Meet Gaye Levy
Hi, I’m Gaye Levy and welcome to my website.
I often tell people that I view myself as an ordinary person who strives to do awesome things. To that end, in my own opinion, the key to extraordinary awesomeness is to lead a fulfilling and joyful life. I call this Strategic Living and that is what this website is about.
I have been online for many years, beginning in 2010 when I started blogging about self-sufficiency and preparedness. My goal was to share my experience reducing our innate dependency on stores, big corporations and the government during times of disaster or economic downturn. The website I started was Backdoor Survival and rest is history.
These days, I have mostly retired from life as a blogger although I do some guest writing now and then, and have this site, the Strategic Living Blog, to keep my fingers and toes in the game. A few things are constant: I continue to pursue learning new things and living a life full of comfort, wellness, and self-reliance.
Mostly, I love to share what I have learned so others can benefit and apply those lessons to their own personal situation.
Want to know more about me personally?
I grew up and attended grade school through college in the Greater Seattle area. My alma mater is the University of Washington. I spent many years in the software industry. First, as the owner of CompTech, a provider of billing software for the Paging and Cellular industry. Later, I jumped on the dot-com wagon as a founder of a technology company that, like so many others, dot-bombed. No risk, no reward, as they say. I have never been afraid of failure. Later, I started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries.
A couple of years before beginning my career as a blogger, I abandoned city life and moved to a serenely beautiful rural area offshore from the mainland US on San Juan Island in NW Washington State. These days, however, I call Arizona home, spending winters in the Phoenix valley and summers at my forest retreat along the Mogollon Rim near Payson, Arizona.
Let’s talk about Strategic Living a bit.
I first wrote about living a strategic life back in 2011. Shortly after that, I partnered with my BFF, George Ure (of Urban Survival fame), in an eBook, 11 Steps to Living a Strategic Life. At the time, my focus was primarily on preparedness so while the book is still available on Amazon, it no longer reflects my expanded vision of living strategically. I really should update that book!
Anyway, you can read more about my current view of living a strategic life in the article 8 Steps Toward Living a Joyful and Strategic Life.
Beyond that, however, I believe in pursuing your passions, giving up those things that do not bring you joy, and living as though today is the very best day of your life. It is an important message, especially for aging baby boomers and others that have worked hard and like me, are at an age when each day is precious.
Speaking of precious, there are some important characters in my life, namely my husband, Shelly Ayon who I married in 1975. We met on a blind date and were engaged two days later. In addition, Tucker the Awesome Wonder Dog is an important member of my family as are my brother Steve and his family, including Karen, Zachary, Allison, and Andy. My family is small but mighty, and for that, I am blessed.
In closing, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for joining me here on Strategic Living. Feel free to contact me anytime by clicking here. I may not be able to personally respond but I do read everything and appreciate your thoughts, comments and whatever else you wish to share.
. . . Gaye Levy
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What are others saying?
I met Gaye Levy several years ago when I first began blogging. She was kind enough to compliment my website and give me a few pointers to help me improve my content. Her generous advice was the beginning of a lovely friendship. Gaye’s commitment to extraordinary living is evident in every project she embarks upon.
I can think of no one I would trust more for advice on living a joyful, healthful, and exuberant life than my dear friend, Gaye, who is forever young and active. She is brilliant and beautiful, inside and out, and every bit of that is reflected in her marvelous new website.
…Daisy Luther, The Organic Prepper
Before there was a “glass ceiling,” the was Gaye.
Before there were pager billing systems, there was Gaye.
Before there was Prepping, there was Gaye.
It’s been an honor to watch her evolve as a higher-order human. Sets the bar higher for the rest of us…
…George Ure, www.urbansurvival.com
I met Gaye Levy several years ago when I first began blogging. She was kind enough to compliment my website and give me a few pointers to help me improve my content. Her generous advice was the beginning of a lovely friendship. Gaye’s commitment to extraordinary living is evident in every project she embarks upon. 
Gaye? Definitely: A woman ahead of the times.
Gaye, my husband ans I have Dave and Judy Raynesford really enjoyed your articles through the years. Thank you so much.
Gaye, I miss your regular blog. It’s not the same without you. I have used so many of your prepping ideas. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with all of us. And, thank you for always being so honest and open!
Awww … thanks so much for the kind words. Just so you know, I still prep but not quite as frantically since, after the move from Washington State, I realized that I had too much stuff that I would likely never use. One thing I have not scrimped on is food. I will not publicly state how much I have other than to say “many years worth”.
I appreciate your hanging in there with me. I don’t post often but when I do, I try to share something meaningful.
Gaye,
I remember clearly remember our days in the in Seattle. I appreciate all the referrals you manage to pass my way. I moved to Spokane in 1977 and within a year a “Doctor” left a small stump fire as out on a day later in a forth plus mile wind I was one of 12 homes burn to the ground in the resulting forest fire — lost a lifetime of near perfect. No fire department was on site until it was all over — lost everything I had within a less than a half hour. Since then I have become a committed prepper and survivalist. “It is great to see you so active still.”
— Wil
Hi Gaye! Hope you are enjoying retirement! I Am!!!!
Will follow your new blog
Wishing you and the Prepper Husband the best!
Raymond Mississippi’s only lantern collector
Tommy
Hi Gaye, I hope you are having a wonderful summer. No dances for a month and a half at Hillcrest but we start again on September 7. Look forward to seeing you then. ~John
Gaye, do you have an adequate water source where you live now, in case …you know!
I feel that we do but then again, we can never be sure of anything. That said, I still have over 350 gallons of stored water in barrels. Because, as you say, in case.
Gaye Levy has been very kind to me. She wrote the Foreword to 7 out of 8 books in The Non-Electric Lighting Series. As well as the Foreword to “The Amazing 2000-Hour Flashlight.” AND “The New 2000-Hour Flashlight.” Quite a boost for a totally unknown author!
She featured some of my books in her blog(s). We gave away a few titles. She conducted some interviews with me. And that was a good thing. It made me think about who I was and where I was going.
Thank you, Gaye. I say that in all sincerity. I am forever in your debt.
~ Ron Brown
What a nice thing to say, Ron. As always, I will be here to promote your next book!