Living Car Free - The Simple Life: Your Tips Please

Even though I'm not totally "car-free," I try to minimize the use of our small family car. For example, we car-pool to work. I use the bike for shopping, etc. But it occurs to me--as I'm sure it does to many others on this forum--that moving away from high consumption in other areas can be wonderful for all sorts of reasons.

I'm wondering if you have any tips for other activities that both simplify and enrich your life at the same time. A few simple examples that immediately come to mind:

*Growing at least some of our own food.
*Shopping at the thrift store
*Giving stuff we don't use to the thrift store
*Using the library instead of the bookstore

I'd love to hear what creative things you're doing to simplify your lives.

www.simpleliving.net/forums is a great way to simplify your life.

If your interested in learning about how to grow your own food, and other ideas, there are a ton of sites on the net. One cool site I like is pathtofreedom.com. I'll post more stuff related to this thread soon.

I don't own a computer. *gasp*

I use the computer at the public library to visit BF and check E-mail, etc. I go to the library nearly every day to do this. Fortunately there are two libraries within a seven minute ride of my home. They have nice new computers with very high speed access. Rarely, I have to wait to use one, but not more than 15 minutes. We are allowed three hours a day of computer time, more for non-Internet use.

I probably save nearly as much money by not owning a computer as I do not owning a used car! No monthly credit payments, and especially no ISP fees. A cascading effect: Since I don't need broad band, I don't have to have cable TV, another savings.

When I visit my father every month, I have unlimited access to the computer. I spend way too much time on the Internet. This is another reason I don't have a computer at home. (Similarly, when I've had cable at home, I spend more time in front of the tube.)

The best piece of advice that I can offer in simplifying your life is learn to plan ahead.

One of the massive cultural shifts that has occured, almost unnoticed, in western society, is that we have stopped thinking a head in the manner that we used to and technological and sociological developments are often developed to facilitate this mentality.

This extends beyond making sure you have time to shop by bicycle and till the garden properly for planting. When you plant a seed, consider what you're going to be doing to get the most out of the produce. Before the age of electricity and 24/7/365 refrigeration, families would plant a root crop knowing that x amount would need to be stored in a root cellar, variety y kept longer and at a certain time there would need to be jars and vinegar/spices in stock for preserving.

I agree with planning ahead and thinking "big picture" for your life as well.

I think to many people equate "simple living" with a hippie commune - but there's people like me who have a job with big company, 401k,house, but the DAILY financial decisions I make are more on par with the hippies. I go to the library, shop at thrift store, use Craigslist. I never shop for recreation, only for necessity.

I think my financial philosophy boils down to "don't spend a lot of money on things that can be reposessed". i.e. I have no interest in spending money on cars, huge TVs, or all the overpriced stuff in Cargo Magazine (www.cargomag.com) I think what gives me simplicity is being very SELECTIVE about what I spend money on.

I have no problem spending money on a great sushi dinner, my spanish lessons, or travel. Basically things that give life experiences, and things that you can remember. A trip somewhere may only last a week, but you remember it for years. I don't believe a TV or a $400 watch can do the same thing as two weeks in another country, or doing a week with Habitat for Humanity.

I'd like to learn how to grow food - but I'm not a great gardener. I have learned to do a lot of housework myself, saving some bucks along the way too.

Oh also farmer's markets are a great place to get fresh fruits and veggies.

Consider reading......

"Voluntary Simplicity" by Duane Elgin

This book came out in 1981 with an update in 1993 on how to live in
balance (not poverty). It's not a tome on how to build a cabin on the
woods and go off grid. It's honest food for thought.

Either borrow it from you local libiray or buy a copy off e-bay (Publshers
over run) for cheap.

it's odd, but a movement toward simplicity can very easily become a complicated question. we've evolved several guidelines for our own movement toward simplicity.

1) own less, buy less, and spend less money.
2) get out of debt and stay out of debt
3) figure out what your time is worth and make decisions accordingly.
4) take your time.

the rest...just tactics and strategies. for us, that means no consumer debt, very nearly no mortgage on a small house, no lawn but lots of garden (both vegetable and otherwise), a number of bicycles but no car, a diminishing workweek, saturday chore/errand days, and sundays for relaxation (a sort of non-religious sabbath, if you will). we don't buy much, but when we do, it's well-considered (including 30-day waiting period for anything of substantial cost). we still eat out, but not that often. we still buy books, but also use the library heavily. we repair things instead of throwing them away.

there's probably more, but you get the idea.

it's odd, but a movement toward simplicity can very easily become a complicated question. we've evolved several guidelines for our own movement toward simplicity.

