Hello all. Glad to be here this morning and hoping you are all doing well.
It is a muggily morning! Waiting for the cool down to hit!! We had a rain shower yesterday afternoon, that seemed to pop up from nowhere. It may rain some today as well. The cool front should be moving in after today, which will be refreshing. I am tired of 90*+.
I want to talk a little about simplifying today. I have watched some videos and been reading a little about people who have gone really drastic in their lives - going off grid, and kind of disconnecting with societal norms. It has been interesting.
Simplifying your life does not mean EASY. Not by any means. Think back to the stories from our ancestors - and life was anything but easy - but it sure was a lot simpler than life today! At least in my book.
WOW!
In my view society has a LOT of things wrong. I love the idea of kind of unplugging from the normal stuff and just living a basic life.
You don't have to go completely off grid - but being wise with our utility is smart. You don't have to heat with wood or pellets but turn down the thermostat a few degrees.
You don't have to have a huge garden, but growing a little and eating natural has a lot benefits.
It means using simple ingredients and cooking (even if basic) at home.
Unplugging from social media, would be huge! It is called peace.
You don't have to have the newest and the greatest - look for different ways to use what you have.
It means recycle, reduce and re-imagine.
It means utilizing what I have in new ways. It means thinking outside the box. It means being wise with my usage of utilities.
It means have a connection with others who think similarly.
I do not need the biggest, the shiniest, the fanciest new do-dad. I just need enough.
To me, it kind of means living a life that my parents lived - a few decades ago. Yeah, that is me.
Having less stuff in my home. I want to have the things I love, but all the rest is so distracting. I figure much of it may bless someone else.
I know everyone doesn't even remotely think this way. I guess there has to be a balance. But I will stay on the older ways route.
I truly do admire those that live off grid. You have to have a lot of grit to do that. It isn't easy at all - it is a lot of work. Growing, hunting, chopping, building, gleaning, gathering, etc. It isn't for sissies!
But living that way, is living with nature a lot more. Utilizing all that this good earth has and puts out there for us. Using our minds and figuring a way.
Living is a simpler life is about basics. It isn't fancy. It is about being smart with what you have. It is about letting go of some of the 'easy' ways. It is about having peace. It is about freedom from societal norms.
It isn't always easy at all!
What is simplifying to you? What do you do to live a simpler lifestyle?
Does it mean peace to you? It sure does to me. It is just a calming way to live and THRIVE.
Look forward to your ideas and opinions.
Have a wonderful day and stay safe.
No debt. Smaller. Useful. Functions correctly.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how many "You need" comments come about. We're in our paid off 1650sf (small for the 90s) home purchased in '91`. (Yes, we can afford more, we don't NEED more). Driving 7 and 10yo vehicles. The 10yo is mine with just 45k on it. I am 64yo and it is likely my last purchase.
Sister last week "you need another large simmering pot". No I don't, this one is fine and I don't want to find a spot for another large pot. Same sister unloading the dishwasher 'there is no room for these bowls'. I went in and put them where they belong. "But you have to stack them". đŸ™„There is plenty of space in our kitchen and there is empty space.
Same sister 'you need new clothes, those are old'. Me, they are fine. No holes, no thin spots, they fit.
I'm not bored. I'm not doing without. My needs are met and actually, my wants are met.
Garden is producing zucchini and feeding the 'hood. I see 1 eggplant nearly ready. Tomato harvest is slow but I have some. 7 quarts of ratatouille vac-sealed in the freezer and 14 pints of smoked jalapeno salsa in the pantry.
Happy Tuesday everyone!!!
LOVE this. Boy, do we agree. I have clothes that are years old yet still function just fine for around here. I have some things for those special occasions. My car is now 23 years old and it still looks pretty good and gets me around - 70,000 miles. LOL. You can tell I am a homebody!
DeleteSome folks just don't get it - and they never will.
I really like the phrases: "I'm not bored. I'm not doing without. needs are met and actually, my wants are met." AMEN
I can’t compare with Cheryl’s car, but my Honda Accord is a 2012 and just turned over to 49,000 miles. I’ve only had to replace the starter and tires and batteries, of course. It’s probably my final vehicle.
DeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteI agree! It's the peace that I crave. I am not off grid but I do heat with wood and I watch electricity usage constantly. I garden and process and provide for family (we all do it together). It is a lot of work but so satisfying.
Making do is just a way of life for us, we don't try to push it on others but if they ask questions we will tell them what works for us.
Life can be really good and very satisfying IF you can ignore the voices of others and the relentless advertising. Take care of what you have and carry on with a knowing smile that you are doing you.
JC
YES, the peace! Even with doing the extra work, there is something so very peaceful about the lifestyle.
DeleteSame here, just the way of life and how I was raised. I will never change.
I really like your last paragraph - says it all.
I love having a simpler life than most in the US have.
ReplyDeleteOur house is smaller than the 'average' home because only two people live here and I don't want us to spend all of our time cleaning and maintaining. My house goals are a clean, cozy and comfortable home that we love and can share with friends and family and we've achieved that. Our yard is a bit too big but it's doable.
