Why "Rodent"?

Many rodents are gatherers and builders.  They build dams to create a future habitat.  Squirrels gather nuts and hide them for the next spring or perhaps winter (I am not a squirrel expert).  Like most things in life there are dangers of crossing over into the wrong territory - the rat.  Rats will pick up and eat anything and everything they can find.  They don't specialize in some activities and are opportunists.  They are impatient and full of envy.

So the essence of this blog is the way of the good rodents: the ones who plan ahead and who build their dreams without being opportunistic rats.  In the frugality world this is what separates a frugal person from a miser.  The way of the beaver is not about deprivation and exploitation of others.  It is about persistent work, thrift, and sharing with others.

PS: As an aside when I was in middle school in the US I had to take a home economics class.  One of the projects was the dreaded sewing of stuffed animals.  Picking the lesser evil I chose to sew the smallest thing possible aside from a little ball which the teacher would not let me: a little baby beaver.