1) own less, buy less, and spend less money.
2) get out of debt and stay out of debt
3) figure out what your time is worth and make decisions accordingly.
4) take your time.

the rest...just tactics and strategies. for us, that means no consumer debt, very nearly no mortgage on a small house, no lawn but lots of garden (both vegetable and otherwise), a number of bicycles but no car, a diminishing workweek, saturday chore/errand days, and sundays for relaxation (a sort of non-religious sabbath, if you will). we don't buy much, but when we do, it's well-considered (including 30-day waiting period for anything of substantial cost). we still eat out, but not that often. we still buy books, but also use the library heavily. we repair things instead of throwing them away.

there's probably more, but you get the idea.


Is this a joke?

Is this a joke?
Only to you. I thought it was a fantastic post.

For me, "the simple life" means making everything as easy and convenient as possible. Growing my own food would be a hassle. So would shopping at a thrift store.

I find cycling to be the best way to simplify my life. Breeze through traffic jams, always find a parking spot. Faster and easier than driving much of the time. Doing shopping via the web is another way.

Paul

Growing my own food would be a hassle.
It may be for some, but it doesn't have to be a chore. I find it no more hassle than watching TV.

Al

it's odd, but a movement toward simplicity can very easily become a complicated question. we've evolved several guidelines for our own movement toward simplicity.

1) own less, buy less, and spend less money.
2) get out of debt and stay out of debt
3) figure out what your time is worth and make decisions accordingly.
4) take your time.

the rest...just tactics and strategies. for us, that means no consumer debt, very nearly no mortgage on a small house, no lawn but lots of garden (both vegetable and otherwise), a number of bicycles but no car, a diminishing workweek, saturday chore/errand days, and sundays for relaxation (a sort of non-religious sabbath, if you will). we don't buy much, but when we do, it's well-considered (including 30-day waiting period for anything of substantial cost). we still eat out, but not that often. we still buy books, but also use the library heavily. we repair things instead of throwing them away.

there's probably more, but you get the idea.

I agree with the general points -- although this is specifically tailored to you:

re: working and taking your time: with e-mail people don't each other enough time to reflect and cotemplate a problem. Everyone who's in an office has had someone who sends an e-mail, then calls and says "did you get my e-mail"? I take my time at work, hence less mistakes, and more productivity.

re: debt. completely agree - consumer debt other than a mortgage is ridiculous, but to subsidize our economy and keep it looking good, we're told that we need to go spend money at the mall. What were we told to do after 9/11? Go Shopping! I certainly use credit cards for the perks, airline miles, points, online shopping, but I never finance things like a grill, furniture, or even carry a balance month to month. Everyone knows when you start using a few credit cards, and then start relying on them, then you're late and your rates go up the amounts start adding up faster than the ebola virus spreads. But people won't give them up, (and companies still keep giving credit to students and people that can't pay it back)

And I'm all for banning credit card sign up tables on college campuses. Nothing pisses me off more than a company that wants to give $15,000 in credit to someone making no money. (But they know their parents will bail them out, so they don't care)

And all the articles written about "how to get out of debt" focus on absurdly banal things like "stop buying coffee at starbucks", and "ask your card for a lower rate" (as it will save you $3 a day). Sure the little daily things are important, but that won't curb your DESIRES, and to be debt free requires a complete shift in ideals and lifestyle, like yours described above. Even after reading all the articles people won't get out of debt if they maintain the lifestyle of consumption they're living. Just can't work.

Even saying all that I'm still tempted this spring to go put a new bike on my credit card and pay it next month - and it's unfortunately completely understandable (and scary) watching people spend $800, then $300, then $200, then suddenly it's $4,000.

If you want to live frugally, avoid too much debt, etc, I think that the place you live is an important consideration. Almost everybody uses petroleum energy for their heating and air conditioning and pays a lot for it. It's generally better to have a home with more than one person and that is no bigger than necessary. Share the home and share those bills. Have good insulation, especially at the windows and roof. Wear extra socks and sweaters in the winter and dress cool in the summer, and don't use much heat or air conditioning.

Only to you. I thought it was a fantastic post.

