Living with less money

[CapnAwesome]

I evicted myself from the mini-van, so to speak. I really only have a few interests in life, rock climbing and sex, and van or no my girlfriend wasn't that into either of them.

But where DO you live?

But even though my lifestyle might be an extreme representation of living with less (or if you go to most of the world, a not so extreme version) everybody can consume less. There is a whole society of well educated kids from good backgrounds who have embraced a minimalistic lifestyle that most people are unaware of.

Everybody can consume less, yes. But most people have areas where they aren't willing to give up consumer goods. For me, it's food, alcohol, tickets, books. I don't want to do without them, and in buying these things, I support performers, writers, waiters, chefs, and local vineyards.

I don't understand how people can bitch about capitalism and consumerism (two separate things) and then buy so whole hardily into the system that they claim to oppose.

It is one thing to go crazy on Black Friday and kill other people to buy cheap Cabbage Patch Dolls. It's another to give up all consumer goods altogether. You seem to be presenting this as a black and white issue. It's not. I can go to a great restaurant and then to the opera (dressed to kill and wearing jewelry) and still be sad about the amount of consumerism in my country.

I live in a rock climbing campground in Southern California. To say I live anywhere is not a very accurate statement, I'm nomadic and cars don't suit my lifestyle very well.

I think you can be sad about the consumerism, I know someone who does animal testing and is constantly sad about it. Being sad is way different than actually living up to the standards you promote. That Jewelry most likely comes from suffering in Africa. Is it worth it to look good (subjectively) so that other people suffer? It's what's wrong with our society. It's why it will collapse, and it's why the environment is being destroyed.

---

I guess it has to depend on you personality. As a child I alway saw myself as an intellectual, athletic, explorer, with the desire to experience some of the best things in life. I always loved astronomy, literature, music, travel, abstract thought, and comfort. I just reached my 60's, I have a large leather bound library, a world class audio system, two of the best telescopes made, travelled the world, a comfortable house and enough money to retire comfortably and not become a burden to society. Career wise I could have been much more successful and have many millions, but I tried to make decisions that allowed me to achieve my dreams and give me enough time to enjoy them. So living on less would never had cut it for me. I can respect folks that do, provided they are responsible.that they plan for retirement and health care in a responsible way, so not to become a burden on society. Dragging along the bottom rungs and not planning for retirement is just irresponsible to me. Living a small footprint and being smart and responsible I really have to respect. I couldn't do it. JD

What do you mean you couldn't do it? Of course you could, you just chose not to.