Does a simpler way of life sound appealing?

[Zillotch]

My last girlfriend became my fiance (she asked ME to marry ... in front of approximately 12,000 concertgoers), but then she bailed mere months before the wedding was to happen (?). No explanation.

lol, dingbat whore.

[Man of Steel]

I'm not a "big house" guy.  I have a house and it's very average.  Most of time I sit in the same chair in it and do my thing.

If I paid for a much bigger house I'd just move the chair to that place and pay a lot more to sit in the same chair there and do my thing.

[polychronopolous]

I'm not a "big house" guy.  I have a house and it's very average.  Most of time I sit in the same chair in it and do my thing.

If I paid for a much bigger house I'd just move the chair to that place and pay a lot more to sit in the same chair there and do my thing.

The thought of a similar, averaged sized house on a few acres never enticed you?

[The True Adonis]

The thought of a similar, averaged sized house on a few acres never enticed you?

People without land will think it sounds cute until they realize they have to take care of maintaining the land.  Unless you want it to look like shit and overgrown.  They really have no idea what they are getting into for the most part.  Probably should stick to their usual surroundings.

[The True Adonis]

Imagine someone like Navy Mike on 40 acres.  LOLOLOLZERS.

[The True Adonis]

To me, the most "simple" way of life would be one where you live in an apartment, play with your Iphone and go to work everyday.  Whats so hard about that?

[HTexan]

To me, the most "simple" way of life would be one where you live in an apartment, play with your Iphone and go to work everyday.  Whats so hard about that?

The simplest way, is like my rich trust fund ex co-worker. He is only working because he is bored.

[The True Adonis]

The simplest way, is like my rich trust fund ex co-worker. He is only working because he is bored.

See, simple to me is the opposite.  Making something as routine as possible like my above scenario is what I would perceive as "simple" and boring.  Where is the challenge in that?

[HTexan]

See, simple to me is the opposite.  Making something as routine as possible like my above scenario is what I would perceive as "simple" and boring.  Where is the challenge in that?

Boring != a simpler life.
No stress == simpler life.

Imo, doing whatever you love to do, and not worrying about how much is pays is the simple life.

[Dr Dutch]

Where the water tastes like wine ?  In 2015 ?

[muscularny]

[ritch]

part of me wished to have grown up in the 70's like when Arnold was top dog. Seemed much more chill back then for sure. This lifestyle is having kids look very aged young I find.

[Fuzzy Nuts]

Been thinking of getting a nice motorhome and selling my house. No property tax and if you get sick of the scenery, turn the key.

[ritch]

Been thinking of getting a nice motorhome and selling my house. No property tax and if you get sick of the scenery, turn the key.

those unless king size... Would get kinda small, no? And the operating costs of the big one's must be nuts. I've actually considered living in a mobile home as at least you have seperate rooms and they're very cheap.

[Radical Plato]

The main issue with any form of alternative lifestyle is that you get out of step with the majority, so anyone who adopts such a lifestyle needs to be incredibly comfortable in their own skin, reasonably self sufficient and able to tolerate being alone for indeterminate lengths of time.

[pellius]

Boring != a simpler life.
No stress == simpler life.

Imo, doing whatever you love to do, and not worrying about how much is pays is the simple life.

That's what Charlie Sheen thought.

[sync pulse]

From what I have observed, "Going off grid" is a euphemism for abandoning your children.

[phreak]

People without land will think it sounds cute until they realize they have to take care of maintaining the land.  Unless you want it to look like shit and overgrown.  They really have no idea what they are getting into for the most part.  Probably should stick to their usual surroundings.

True. People should focus on distancing themselves from people, not owning land in and of itself. Buy a large property, and rent most of it out for commercial use such as farming. It generates income, keeps neighbours at a fair distance, and you have then absolved yourself of most of the maintenance requirements. A quiet life, without having to spend 4 hours per day on your riding mower.

[phreak]

those unless king size... Would get kinda small, no? And the operating costs of the big one's must be nuts. I've actually considered living in a mobile home as at least you have seperate rooms and they're very cheap.

Small for what? You can only be in one room at any given moment. What do you really need a lot of space for? Stuff? Then that should be your first priority: getting rid of things that don't enrich your life. And no, having thousands of items does not enrich your life. At best your life is temporarily less insufferable at the time of purchase. Nobody gets true happiness from having boxes and boxes of stuff that they haven't seen or touched for years.


Yes, I can say that, because I went through it myself years ago. I had so much shit that I actually needed a large (Dutch standards) apartment of about 900 sqf. And that was completely alone. A few years later I had seen the light (and made my wife see the same light), and we moved to a small house of about 650 sqf. Now we have progressed again, so that we've come to realise that we don't need the second floor at all. So we could now live comfortably on 350-400 sqf. I've never been calmer and more content in my life.

[FitnessFrenzy]

having a big or small house is not the main issue. How you think of your possessions are more important. If you live in a small house, and you dream of a bigger house every day, you will be unhappy. If you are happy with what you have, you will be fine. There was some research done, anyone can find it on Google, where it was found out that if you earned 70K per year or so, that would make you happier than a smaller salary, but increasing it even further in excess of 70K would not make you significantly more happy.

This can be seen in relation to the way of life discussion. If you have an average income and healthy food, it would probably be better for you to improve your social life and fitness than to work 80 hours per week for getting a million dollar house, which will not make you so much more happy, in comparision to the years of 80 hour work weeks that you went through to get that house, and the connected lack of exercise and social experiences with other people.

