This summer I conceived a loose plan to experiment with the building of capital on a small underground level in the tradition of bootlegging pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps America.  The thing I manufactured was Hula Hoops.  I slowly invested capital in the increasing of my hula hoop stock.  I worked hard making and selling hundreds of hoops to the citizens of Baltimore, mostly at festivals, the pool I go to, and farmers markets.  I did so much hula hooping in order to sell them (and in order to get in shape and have fun) that I began to learn tricks and do things with ultra-large hula hoops that perhaps no human has ever done.

It became a successful first summer of business, and I now have about 80 hoops and rent for September.  In the next week I will invest in the materials to make 60 more.  Students of mine, as well as my daughters, will be employed this fall doing the decorative electrical tape wrapping of the hoops.  I pay $5 per hoop, $3 if it has bubbles or tube showing.

The problem of capital is tricky when you are trying to also survive, pay the bills, keep uncle Sam and all his evil ways at bay, etc.  But it can be done.  It is what we need in Baltimore and elsewhere.  Don’t get things from far away that you can make and/or buy and/or sell in your own area.  Do it yourself for crying out loud.