty types are here = 1000/8969 = 0.11. So we have probably roughly one tenth of a libertarian per square mile!

What legislator or public official is going to give two hoots about a measly 1/10 of a libertarian?

But if you get that ratio to 20 or 30 thousand per 8969 square miles, that means you're going to have a full two or three liberty gadflies in every nook and cranny of the state! Believe me, that's going to make some movers and shakers out of these otherwise recalcitrant politicos. We'll have their full attention. They're going to need to do some real thinking and some real work to hold their crummy jobs.

Also, don't underestimate the effect on the media, on the information systems that typically block the flow of pro-liberty data both from the street to the reader and from the reader to the street. You think the Onion Reader will squash stories on the negative effects of government aggression on the people when 20,000 angry people threaten to use it for birdcage liner? Not likely. In the meantime, we early movers have to keep up the good work.

Talked with Joel Rauch, who runs the Merrimack Valley Porcupines, he's a young man, one of the earlier early movers. He shared some thoughts with me that early people are tending to be overloaded with more groups than they can properly support, either from the leadership or from the membership perspective. I know what he's saying, check out this wonderful page from the site. This gives you a lot of great information, especially about the pro-liberty groups who are working here.

It's impossible to support all of them effectively. And depending on one's goals, one may not be into any of them, or may want to start one's own. So a lot of these groups are going to seem low attended. Just keep in mind, the day is young. It's all relative. Back in Michigan, you have a tenth of the libertarian activity you have here, if that. Stay the course and develop individually as you wish, prioritizing your action so as not to burn out. Oceans of people are coming behind you.

Well, at least a tsunami or two. My friends, we are the thin edge of the wedge. The breaking open of the chains in New Hampshire is going to happen quickly in political timescape. Stand by for some serious excitement.

I don't have a lot more for you this week. My trip across Highway 90 was uneventful. I do want to comment on a peculiar New York state roadsign saying it's a state law to turn on your headlamps when you turn on your windshield wipers. Also, I believe in Pennsylvania it's a state law you have to turn on your headlamps in construction zones. (!) Does anyone issuing these Cider House rules really think people will take time to noodle them all out, much less conform to them?

Remember ignorance of the law is no excuse (unless, of course, the law you're ignorant of is the Bill of Rights).

By the way, here's a comical rule from our own Free State: I've joined the YMCA in Goffstown. In the locker room it tells you that it's a state law you have to take a shower before you swim in the pool. Good Gawd, what if I showered at home? They going to check up on me there? Is it a felony? These are important issues, folks, government at work for you.

Speaking of important issues, I find I do like the front license plate in New Hampshire. It's very artistic, as you can see from the following photo. See the vanity phrase: BWRIGHT, get it? As in "be right" with living free or dying. Oh well, you have to appreciate the laid-back subtlety of my approach to automotive signage. I don't want anyone here actually knowing who's writing all those letters nobody's reading or publishing.

I just don't think such an attractive license plate should be mandatory in front. When I finally receive my plates and am looking for attachment bolts, I go to a local auto parts store.

By the way, I think I've stumbled on another quiet truth of New Hampshire, at least southern New Hampshire: besides ice cream parlors and Dunkin Donut franchises, every third store is an auto parts supplier. I'll bet the Free State supports more than its fair share of—note, I did not say redneck—NASCAR aficionados. Funny, I never imagined oval-track race fans would go for the mountains around here; but it sure ain't Formula 1 they're interested in. Maybe some hard core rally (dirt surface and other irregular tracks) racing fans, I could see that.

Since the screws are for the back plate, I ask the young clerk at the counter, "Why front license plates?"

He says, "It's a communist plot."

"Well, what constituency could possibly support such a wasteful use of funds," I inquire.

He concludes, "Every law enforcement officer knows you have to have a front license plate to quickly identify a perpetrator as he's driving away from you."

(to be continued)

Week Four

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New Pilgrim Chronicles:
One man's story of the trials and rewards of moving to Free State

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Week Four: Depleted Uranium and Provisioning Return to the Former State

by Brian Wright (copyright 2005) t color=blue Sir, I can tell you it is catastrophically toxic and has afflicted untold numbers of US servicemen and women, caused birth defects in their babies, not to mention an even greater amount of radiological damage to the populations where the munitions have been used. Of approximately 600,000 soldiers who were part of Gulf War I, 11,000 are now dead and, as of 2000, 325,000 soldiers (>50%) are on permanent disability—the rate for soldiers in other 20th century wars is 5%.