Hey,i'm just asking to make sure its not. Its so fantastic. I suppose it depends where you live. Its a bit strange to do all this yet be online and cable/sat? Forced heating/AC?

Hey,i'm just asking to make sure its not. Its so fantastic. I suppose it depends where you live. Its a bit strange to do all this yet be online and cable/sat? Forced heating/AC?

ah, no...not a joke.

we live in a post-WWII neighborhood small/medium-sized upper-midwestern city. winters are cold, summers are hot and humid. spring and fall are nice.

as for cable/sat -- no, we don't bother with such things. the TV (big, widescreen) is used only for movies on DVD. some of which we own, most of which we check out from the public library.

online -- yes, broadband internet. but this is mostly because i do part of my work from home and need to be online-available during non-business hours. it's simpler than having to got to the office at 10pm on a saturday night when the server goes down. when i retire or semi-retire (i'm shooting for retiring at 40, by the way), i'll ditch it and use the free wi-fi at the public library and various cafes.

forced air/AC -- yes to both, but we keep the heat down in the winter, use the A/C only when necessary in the summer, and also do some of the heating with wood. most of the wood is scavenged via bicycle-trailer from my various neighbors who cut down their trees every now and then. we also have solar panels. i'd like a wind turbine, but it's not allowed in town.

i don't see why it's strange. first of all, simplicity is what you make of it. for me, that means minimal consumption, underemployment, lots of free time. for some, the amount of gardening we do wouldn't be simple, it would just be work. second, simplicity isn't about self-abnegation -- it's about learning what you really need to live well (notice, i say live well, not just survive).

and there's no contradiction between simplicity and owning a house -- unless you let the mortgage and the maintenance take over your life. our mortgage is nearly paid off (after owning the house for only 4 years, by the way) and we keep the improvements to a minimum -- both in terms of what we do and in terms of what we pay others to do. and, yes, i'm perfectly willing to pay someone else to do the work on my house because i don't care to do it -- it's work to me, not fun -- and because they, being professionals, are better at it than i am. we don't remodel just for the sake of remodeling either -- but sometimes things need replacement and/or repair. this is the trade-off for being able to have a place of our own -- a house that's turning into one big bookcase and a yard that's turning into one big garden.

does that answer your question?

Yep,no different from me. Only AC set to 78 in summer and Heat at 68 in winter. No big screen. Just got DSL. Direct. No cell phones. No debt but for Mortgage. Retire? Another 7 years,i still have one in college.

Yep,no different from me. Only AC set to 78 in summer and Heat at 68 in winter. No big screen. Just got DSL. Direct. No cell phones. No debt but for Mortgage. Retire? Another 7 years,i still have one in college.

68 in the winter? how decadent....

seriously though, i'm the warm type so i prefer less heat in winter (55-60 degrees, depending on time of day) so that i can use the a/c when it's hot in the summer. besides, one can always sit near the woodstove.

we went the other direction on the phones -- cellular only, no landline.
the big screen, alas, is from the pre-simplicity days. i doubt it will be replaced once the time comes.

and i clearly forgot what for us is perhaps the most important aspect of simplicity. no kids.

Yep,no different from me. Only AC set to 78 in summer and Heat at 68 in winter.
I keep AC at 82F in summer and haven't used heat in >5yrs. (Where I live there are some nights as cool as 28F which means the house is often ~55F in the morning)

Al

68 in the winter? how decadent....

seriously though, i'm the warm type so i prefer less heat in winter (55-60 degrees, depending on time of day) so that i can use the a/c when it's hot in the summer. besides, one can always sit near the woodstove.

we went the other direction on the phones -- cellular only, no landline.
the big screen, alas, is from the pre-simplicity days. i doubt it will be replaced once the time comes.

and i clearly forgot what for us is perhaps the most important aspect of simplicity. no kids.

No kids. You can get a lot more done like that.
I only turn on the heater as i leave in the morning at 5:30,wife and daughter are wennies.

I don't own a car, I rent a small/cheap room, and I live off of berries that I find on the side of the road when I'm biking or walking. This saves both money and time as I don't have to shop. But the real simplicity came when I installed solar panels in the tops of my ears. Now I don't have to sleep anymore, affording me more time to relish in the idea of all of the things I don't have to deal with or pay for. The panels work great except that I can't wear a hat and must keep my hair short (own a pair of scissors). Of course, I have to take the day off from work if it is overcast.

