Foo - The Simple Life

Do you really have one? A lot of people think they live the "simple life" but I wonder how many really do. With bills, home repairs, home mortgages, school, work, chores, activities, kids, pets, tv's, luxury automobiles, computers, lush lawns, etc., do you really lead a simple life?

Nope, nothing simple about my life. I don't drive and some things come easily, but life sure ain't simple.

While we still have a hectic lifestyle, we have decided to reduce the amount of stuff we have in the house. Typically if we haven't used it in the last 2 years it's getting donated or chucked out. We just came back from RONA with 15 plastic storage boxes. I find that clutter around me reduces my energy and sidelines new projects. I'm hoping this helps to create a simpler, or at least less cluttered, life. BTW, my wife is a bit of a pack rat so this could be difficult.

Cell phones, computers, cars, television, etc, etc...so many "necessities".

Who would willingly give up their computer, cell phone, cable TV (let alone HDTV), 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc.) car?

I gave up cable (and broadcast) TV a few years ago, never had and don't care about HDTV, and I could give up my cell phone without much fuss. Depending on the car, I could pare myself down to one, and as for bikes, I could live with one or two. I could see possibly eliminating the computer from my daily life, somedy, maybe, but I'm not in any rush in that department.

Clutter, well, I'm working on it. I don't have too much junk, but I would prefer to have less, and as little as possible, ideally. It's a tough project, though. Pretty overwhelming, and a lot to take on weekend-by-weekend.

I think a good personal goal would be to be able to fit my life into one relatively small Uhaul (maybe with some stuff packed into the car it's towing. :)). That's not too much to ask, I don't think.

So maybe not entirely simple right now, but someday. Maybe soon.

All that exists is this moment and the void. All else is illusion.

Cell phones, computers, cars, television, etc, etc...so many "necessities".

Who would willingly give up their computer, cell phone, cable TV (let alone HDTV), 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc.) car?

Car has never happened. If I wasn't working on this current job I would kill my cell phone and computer. TV I would not get rid of. The only clutter I have is my bike stuff. Past that, I don't own very much.

No cell phone.
No cable TV. Have a 13in TV with "wireless connection" (rabbit ears), gets 5 channels until analog signal goes away in Feb 09.
No debts.
Old car still runs well.
I can walk to most things I need daily.
I have cultivated a decluttering attitude and don't feel compelled to buy much stuff anymore.

I arranged my life to be low maintenance and cheap while I'm a college student.

However, all the school-work does not make my life simpler.

You know what's f**ked up? I bet all of you still have eating utensils; USE YOUR HANDS PEOPLE!

Never married, no kids, house and car are paid, BP is 107/70, resting pulse of 68, simple as it gets.
Health insurance is my single largest expense.
In general I live a modest life; if I need something I'll figure out how to afford it, and I'm patient, if I don't need something I'm usually satisfied to go without. I don't squeeze every last drop of blood from each dollar, too stressful, but I do wear my clothes out and drive my cars into the ground.