DU kills and maims over a longer period of time than conventional weapons, four to five years are required sometimes to see the symptoms. DU in shells gives rise to intense heat upon impact and disperses untold numbers of microscopic ceramic radioactive balls, that spread in the atmosphere with an aerosol effect. By breathing, contacting with the skin, or merely being in the presence of unexploded DU shell casings, a victim picks up hundreds or thousands of times what is considered lethal radiation in conventional medical practice. (By the way the entire planet is damaged by DU.)

Imagine getting an X-ray at your dentist's every hour for months.

A Veterans Administration study found that in a group of 251 soldiers from Mississippi who had all had normal babies before the Gulf War, 67% of their post-war babies were born with birth defects.[1] They were born missing legs, arms, organs or eyes, or had immune system and blood diseases. Unfortunately, there is no treatment (at least not until nanotechnology advances).

Mr. Sununu, please check into this problem. Soldiers must be informed and tested, widescale decontamination procedures must be initiated immediately! We must also immediately stop manufacture and use of these weapons of mass destruction. Two bills are before the House, now, HR 202 and HR 2210. It's a start. If Congress does nothing, a cancer epidemic of epic proportions will occur in Southern Iraq—making the problems of American industrial asbestos poisoning seem trivial in comparison. Thousands more American soldiers will suffer and die young, producing many babies with birth defects. I know you deeply care about these men and women. Please be a leader.

I ask that you look at the website of Veterans for Peace, www.veteransforpeace.org, as well Dr. Moret's website below, and do some research of your own. Also, if you have time, please obtain and watch the new DVD film, Poison DUst[2]. Please help us combat this serious disease issue; how we handle it will define our virtue as a country.[3]

Sincerely,
Brian Wright

Sources:

[1] http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2003/DU-Leuren-Moret21apr03.htm
[2] http://www.iacenter.org/poison-dust.htm
[3] For a local contact in the anti-DU, anti-empire movement, please contact Women Making a Difference and Democracy for New Hampshire: http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/1073

I don't come to the Free State to sit on my hands while a massive injustice is being perpetrated. I'm finding the peace movement motivates me, because peace and freedom so naturally hang together. Also, I feel a little bit guilty for being prowar after 9/11… before I looked into the depth of our leadership's depravity. I want to redeem myself.

One of these days, I believe we'll see a permanent peace movement led by libertarians. The antiwar groups will have names like Free State Citizens for Peace and Small Government. The relationship between liberty and peace will become crystal clear.

We'll see if my FS legislators respond. Recently, in the Old State, I sent several missives to Washington and the state capitol, and only a couple of legislators replied. In the old days, 20-30 years ago, virtually every legislator would respond to a citizen's letter. Fat government is unresponsive government I guess.

Okay, midweek I drive back to the Old State (Michigan). By the way, I it would seem fitting to think of New Hampshire as Free State One, on the premise that we're going to be rolling out freedom pretty quickly to the other states after we achieve it here (Michigan will be something like Free State Forty-Two). Though in transit and cleaning things up for my return, I still have several observations pertinent to the general FS pilgrim.

One has to do with surrounding statist state conditions. My route out of the Free State is to head directly south along US 13, then west on the Mass. Pike. I leave early Wednesday a.m. and I'm looking for signs announcing my arrival in Massachusetts, which is only 30 miles south or so. When I witness an extraordinarily high number of dead businesses by the side of the road, I realize this is the Taxachusetts my mother warned me against.

Then stopping for coffee in one of the smaller northern Mass. cities, I notice something else: it occurs to me to name this condition "the droop factor." People in more statist states are discernibly droopier, as if carrying more weight on their shoulders. Remember my observation of people's expressions from the Week 1 column? This observation is similar. We're all under a big load of criminal, toxic government, but people in the Free State stand a little straighter.