I keep AC at 82F in summer and haven't used heat in >5yrs. (Where I live there are some nights as cool as 28F which means the house is often ~55F in the morning)

Al

In winter, I keep my heat at 61 on weekdays and 63 on weekends....I won't turn the air on until it hits 90, or unless its really humid (I can take heat but not humiditiy).

It helps to keep in mind that, even with no car, no TV, no computer, minimal use of heat/AC, thrift store clothing and furniture, and a small residence, you are still living like a king/queen compared to most people that have ever lived.

I think public transportation is so significant in choosing a simpler life. You see so many people on this forum who struggle owning two or more cars while balancing a huge mortgage. These forum members are trapped in jobs and homes that require a motor vehicle. How in the world can you save for retirement or have a simple life when 20% of your income has to feed a motorcar? There's just no way.

Here's my solution. Find a job that's close to a lightrail or commuter rail line and within a mile. Then find a place to live on the other side of the line. You're now car free.

I read in some book at the turn of the century before the automobile, people used to pay dearly to live next to a train line. It used to be hard to find a home close to the stop because that's where people wanted to live as the train offered rapid transportation and an improved quality of life. With the train, you had direct access to shopping, jobs, entertainment and opportunity. The same holds true today.

No reason to struggle,its there own fault if they get a big mort. You dont have to own a house. Keeping up with the jones is what get people in trouble. I'm not saying i'm smarter then the next because i'm not but having a cc for 35 years,i've never made a payment except the payment due so the % rates have never gotten me in trouble. I was lucky to get a 80K house thats worth an unbelivable 600K now. Its to bad we had to take out a line of credit to pay the taxes this year. Strange,in 02,03 and 05 we had to pay almost to the penny what we had saved in our savings.

It helps to keep in mind that, even with no car, no TV, no computer, minimal use of heat/AC, thrift store clothing and furniture, and a small residence, you are still living like a king/queen compared to most people that have ever lived.

not quite. i don't have retainers, servants, or vassals.

but we do live quite well, i'll give you that.

i don't have retainers, servants, or vassals.


I have always wanted a vassal. A liege would be good too.

Sometimes, A/C is considered an "essential" for living in ridiculously hot climates. I'd say that only in hospitals does it really do much good over cheaper ceiling fans and good insulation. Elderly people don't need air conditioning if they haven't spent 80 years in Chicago or Buffalo followed by 10 in Phoenix...yet Aborigine great grandmothers are barely sweating at 105 years old in 120 degree heat.

Good stuff here, I'll add one thing that works for me that's only been briefly touched on. I don't want to start a rent vs own debate, but part of my simple life is renting an apartment rather than owning a house. When it comes to home and yard maintenance (or even housecleaning, for that matter), I'm the type that jumps right in at first, but loses interest pretty quickly. I'd rather throw away my money, as some say, on rent than to have to do all the upkeep myself. If I owned a house, I'd probably spend a fair amount of money on paying other people to do (or at least finish) many maintenance-type things, because to me it would be worth it to not have to do it myself.

The weird part about the rent/own/house/apartment debate is that most families seem to consider their own fenced-off half acre as a right akin to freedom to pursue happiness, hence suburban sprawl. I think the real answer is somewhere in between sprawl and total anthills in the middle of a huge parkland. Fenced-off gardens and lawns on roofs would be perfect, since your kids can play in a protected space or when they grow up, you can take them out to the undeveloped parkland saved from turning into backyard. I wouldn't raise kids in an apartment just to prove a point, but indoor spaces can be just as productive and stimulating as long as there's the occasional trip to the beach or the mountains. On bikes.

Oh, and another tip re: The Simple Life - don't watch it, it's a crap show.:rolleyes: (Is it even still on? I saw a few episodes the first season.)

For me, living simply means trying to answer these three questions about reality:
What do I really need?
What real price must I pay to get what I need?
Will I really be happier when I get it?


I guess these are pretty simple questions, but they do help me figure stuff out.

I have always wanted a vassal. A liege would be good too.

i must admit, so have i.

