SUSTAINABLE LIVING HAS MANY PERSONAL BENEFITS

Kudos to Laf Young for pointing out the obvious answer to affordable housing woes on Maui (Maui News Viewpoint, December 21.)  Ditto to Annie Nelson for outlining the many benefits from growing our own oil crop (Maui News Letters, November 10) for cooking and reuse as biodiesel.  As we wrap up another year, this is the time to look forward using our creativity and common sense to plan a sustainable future.

As both writers pointed out, we can easily keep Maui beautiful by simply making the best use of our abundant natural resources.  We don't need to imitate the less satisfying winter lifestyle.  Nor should we have to import virtually everything.

There are many personal benefits to living off the grid.  The view is better without power lines.  Life seems unencumbered, slower and less complicated.  Rainwater tastes good.  When my husband and I were "unplugged," we felt a heightened tie with the land.  I welcome what Laf calls "The wireless revolution."

Likewise, growing more crops for our use as opposed to crops for export will have positive side-affects.  It will give us a sense of pride, independence and security.  It doesn't make sense to ship most of what we produce out while shipping most of what we need in.  As Annie said, lets "make Maui a model of sustainability for the rest of the country."

Camille Armantrout

Makawao