The trip to Michigan I do in one day, a long day, 850 miles. On the journey, stream of consciousness naturally develops the significant concept we broached in Week 2's column:

As we proceed to self-government by the people, it will be necessary to have a widespread feeling of almost a quasi-religious consensus on the nonaggression principle. This principle will need to be raised in consciousness to a "sacred" essence of what makes America America, and ultimately what is seen to make humanity humanity.

A good share of my thoughts during the long day turned to this concept and how to move it forward. I came up with a tentative name and a schema for a future-history novelette; it fits with what we're all about in the FSP.

I'm thinking prophecy as history or vice versa, meaning the novelette takes a vantage point in the future from which it documents our emergence into a post-aggression solar-system political-economy. In that setting (~30 years hence?) disease, old-age, and scarcity are conquered; we control our own biology to the extent we can more or less manipulate our physical beings into the forms we desire; life becomes a constant flow of creative energy as we move toward the stars.

Or not… it's all about choices.

My point is I'm trying to have some big thoughts of how to supercharge the reason-liberty movement. I find it helps me to imagine these peaks of optimism as an antidote to the depressing Orwellian "droopiness" that threatens to smother us all today. One thing is certain: at the root of any future benevolent universe has to be this widespread sanctification of the nonaggression principle. The sine qua non as it were.

Funny how long-distance driving tends to shoot the 'ol noggin into freewheel mode.

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My last FS-related observation for this week has to do with the pace of life in the Free State vs. other more populated areas. I don't think the lower pace, where people move quickly enough but are seldom in a hurry, is exclusive to New Hampshire. I recall being in Montana and feeling the same thing. You really notice the relaxed pace when you go back to alleged civilization and you don't have it anymore.

As I'm driving toward Michigan, and the next few days, too many people are "on my ass." Hurrying. Like them being two inches off my rear bumper is going to get them miles closer to where they're going. So maybe they can get out to their crummy job or home to their dysfunctional family a nanosecond quicker. Sorry to be negative. But it's extremely annoying. And this is one thing you FS comers will be ecstatic to put in your rearview mirror.

Again, I think a lot of the reasonable FS pace centers around having fewer people. Population density is something I want to discuss next week, along with population composition. Some people in the opposition might claim, "Sure, it's gonna be a good place to live when the largest town is 110,000 people and you have maybe three minority families in the whole state. Buncha cherry pickers is all you are. Doesn't matter squat how big the government is."

It certainly is a nice feeling to get into a nice rhythm here in the Free State. And I don't know if I've mentioned all the trees you're going to see out here in most towns have the effect of cleansing the air and rejuvenating the soul. So I'm not going to jump on the above statement until next time. In fact I'm not jumping on it at all. I will say what strikes me as underlying most strongly the population composition here is a tradition of self-government. Period.

(Sorry about having to bring up the depleted uranium issue.)

(to be continued)

Week Six

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New Pilgrim Chronicles:
One man's story of the trials and rewards of moving to Free State

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Week Six: Observations During Absence, Part 2

by Brian Wright (copyright 2005)

Getting back on track. Sorry for letting my ideological sails flap too vigorously in some of the former columns, my intention is not to proselytize for any particular libertarian point of view, rather to convey what it's like personally to transition to the Free State. It's only that, personally, I really am a cause-oriented ideologue. But I apologize if what I was talking about came off as an ego trip: my desire is for the general good of FSP and liberty only.

Paraphrasing my disclaimer from Week 4:

The Free State Project is nonsectarian, meaning the project doesn't endorse any particular political organizations or specific ideas—there is a general Project characteristic of attracting people who believe in individual rights and limited government, and you could call the people attracted small-l libertarians. So when I launch in these columns here on some political/philosophical issue, I'm not speaking for anyone but me.

Certainly many if not most of the people migrating to the Free State are cause people, too. But a fair number of you are coming simply to live better. Some noncause-oriented quality-of-life reasons for coming to the Free State:

• Sit on the beach, soak up the rays, and pop bonbons (summer only)
• Ride the roads on your Harley
• Drive the roads in your sports car
• Drink quality microbrew on a daily basis at Milly's in Manchester
• Ski, hike, camp, enjoy the mountain life
• Take recreational fun in lake country of unsurpassed beauty
• Develop a livelihood, fall in love, raise children, teach, learn
• Find yourself in the fresh air and solitude
• Take part in New England history and community, ideas of "the Founding"
• Watch the minor-league baseball team, the fearsome Fisher Cats
• Play golf

Any pledger coming to the Free State just to have a good life is as welcome as the firebrands spitting nails against abusive state power. It almost goes without saying, but certainly bears repeating.