The weird part about the rent/own/house/apartment debate is that most families seem to consider their own fenced-off half acre as a right akin to freedom to pursue happiness, hence suburban sprawl.

and i also think that part of the problem with the simplicity debate about rent/own is that it pretty quickly starts to head in this direction.

i can only say that after renting for 12 years, that owning a house for us is more to our taste and it better suits are move toward simplicity. this is largely becuase our move toward simplicity, in the end, is geared toward full or partial retirement. once the mortgage is entirely paid off (and this will be very soon), we have only property taxes to worry about -- and they're not much. it's rather shocking to see just how much money you save if you pay off a 30-year mortgage in 5 years.

in return, we have a house of our own, a piece of property that we can develop inside and outside as we wish, and a massive amount of financial equity -- that will keep growing as time goes by. should we decide, when we're 50, that we want to move to another part of the country or just travel, we'll be able to sell the house for several times what we paid for it. or, we might decide just to live in the same place for the next 50 years (this being our general inclination anyway).

the important point is that owning house and property as freehold (and that's the crucial point) provides rather a lot of freedom -- to invest in other things, to spend the money, to work less, to later sell for a significant profit, or whatever.

You need some ideas on how to live the simple life? Let me fast-forward you to the simple life.

I lost my job some time ago (God bless America) and decided to start my own business. For the first year we lived mostly without income, surviving off of quickly evaporating savings. THAT kind of experience will turn you to the so-called "simple life". You don't have to ponder how to accomplish the simple life. Economics gets you there faster than anything else.

Suddenly, you start to actually enjoy the experience of shopping at a grocery store. Suddenly, meat is a treat! You know you have hit simple life Nirvana when the family finally stops biitching about eating beans again because they are glad to have them and start to appreciate your creative ways to modify recipes.

The wife's "Ungodly busy" days get more simple when you drop the piano lessons and swimming lessons and hockey lessons, and all the other money sucking crap that the kids hated doing anyway. We had time to eat dinners together and talk together. We went to the library together to get books rather than going to Barns and Noble for coffee and a $100 pile of bookshelf weights. We went to church together and prayed together for our health, and for the ones we loved, and for people we didn't know and for improved income.

I used the fireplace as the main heat source for the house - "oh how charming" - ya, right. We rode bicycles because it made sense to do so rather than scooting off by car. One measure of how our life was being simplified was that our weekly garbage production went from four garbage cans on trash day to one garbage can.

Ah yes, the "simple life"; you can buy it cheap, my friends. Most of us are just one bad day at work away from the simple life.

1. If you have a tv, throw it out.
2. If you have a car, throw it out.
3. If you have children, throw them out.

I'm wondering if you have any tips for other activities that both simplify and enrich your life at the same time ...I'd love to hear what creative things you're doing to simplify your lives.
A German billboard advised me to smoke Polo cigarettes for the simple life.

The attached photo has been edited for posting here just in case there are any simple minds out there. The original billboard was not so edited.

1. Second-hand goods.
2. No TV,radio,stereo, or newspaper subscription. Use internet instead. (I hear there's free internet available in the states.)
3. Cycle whenever I can. This year I cancelled my gym membership.

A German billboard advised me to smoke Polo cigarettes for the simple life.

The attached photo has been edited for posting here just in case there are any simple minds out there. The original billboard was not so edited.

Wow! That looks like a very nice simple life to me. I will pass on the ciggie but the fella is REAL cute and just think about the money that woman saved by not having to wear a top. Where do I sign up? ;)

One measure of how our life was being simplified was that our weekly garbage production went from four garbage cans on trash day to one garbage can.
Yep, the overall amount of trash goes down with simple life. You will probably also switch from microwaved meals to cooking fresh, "real" food, which in turn increases the amount of biodegradeable trash you produce (and reduces the non-biodegradeable kind).

BTW, how many of you sort the household waste? It doesn't really simplify life, but I think it fits well in the general context of simple life. The small housing company I currently live in has separate containers for recyclable paper, biodegradeable waste and "general" mixed waste. We will probably get a container for cardboard in the near future.

--J

Yep, the overall amount of trash goes down with simple life. You will probably also switch from microwaved meals to cooking fresh, "real" food, which in turn increases the amount of biodegradeable trash you produce (and reduces the non-biodegradeable kind).

BTW, how many of you sort the household waste? It doesn't really simplify life, but I think it fits well in the general context of simple life. The small housing company I currently live in has separate containers for recyclable paper, biodegradeable waste and "general" mixed waste. We will probably get a container for cardboard in the near future.

--J

Oh ho ho. Are you kidding? The microwave and fast foods were the first to go. It is hard for the 59 cent frozen burrito for one to compete with a 39 cent box of instant macaroni & cheese that feeds two.

