Time to Get Real!

I’m back! It feels like a lifetime since my first couple of posts almost two weeks ago. Although my absence wasn’t planned (some detox and then relatives visited), it gave me time to reevaluate my approach to this whole endeavor. I realized that I’ve only hinted at the “what and why” of this journey, and I need to delve deeper before diving into practical Bitcoin how-to’s.

So, let’s get to it, shall we?

First the what

My vision for LifeOnBTC is precisely that - an exploration of how to live using Bitcoin as a medium of exchange in your everyday life, right now. It’s not about investing in Bitcoin as an asset per se, though acquiring Bitcoin in a privacy-focused manner is a significant part of utilizing it in daily living, which naturally involves investing for the future. This idea will likely be polarizing for many Bitcoin enthusiasts, as the mantra is to HODL, not adopt for everyday use. I believe this mindset is a mistake and partly why Bitcoin faces an uphill battle for mass adoption. After all, if you can’t exchange it for other things you want, it might as well be gold, silver, diamonds, oil futures, or any other asset investment acquired purely for appreciation over time. Yes, that’s a use case, and Bitcoin has done very well for early adopters, but it’s not the only use case. I don’t believe it’s the use case that will fulfill the full potential of the only truly decentralized and deflationary form of exchange we’ve ever had.

Living on Bitcoin daily means we must simplify the concept of what Bitcoin is for everyday people - local merchants, communities, and individuals. I struggle with this myself, as my journey into understanding Bitcoin has not been easy despite working in technology for most of my adult life. It’s not that the concept is complicated; it’s the little details like “how does mining actually work,” “why should you run a Bitcoin node,” or “what the hell is the Lightning Network” - just a few examples. So, another part of my focus will be addressing Bitcoin concepts with insights from experts and some input from yours truly.

Lastly, I’ll explore what I call decentralized living. I define that as actions, projects, or ideas that place you outside existing centralized systems for the purpose of self-reliance, resilience, autonomy, or privacy. This could range from baking your own bread to growing your food or producing your energy, or anything else that loosely aligns with the decentralized living concept. Since I engage in all these activities and more, I think it’s relevant to share my experiences so others can take decentralization beyond just a technical concept.

The why

Now, let’s talk about aliens. No, just kidding - we can save that for another day. But in all seriousness, I think it’s pretty clear to anyone with any measure of awareness that the financial system is in disarray. Or maybe not; perhaps you think everything is working perfectly, and the USD will smoothly transition into the USD CBDC, making everything better. In that case, read no further and enjoy your chip implant. I, however, do not share that belief.

I believe we are witnessing the death throes of the dollar as the world reserve currency, and the system they want to implement with CBDCs represents the most extreme expression of centralized control ever conceived. “You will own nothing and be happy” is not the future I’m striving for. The future I seek is rooted in freedom and privacy, and I believe Bitcoin is ONE of the components of that future. It’s as simple as that. I’m not a Bitcoin maximalist in the sense that I support other cryptographic technologies, and even cryptocurrencies and payment systems. However, I do believe that if they are not TRULY decentralized, they will ultimately be limited by the actions of the people who control them.

So that’s it - I vote for Bitcoin as the new global exchange of value technology, and I want to show people everything they can do NOW to make that future a reality. How to get paid in Bitcoin, spend Bitcoin, pay your bills in Bitcoin, buy Bitcoin, trade and leverage Bitcoin, and even collect Bitcoin as art if you want. The great thing is you don’t have to agree with me on any of this - you can take what you want and leave the rest right where you found it, and hey, good on you!

Wrap it up!

I hope you’ll join me on this journey as we explore the ins and outs of living a decentralized life with Bitcoin at its core. Together, we can push the boundaries of what it means to embrace this groundbreaking technology and create a more equitable, sustainable, and autonomous future for all.

Stay tuned for more exciting and informative posts as we dive deeper into the world of Bitcoin and decentralized living. Your engagement and feedback are always welcome and appreciated, so don’t hesitate to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or experiences. Let’s make this a community effort to change the way we live, one Satoshi at a time.