Still, just today I'm reminded of the "free" in the Free State.

I'm traveling to my dentist here in Michigan when I notice three Oakland County (SE Michigan) police cars and maybe a couple of local Batmobiles at a busy intersection. Plus a host of bulbous, uniformed popos trying to look busy and important there in the parking lot. "Whatever the heck are all these wonderful officers of the law spending their time on today?" I ponder.

On the way back, I figure it out: seatbelt checks.

The parking lot is perfect for a major fleecing operation. It's large and sits on the southeast corner, abutting to a restaurant that's gone out of business. Northbound drivers come around a bend and don't see the highwaymen until it's too late. Our state-franchised bandits nab the beltless pobrecitos who slow to enter the right-turn lane.

I see the cops pull over some uncomprehending young Oriental guy driving a beater, an old woman, a student, a redneck hillbilly from way back when... well you get the picture. By and large, the people they grab don't pay much attention to broad concepts of public policy, much less Big-Brother federal-government "Click it or Ticket" TV ad campaigns. They also tend to be least able to afford the fines.

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Note: This latest assault on driver freedom is heavily funded by tax money from the federales. Since the national program began, hundreds of thousands of motorists have been clubbed. I've read numbers for Michigan something in the 80,000-person range, and at $100 a ticket, this is high tribute for official thiefdom.

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As Free Staters, you know how absolutely destructive of liberty these public safety scams are. Virtually all the states have mandatory seatbelt laws, and virtually all the states now have laws that the police can stop and ticket you solely for not wearing one. New Hampshire is an exception. This is a very big deal, my friends. For me it's the straw that broke the camel's back, the icing on the cake, and several other pertinent clich鳊sending me to the Free State.

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Note: Proving that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, we have radio ads in Free State that admonish us to wear our seatbelts... paid for by the state. We must continue to insist on motoring freedom. Otherwise, somebody will pass a law and take it away.

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Put youself in the heads of the cops performing this duty. Believe me, the look on their faces today is anything but love for their fellow man, hoping to save him from harm. These county mounties strut and smirk, their mission to remind you they're in control. Well, they're out of control. And you know the time will come—if we sit back and acquiesce—when they knock on the door demanding you give up any Free State sympathizers you're hiding in the basement.

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Let me make an appeal to the cops, here. Take a cue from libertarian Sheriff Bill Masters, author of Drug War Addiction. Just say NO! You will no longer enforce any unconstitutional laws. Become a full-fledged human being, absolutely refuse to initiate force. If it means you get fired, great. Join your local People's Front for the Liberation of <whatever state you're in>. The days of arbitrary state power are rapidly ending. Don't be evil. Be on the winning side.

I make the same appeal to any soldier.

I make the same appeal to any citizen:

At the risk of seeming too ideological again, let me just suggest all of us seriously consider discontinuing to "voluntarily" fund through our taxes the multifarious agents of our demise. If they won't uphold the Bill of Rights, why pay 'em? Question: has there ever been a general tax strike in America? Good question for the Randians.

Week 6 is a brief chronicle because I'm away from my newfound home for a couple of weeks of transition. Most of you coming to the Free State will need to leave some stuff behind, at least for a while. Recommendation: instead of storing your stuff in a storage facility, sponge off a friend with a big basement. Thanks to this friend of mine, my monthly fee goes from $170/month to $50/ month... and I think she'll let me slide until I get a job.

It's a lot of work, and my nephew, Josh the Good, travels all the way from Atlanta dodging the detritus of Katrina to be in SE Michigan on time. Another piece of experienced advice: every time you move, throw out a lot of things and give the Salvation Army the big things you really don't need anymore. A move can be an opportunity to introduce more and more efficiency into your life, and even to help your fellow man. At some point excessive "stuff" becomes a mental burden.