Yes, we do separate our garbage here, but for some insane reason, it all still goes to the landfill. The county says that they are trying to set up a system for when we really want to start to reclaim. Until then, we separate, and they landfill.

Anyway, I took separating garbage to the next level. I used all the burnable stuff as fuel in the fireplace. I am not sure which was worse for the environment; burning or landfill. I tell you, though, an empty plastic milk jug or a gallon vegetable oil container really throws out the BTU! You can also get a lot of mileage out of left-over cooking oil poured over wood logs. Newspapers, junk mail, empty boxes - all turned into heat for the house. Once you reduce spending and burn all the flamable garbage, there isn't much left besides a couple of cans and potato peels.

One rule of thumb is that when you don't have a lot of things, take good care of the things you do have. For example, keep your bike well maintained. Lube it and adjust it frequently.

You don't want to worship stuff in a materialistic way, but respect the belongings you have been blessed with.

I tell you, though, an empty plastic milk jug or a gallon vegetable oil container really throws out the BTU!

Yikes! I don't think those fumes are good for you...

Waste reduction:
I sort my trash - recyclables (most of which I cycle 4 miles RT to drop off) are newspaper, all other paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass, and plastics. Food waste goes in the freezer until I get a bag (from the deli, had lunchmeat or cheese in it) full, then gets tossed. Keeping the food waste out of my regular trash means I can wait longer to pitch the regular trash. It takes me 2-3 months to fill a standard-sized paper grocery bag with landfill-bound trash. I need to find someone nearby who composts and wants my food waste...

Meals:
After years of moving around a lot, changing jobs, living in the city, etc, I'm finally back to cooking at home instead of eating out all the time. And real cooking, not microwave meals - in fact I don't have a microwave. I heat up leftovers on the range, the same way I cooked them in the first place. As mentioned, this also tends to reduce your waste.

Clutter/posessions:
I also shop at the thrift store...of course, I go even when I don't need anything, and still buy stuff, which just adds to the clutter. As long as I give enough stuff back to the thrift store to pretty much "break even", it doesn't pile up.

Entertainment:
No TV, I do watch DVDs on the PC - I check them out from the library, much cheaper than renting. Hanging out with friends can also be very enjoyable. Get together to cook, or go hiking or window shopping or bicycling together. My neighbor loves to gold pan - I don't get near as excited by it as he does, but I go with him sometimes. I get a good hike, spend some time outside, learn something new, and strenghten our friendship.

One other thing that makes my life fulfilling, as well as filling time that I might otherwise spend watching TV or whatever, is community involvement. I just moved here eight months ago, and already I'm president of a local theatre group, serve on the Town Trails committee, volunteer for the Heritage Society, participate in historical reenactments, attend community dances, city council meetings, and other community events, am being recruited to serve on the Chamber of Commerce Board come fall, etc etc. I moved here knowing no one (not to mention not having a job or a place to live) and now am an active and recognized member of the community. I found out last night at a CofC function that people I've never met know who I am! Find something you can attend or volunteer for that you enjoy, meet some new people, and learn some new things.

throw your ipod at your tv.

Wow! That looks like a very nice simple life to me. I will pass on the ciggie but the fella is REAL cute and just think about the money that woman saved by not having to wear a top. Where do I sign up? ;)
Yep. Like this. This is in the States somewhere, edited. Still, German tobacco ads are hard to top for simple life and kinky cycling images.

I don't own a computer. *gasp* Wow! My hat goes off to you. Living without a computer is as incomprehensible for me as car-free living is to a typical suburbanite. :) However, I greatly enjoy the fact that my life has neither a car nor TV in it, and I hope that doesn't change.

I dont have a computer, TV, car, or any of that sh-t.
I do have a computer at work (not mine, but my bosses), and a TV, but the TV remanes on the OLN network.

A German billboard advised me to smoke Polo cigarettes for the simple life.

The attached photo has been edited for posting here just in case there are any simple minds out there. The original billboard was not so edited.

Ever start a thread and then wish you hadn't? This is not one of those times. :)

throw your ipod at your tv.


Haha, best thing I read in a while. I agree.

Most of us are just one bad day at work away from the simple life.

I can't determine whether you meant getting fired or getting fed up and walking out in a huff. :D For me it would definitely be the latter. :o