On and off...

[optimist]

After a long rather dry period, I experience the rainy season again.
I have been working through a lot of issues with my psychologist,
and this might be a part of my reaction to the process.
The good thing is that I do not worry about it at all.
I have been incontinent for 23 years this year, so a few more diapers doesn't matter.
As long as I do not get an UTI, I will be fine.

This summer I have regained a hobby I developed many years ago.
Soapmaking. Oils and lye and all that stuff. Some batches are more successful than others.
it is a good thing to be able to fill my head with something positive.

[Porkchop]

That is a good hobby, home made soaps are supposed to be very good for your skin

[optimist]

Soapmaking is good for a lot of things.
I hardly get eczema on my hands after I started to make my own soap.
Even more important, is that during the process, I have to be so focused,
that there is no room for other problems.

[Porkchop]

How steep is the financial barrier to entry? Like the cost of getting started in soap making?

[optimist]

Like all other hobbies, it is as expencive as you want it to be.
What you need basically, is two sugar thermometers in glass,
an accurate scale, a stick blender, a steel pot or a glass bowl for mixing the soap,
and something suitable for mixing the lye.
Rather inexpencive stuff. Rubber gloves and safety glasses are also needed.
Soap molds can be improvised. There is a lot of information on the net, so if you
can't afford to buy tutorial books, the information is available anyway.
There's a lot of stuff on youtube..

[Porkchop]

Thanks for sharing! What are your favorite types of soaps to make?

[optimist]

I have no specific favourite, but I like to make them simple.
I do not use any perfumes yet. I am still in the learning process.
Scent in the soap is rather expencive, and to afford that,
I will have to sell more than I do now.