Zero debt.
A pantry full of healthy ingredients and food.
Never feeling the need to keep up with anyone else.
That is simple living for me.
You got it - 100%. I think many look down on us as 'those poor people'. I have to laugh. You are so correct, that smaller house is sure easier to heat, clean, and cool and the cost to do so is much less. I keep hearing about all the utilities people have are increasing - I guess they are, but mine stay pretty low. It is just knowing how to use them and when for me.
DeleteI think we the 'simple life folk' have it right!
I want to comment (mostly compliment) you on this post.
ReplyDeleteAn easy way to change the thermostat up or down is to do it one degree at a time. When you get used to the new setting, go another degree and so on. This is also a good way to change your eating habits.
Enough is a wonderful concept. That's what I want and I am actively trying to get there.
At 79, I am not planning to move off-grid to "simplify" my life, which sounds like a lot of work. To some extent, I'm looking for easy, too. Chopping and heating with wood is not easy. Frozen food and other "easy" solutions are not for me. I know a man whose wife died 11 years ago, when he was in his late 60s and he STILL can't cook. Trips to Trader Joe's take more out of me than cooking simple meals. Cheryl, I love your menus.
And Lori, I am 1,000% with you about not wanting to spend all of my time cleaning and maintaining.
Best wishes to everyone here. I hope all of you find the balance you're seeking. Note to older singles: Find a good handyman. It ain't cheap but it is easy!
You are so right on the thermostat - it can be done and not even noticed! Yes, again - eat perhaps a bit less each time and healthier ingredients and soon you feel it. My nephew and I were talking about that just yesterday. Little steps make huge differences.
DeleteOh, I would never go off grid either - I really don't want that much work (nor could I). The simple yet healthy meals are great. Thanks, I just eat what I like and try to use what I have.
You are correct - it is good to 'have people'!!!!! Mechanic, handy man, etc. - as we age and are alone, it is nice to have someone that can do what me may not know how. Great advice.
I can do a lot - had a great teacher - but I sure can't do everything.
Wonderful post, Cheryl. We are out of debt. Drive older cars, and don't keep up with the Jones'. I freeze leftovers, save fabrics for my designs unless it's something I don't care for and give that to a good home. I sew on bottom of the line Brothers sewing machines, if they go haywire, I buy another one. And Amazon and Walmart many times have open box deals or specials. I don't want an expensive one to maintain. One trip to the fix-it shop costs more than my machine. When our little girls were babies, and little girls and hubs just went into real estate, I simply went without a car. In that way there was no question and such freedom to stay home with our little baby and little girls. So worth it! : )
ReplyDeleteWe just try to enjoy simple things. Haha....When we first got married one of the things we would do is go to Neiman's and laugh at the prices! LOL
Take care dear one, I appreciate you. ~Amelia
All very good and sensible things! The household I grew up in only had one car ever. Mom didn't drive, and she was a stay at home mom MOST of the time. She did get a part time job at night (sis babysat me), she could walk to, and sometime later at a nice department store downtown - she rode a bus.
Deletesewing and clothes making is a great talent - I wish more today had it.
Enjoy the simple things - INDEED!
A simple life for me is to have as few tasks as possible that I HAVE to do in a day. I want to enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteI do the regular chores automatically and keep up with cleaning. Mostly I have basic meals or pick-up meals since it’s just me. I sometimes do use prepared foods from Aldi or the deli and I use mixes (complete with preservatives or whatever). I am trying my best to declutter. I’ve never been a shopper but my mom introduced me to rummage sales and we loved them and acquired too many items albeit at low cost. I’m also trying to streamline my finances. I have many bills (utilities, cell phone, internet, Medicare supplement, monthly charitable contributions, newspaper subs) automatically deducted from my checking account or charged to a credit card. I love it! I pay my credit cards online after checking every item. I earn rewards from my CC and try to take advantage of special offers - for example I will charge my upcoming 6 month car insurance on a certain CC to get $20 instead of the $12.75 I’d earn from the card I usually use. No debt for many, many years.
I do not want to go back to the old days. I like modern conveniences. To me the thought of living like my great grandparents lived, working from sun up to sun down and doing everything by hand, is not simple living and is not for me. Canning, preserving, jam making, lots of baking - not for me. Some people love it, I know.
You have come onto some very frugal ways to pay things and earn a little money as well. That is great. It sounds like you are very organized.
DeleteWe all do things differently and there is no right or wrong way. Just your way that gives you happiness.
Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating I want to go back to working so hard either. I just like that some things were simpler. It was hard work, but no interference from social media, constant on demand TV or news. It was quiet and having a good life was the end goal.
I do enjoy cooking and canning and gardening - those things give me a sense of freedom. Again, not for everyone.
I love how we each get to define our 'simplified' life.
I think a big part of simple living is not feeling that you 'have to', whether that is taking part in activities you don't enjoy or buying the biggest/best/latest gadget in order to keep up with everyone else. It is being content doing what YOU want to do and having things around you that make YOU happy.
ReplyDelete