Well, I'm going to end this chronicle and write letters to the editor of the Oakland Press, the Detroit Free Press, and the Detroit News... with a copy to the New Hampshire Union Leader. The topic: seatbelt laws and how they contribute to the emigration of the libertarian-creative class.

Seriously, if the residents of Michigan can't rise up and pass an issue petition ending mandatory seatbelts for adults, well, what's that Biblical story? Get the heck out of there and don't look back lest you turn to stone.

Next week, some comments on how painful it is to leave people behind and how the Welcome Wagon and the other great groups of simpatico people can ease your pain.

(to be continued)

Varrin & Edi Swearingen

We Made the Move! – Varrin & Edi Swearingen

Date of move: October 25, 2004

Reported by Tim Condon, FSP Participant Services Director

Two of the Free State's newest Porcupine residents have a secret: "We originally opted out of most of the states, including New Hampshire, because we could not commit to moving to them without taking a tour and giving it more serious consideration," recounts Varrin Swearingen, who lived in Fresno, California with his wife and two children up until recently. "After the vote, we took a week and a half trip to New Hampshire," he said. "In late November 2003, we decided to move to Keene, NH. The move was to take place in October 2004, and was accomplished right on time."

Meet Varrin and Edi Swearingen, refugees from the Peoples Republic of California, who "made the move" with their two children, Edison (age 4) and Erin (age 3), in late October 2004 to the Free State of New Hampshire. Although they had originally "opted out" of New Hampshire, that quickly changed. "Once we toured the state, we began working on the move as soon as practical," says Varrin. "It took roughly a year from the time we decided to move to the time we arrived, partly because we decided to build a house in New Hampshire, as well as because of work and other schedules."

It wasn't a hard decision for Varrin and Edi to move early, even though as FSP members they're not obligated to move to the Free State until after the organization reaches 20,000 participants. "We decided to move now because we were ready to get out of California and begin working in a less futile environment to promote liberty," explains Varrin.

Prior to the great state vote, he says, "We researched New Hampshire and the other candidate states extensively. After the vote, we took a week and a half trip to New Hampshire and that sealed the deal." During that time, in November 2003, they "drove all around the southern one-third to one-half of the state."

What was their first impression of New Hampshire? Says Varrin, "Favorable. The attitude is noticeably more liberty friendly, though there is certainly a need for the FSP. No state is libertarian, but New Hampshire is better than most. The scenery was beautiful, the roads were well-maintained, shopping was suitable, and there are a variety of sizes and styles to the towns. We were able to find something that fit our personality well."

What was the weather like when they visited on their exploratory trip in November? "The weather was variable but not very warm," says Varrin. "It was only noticeably cold-near or below freezing and/or windy-only a couple of the days. There were rainy days, clear days, calm days, windy days, and everything in between. The variety was nice, and the cool clear days were stunning." As for the winters, Varrin notes that central California where they moved from is "hot and dry. It rarely freezes there, and even more rarely snows. However, we lived in northen Kentucky near Cincinnati for several years, so we have at least lived in the snow before."

"I believe the weather in Keene will be colder and snowier, but overall nicer than the Cincinnati area," he continued. As for the supposedly fearsome winters in the Free State, Varrin says, "My stock response to the concerns about the cold is that they do have heaters in New Hampshire. We had our builder install heaters in our house, and our car, which we bought in California, already had one installed in it. Imagine that! So far the weather inside has been a comfortable 71-74 degrees."

Varrin is an airline pilot who will continue working for the same company, while Edi has a Mary Kay cosmetics business that she's already working on expanding in New Hampshire. While visiting and exploring, they met lots of other liberty-lovers, including Kelton Baker (then the President of the FSP), Amanda Phillips (now President of the FSP), and Alan Weiss (former VP of the FSP), not to mention other Porcupines from Derry, Keene, and Hudson.

Why did they settle on Keene as a place to build their home (a custom two-story colonial; "of course we love it, since we designed it")? After all, with his airline job, Varrin must fly in and out of Manchester. "While it's a longer drive from the Manchester airport than I desired," Varrin explained, "Keene has everything else we wanted in a place to live. Cost of house was a major factor, as was shopping, suburbia, eating out, and other creature comforts. In the end, we decided we would rather have lower cost, higher quality house, and meet all of our other needs, than be closer to Manchester."

