I too have some battles at home and some times the neighbors think I am "too much." It embarrases the dh that I critique their visible garbage that should be recycled and what they are using on the lawns.
Our kids are young so I have been able to positively influence them and they often report or ask about things being good / bad for the Earth. Yea for that!
The dh is really fine with any thing with a fast return on investment IF it doesn't impede his lifestyle or efficiency of time. He can't stand the slow to bright light of CFLs and sometimes the "shade." Choices are improving and I agreed happily for old bulbs in closets where we have the light on for just a few moments anyway.
I try to be optomistic, that without me as his wife, he'd be living pretty "hard on the Earth." Even more astounding are the changes I have beed given credit for by his mother. Recycles as well as me now amoung other efforts. Still old school on some stuff, but LEAPS over their life sans my example.
I have our seven yr old asking non-recycling neighbors why they don't. It's working toward increased participation AND comes off much better than from me.
We have compromised... I returned to eating poultry after 10 yrs of vegetarianism on occasion so there weren't so many special meals. With better prices and access of organic (or natural versions) we eat more chicken now. I allowed beef starting last yr as we can now get LOCAL ORGANIC and at same or better prices than WF or Costco!! I am telling lots of folks that get incentives from recall and cancer fears. It's really changing for those of us seeing the "future" finally arrive.
