What is Amish? Not every horse and buggy seen in America’s Amish country may be driven by an Amish person. A number of groups share a common Anabaptist heritage with the Amish. Small, distinct sects of Brethren and Old Order Mennonites also use horse and buggies. The Amish themselves can be generally categorized into several groups broadly defined as New Order, Old Order and a few groups more conservative than the Old Order. Within these groups, there are numerous differences. The Old Order has the most members and are probably the most familiar to Englishers. The Old Order use few modern conveniences, avoiding such things as motor driven equipment. They do use steel wheeled tractors for stationary power sources to power thrashing equipment or to pull equipment on the highway. They do not use tractors to work in the fields except in hot climates where horses cannot withstand		the high heat. Some Old Order have indoor plumbing and running water. While the New Order retain many of the Old Order traditional practices, they can be considered the most progressive of the Amish groups. Some groups may allow telephones, use air-filled tires on tractors and even allow electricity in the house. The more conservative groups, such as the Swartzentrubers and related groups, the Nebraska Amish of Central Pennsylvania, avoid indoor plumbing, do not use motorized equipment of any kind and wear conservative clothing. The Nebraska Amish do not use suspenders or bonnets and are not permitted to have screens on their doors and windows. Family Most Important Amish people cherish their biological and		church family. Families visit each other frequently. Distant friends and relatives remain in contact by mail and by letters to The BudgetTM Because the readers have lots of relatives with whom they wish to stay in contact, they write to The BudgetTM about their family and community activities . Of the 20,000 subscribers to The BudgetTM, 18,000 copies are mailed to Amish families. When the older family members “retire” from farming, they move into a “Grandpa House” or Doddy house adjacent to the main farmhouse. They continue to work, performing useful chores around the farm, while retaining a strong sense of independence. Amish people will not accept public welfare aid or retirement income. They do pay income and real estate taxes and are exempt from social security taxes if they farm or are self-employed.