Any new friends in the Free State? As always, the answer is resounding. "Yes! Many. They are scattered about, but several of them are in Keene," Varrin says. In addition, he met tons of Porcupines in the summer before their move. "At the Porc Fest I met a lot of them. It's probably impossible for me to name them all right now. We love 'em all!" He and Edi were also delighted to find that the freedom-lovers they met in New Hampshire are "surprisingly normal, for libertarians" (Varrin says with a wink). "The most noticeable favorable trait is the desire to actually do something positive rather than sit around and argue about what to do or how to do it."

The couple also found willing hands to help them move in once they got to Keene. "Big, big, big thanks to Kat and Kira Dillon, Dawn Lincoln, and David Murray, for the help moving in," says Varrin. In addition, "Double thanks to David for taking about 800 pictures of our house as it was being built, so we could watch it go up from afar." Varrin and Edi also hired their realtor's nephew to do most of the work of unloading the truck. They did excellent work for a reasonable price. Varrin recalls, "This is our third move into a new house in eight years, and the first time the load in was completed without dinging the walls or staining the carpet."

There were also some happy surprises for Varrin and Edi as they settled into their new house in Keene. "It was refreshing to hear this question," says Varrin. "'So who are you going to have pick up your garbage?' Having dealt with city garbage in Florida, Kentucky and California, it was music to my ears to hear that there's no monopoly trash pickup in New Hampshire."

"Also," he continued, "I've noticed many businesses here operate 'smaller', so they're more family and customer oriented. For instance, on our first full day here, Edi had to have a tooth extracted. The kids were sleeping in our hotel room, so I couldn't pick her up. So one of the people in the dentist's office gave her a ride back to the hotel. That would never have happened in California."

How will Varrin and Edi work to reduce the size of government in the Free State, as all Porcupines intend? "We'll be working on delivering the liberty message to the Christian community in New Hampshire," he says. "I'm also looking forward to the town social and recreational events. Even though Keene is roughly one-twentieth the size of the Fresno area, the atmosphere here is cozy yet lively." He's also looking forward to trying to hook up with a band in the Keene area (he plays mostly jazz drums), and figures he and Edi will be hiking and mountain climbing in the summers, while skiing in the winters. ("I've skied twice and enjoyed it quite a lot the second time," he said.)

Overall, the portents are good, Varrin and Edi feel. "We embrace change for the better," says Varrin with a laugh. "We radically embrace radical change for the better! Freedom is like good health. You don't appreciate it until it's gone. For the health of your family, it's worth it to live and promote freedom in a place where you can make a difference. As a result of the Free State Project choosing New Hampshire, this is now the finest place in the world to do that."

"Come and take a tour," he counsels. "Meet the people. Look for houses and jobs. Explore the towns and enjoy a family vacation. Then when you go home, start packing!"

Back to We Made the Move!

Dave Mincin

We Made the Move! – Dave Mincin

Date of Move: February 2, 2004

Dave Mincin here! I made the move from Pittsburgh, PA.

I must admit I was a bit hesitant, so I decided to attend the Escape to New Hampshire given last summer, before the FSP vote was taken. My intent was to check out these folks, see how they were and what they were about. Well, it didn't take long for those good folks to win me over, and I decided within an hour or so that they were my kind of people! From that point I decided I would do all I could to see that New Hampshire was chosen as the Free State! The rest is history, and New Hampshire is now my home!

After the election and announcement of the chosen Free State on October 1, 2003, I sat down and thought "Now what?" My research had consisted of getting to know some of the folks involved. I didn't really look at much of the data on the website, but did work with and get to know many of the folks during the Great Which State Debate. From my experiences then, there was no doubt in my mind that these were good folks!

Hell, in my book a place to live is just that. What is most important is the people that you choose to have as neighbors. I must admit that my decision as to where to live in New Hampshire came down to a choice between the Seacoast and the Keene area. But it was more about Jim and Pat in Keene, Michele and Jim in the seacoast area, and others. I had already made a decision that I would be in NH February 1, 2004. Yikes! The seacoast won, because I believe the job opportunities for me were better, and, well, I've never lived close to the ocean before.