On a more anecdotal note, there was a statement from Dr. Dre that he knows several multi millionaires who are on anti depressants. And by the way, I think my above comments transcend political ideology. My points are about people's (psychological) nature, and these things will affect most people regardless of what politics you vote for.

[phreak]

having a big or small house is not the main issue. How you think of your possessions are more important. If you live in a small house, and you dream of a bigger house every day, you will be unhappy. If you are happy with what you have, you will be fine. There was some research done, anyone can find it on Google, where it was found out that if you earned 70K per year or so, that would make you happier than a smaller salary, but increasing it even further in excess of 70K would not make you significantly more happy.

This can be seen in relation to the way of life discussion. If you have an average income and healthy food, it would probably be better for you to improve your social life and fitness than to work 80 hours per week for getting a million dollar house, which will not make you so much more happy, in comparision to the years of 80 hour work weeks that you went through to get that house, and the connected lack of exercise and social experiences with other people.

On a more anecdotal note, there was a statement from Dr. Dre that he knows several multi millionaires who are on anti depressants. And by the way, I think my above comments transcend political ideology. My points are about people's (psychological) nature, and these things will affect most people regardless of what politics you vote for.

This was summarised later by the honorable Notorious B.I.G as "mo' money, mo' problems".

[Dr Dutch]

Small for what? You can only be in one room at any given moment. What do you really need a lot of space for? Stuff? Then that should be your first priority: getting rid of things that don't enrich your life. And no, having thousands of items does not enrich your life. At best your life is temporarily less insufferable at the time of purchase. Nobody gets true happiness from having boxes and boxes of stuff that they haven't seen or touched for years.


Yes, I can say that, because I went through it myself years ago. I had so much shit that I actually needed a large (Dutch standards) apartment of about 900 sqf. And that was completely alone. A few years later I had seen the light (and made my wife see the same light), and we moved to a small house of about 650 sqf. Now we have progressed again, so that we've come to realise that we don't need the second floor at all. So we could now live comfortably on 350-400 sqf. I've never been calmer and more content in my life.

Try noordoost-Groningen, Friek....

[The Abdominal Snoman]

part of me wished to have grown up in the 70's like when Arnold was top dog. Seemed much more chill back then for sure. This lifestyle is having kids look very aged young I find.

Back then the average working American middle class man could buy a house with a year's salary.



http://www.classic70s.com/1970s-prices.html


1970s prices.

All are approximates / averages and many varied by brand, etc.

Average 1970s home price – approximately $27,000 (prices went up through the 1970s)

Annual tuition/room and board at a state university - $400- $1200 per year

First Class stamp – 6 cents

Food / Toiletries

Large eggs – 59 cents per dozen

Milk – 62 cents per gallon

Potatoes – 99 cents for 10 lbs.

Butter - $1.33 per pound

Bacon – 80 cents per pound

Sirloin Steak - $1.19 per pound

Loaf of bread – 25 cents

Ketchup – 19 cents

Sugar – 39 cents for 5 lbs.

Tomato Soup – 10 cents per can

Coffee - $1.90 per pound

Toothpaste – 75 cents

Pork Chops – 59 cents per pound

Pot Roast – 59 cents per pound

Frozen TV dinners – 39 cents

Bar Soap – 20 cents per bar

Onions – 9 cents per pound

Oranges – 7 cents per pound

Car-related Items

Gas – 36 cents per gallon (before the 1973 oil crisis)

Car - $3900 (1970); $5500 (1979)

Whitewall Tires - $13

Motor Oil – 25 cents per quart

8-track tape player - $40

CB Radio - $140

1970s Clothing Prices

Men’s down jacket - $20

Men’s suit - $40

Men’s sport coat - $30

Men’s dress shoes - $22

Wrangler jeans - $10

Women’s summer dress - $8

Women’s slippers - $4

Ladies spring coat - $25

1970s Furniture / Household prices

Bunk beds - $100

Recliner chair - $70

Bean Bag chair - $20

Porcelain sink - $10

Mattress and box spring - $75

Latex house paint - $7 per gallon

Toys prices in the 1970s

Atari game cartridges - $20

Mattel Hot Wheels Car – 69 cents

Radio-Controlled car - $5

Barbie inflatable furniture set - $2

[HTexan]

That's what Charlie Sheen thought.

Because having money making you stupid enough to bang nasty hookers raw?
We now know what you like. 

[Primemuscle]

Theres lots of shows in tv now showing everything from tiny houses, to living off the land. While part of me is very drawn to this, another part thinks how it would get old after a while. Does anyone else struggle with having to "accept" modern lifestyle, but secretly craves a more minimalist way of life? As i am hitting my early thirties, the harley, bmw, huge house bullshit seems even sillier to me now, then it did when i was making 30k a year in my twenties. I have money, resources most normal people dream about, but im less materialistic than ever. I think i would be happiest living on a beach in a $10k shack. Of course wife has a different idea for the future, but thats a whole other issue

You don't need to go to extremes to find a simpler life. A tiny house would get really old in a hurry, particularly if you live somewhere where the weather isn't conducive to being outdoors most of the time. There is nothing wrong with being a minimalist and there are many different interpretations of what minimalist means to various people. I be happiest living near the beach somewhere where the weather is great all the time, such as Hawaii or the French Riviera, but this is not what one thinks of as a modest lifestyle.