2007 is the year that will give me more of a chance then ever before to develop my identity. After moving out at my parents home after 25 years, and living under 4 years under criminal probation and fighting for what I believed was a serious first amendment issue, I’m finally free to do whatever I want to do with my life.

I have many New Years resolutions for the upcoming year. I hope this year, 2008, will be one that fundamentally reshapes myself as an individual and allows me to develop the characteristics that not only allow me to be a successful adult, but also change my community for the better.

Think A Lot. The first key to my first year is to think a lot. I want to always be thinking and critically looking at my world. I will try to always be reading as much as possible, looking to experience more of the world, and try to avoid from turning away from things that I find hurtful or untrue to my beliefs in the world.

Write Out & Frame My Dreams. The next step in my life will be to write out and frame my dreams. I want to detail my future either in a private or public form, and put it in words so I can critique it and be honest with it with my friends. I need to find people I can trust, and past my vision on and encourage them to join me in changing the world.

Live Sustainable. I want to make more choices that continue to reduce my impact on the earth by making good choices that save energy and resources and alike. I want to drive less, use less energy, and create less waste. I want to find out what is possible in my world and try to live a better life.

Talk About the Missing Years. For various reasons I have rarely written about my past 3 years on criminal probation or the court case that I fought unsuccessfully to protect my right to free speech. I want to be candid, discuss both my fears and difficulties throughout the process. I feel this was an important part of my life and reflective of my character flaws and as such I want to discuss it publicly.

I realize that this will not be easy. Many people may be critical of stances on the issues or want to use my criminal conviction against me. Yet, I feel it’s better to have the truth out in the public and for the world to judge the facts as they are rather then come out to bite me sometime in the future.

Investing Money. On Wednesday I finally got my savings account open with a deposit of $3,100 dollars. I plan to contribute an additional $50 a week every week this year or more if I can afford it once I finally start to receive my full paychecks from the state. This account has 5.05% interest, leading me to gain an additional about $155 dollars by the years end.

I am researching ways of investing that will earn more interest, along ways to reinvest many of my savings bonds that where unused for my college expenses. While I should be more concerned about retirement then I currently am, my more immediate concerns is financing the eventual purchase of land in a decade or so and a replacement for my truck with another used vehicle in about 3 or 4 years.

Learn More About Farming and Renewable Energy. I am thinking eventually I would like to own several acres of land to farm on and to live off the grid. I want to build my own structure and make my own choices. Yet, there is much I need to learn and my library is expanding overtime. I continue to read and expand my book collection farther.

Learn More About Firearms and Hunting. I also want to learn more about firearms, sportsmanship, and hunting. I really do not know where to start but I look forward to reading and learning more as time goes by.

These are a few ideas and resolutions I have for this upcoming year. I look forward to expanding on them and expanding my own imagination and abilities in the next year.