Still, it was a big step, moving over to the Free State from Pittsburgh. But I remembered a note I had gotten from Michele Dumas, "Don't worry Dave, when you are ready to move we will help you!" "Hot damn," I thought, and went that route. I sent Michele a note, and she sent me some addy's of places to rent. I called the first one, then Michele and her daughter Nicole checked it out for me, and the rest is history.

I ended up in Dover, and I'm just finishing up my classes to get my real estate license. Hell, I didn't come here for a career change; fact is, I was real comfortable in my old life. However, I came here to help create a free state, and I figure the real estate business puts me in a position to make a buck and also help the folks get here. (At least I'm hoping I can help the folks get here!) Otherwise, I'm just living in a studio now, just playing it by ear! I've come to believe that we are really just one big family, a "freedom family," so I'm hoping my new way of making a living will be a win-win for all of us. After all, I'm thinking we are all immigrants – freedom immigrants – so, hey, we need to help each other! And as we know, "help" for us is different than "give me."

I figure I've talked to most of the folks who have made the move. And we all agree, "good move!" New Hampshire is the Free State, we are here, and every time a new Porc shows up and moves in, we all get the warm and fuzzies.

Do I have new friends in the Free State? Have I met new people? Hey, all of the above! Those of us who have made the move are all friends, and many of the local Porcs and other folks we have met have become friends too. If you want names, check out the Seacoast Porcupines. Most of those folks aren't on the FSP forums---many are not even FSPer's---but we are developing friendships and working to promote freedom.

We'll all have chances to tell our stories when we move to the Free State. There's a gal coming tomorrow to our Seacoast meeting who is doing her college graduate work on the FSP. I expect she's a liberal, but she's up for hearing our story, and so we'll give it to her. The point is, the folks in NH are open and receptive and if we really believe we have the answers, and freedom is the way to go, the folks up here will listen. Nevertheless, I've come to believe it is about action not talk! I've really come to believe the folks in NH are receptive to freedom, we just have to understand that confrontation will get us nothing, we need to just ask, in order to let us tell our story.

Resistance to moving? It's too hard? Too cold winters? "Freeze in the dark"? Oh come on! The weather? You just dress for it. So you live were it is hot? Go from hot to cool car to cool building, etc.? Hell, I've been down that road, where it's so damn hot you can't breathe when you're outside. So it is a bit different here you go from warm to cold, or cold to warm? Big deal, and the fall is to die for! Those who say it's too cold are just using a cop-out excuse! Do you really care about freedom? Do you really want to have the opportunity to make a difference? Laying out the weather thing is just a convenient cop-out! Oops! "It's too cold for me"??? Please, everyone should know I've talked to most of the folks that have moved to New Hampshire. As I said, the fact is that we all agree, "good move!" Get a grip folks. We have the opportunity---just us common folks, regular folks--- to make a historic difference! To bring freedom back!

Hell, it's everyone's individual call, but I do think we just might have a chance to make a difference. Think about it: "Yikes!!! Hey, the common folks brought freedom back!" I can't speak for you, but I want you to know that in my book New Hampshire is the One-and-Only Free State. I'm here, and I know that I'll do all I can to bring freedom back. Our numbers are small in New Hampshire now, but we are definitely players in the political process. I'm quite sure that as our numbers grow we will become a real force in New Hampshire politics.

The people in New Hampshire? Did I feel like a stranger moving here from Pennsylvania? Not at all. Check out the folks in the Free State. They have not in the least disappointed me. In fact, that's the best thing about New Hampshire. I like the folks! I'm going over to Carl's place tomorrow to play a little poker. And I like the super ladies we have involved in this project. The truth is, most of them are married, but they are all so much an asset to what we are doing. Hey, I try to get a hug from each of them as a reward for what I am doing! Fact is, I don't think we give enough credit to the super gals we have involved in the project.

Hobbies? Sports? Pastimes? Just an old hippy ... and I expect I'm going to learn how to shoot a gun straight.

The bottom line is this: I think we have a chance to be a part of something bigger than any of us individually. Think about it. You, just a regular Joe, have the opportunity to save freedom! I just hope everyone understands just how important our mission is. And hey, when you get to New Hampshire I hope you'll look me up!

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