A Simpler Life

[droid_ca]

that is an interesting concept but I don't think I could go that simple

[Prem]

You take it down to the level that works for you...where the lines cross on the graph (comfort & convenience vs. time and expense acquiring and maintaining what you own or what owns you).

The purpose of major simplification/reduction of stuff is to have more time and less things requiring one's attention. Right? Then one has time to do new things. (I took up playing a string instrument and going to Mexico every winter.) Life gets better and better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fedqp3kTN8g (not me but I have the same awesome 8-string uke)

[Prem]

The Homeless Billionaire

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/deep-thoughts-with-the-homeless-billionaire.html?page=1

[jstrubberg]

The guy owns a Gulfstream and cycles between five star hotels.

Not homeless. Not simple.

[Prem]

In contrast to other millionaires and billionaires, he's without a house of his own and it's a pretty darn simple way to live IF you're travelling much of the time.

Here in southern Oregon and in San Diego where I used to live, many of the "homeless" actually have old motorhomes that they sleep and cook in. That's not such a simple life either. Something always needs to be repaired. New tires are a big expense and so are brakes, oil changes, a new transmission and gasoline if you're living on Social Security and food stamps. Up in the hills right behind town here and beside the RR tracks (where I used to hike), tent-camping homeless come and go all the time. One left his tent and most of his belonging behind to grab a free ride to The Rainbow Gathering. Dude had a lot of stuff! Too much to carry. Three cell phones were laying on the rug outside his tent when he left---a gift to the others I supposed.

If I had $2 Billion net worth, I'd have a Gulfsteam w/ pilots leased and on call 24/7 for at least the first year or two. All my belongings would fit in a rolling suitcase and a ukulele case. Life is short. See the world if you can. There's nothing simpler than going wherever/whenever with only a credit card that has no limit that an accountant pays off every month without you ever seeing the statement. (And a small Gulfstream is much more compact and economical than Air Force 1.)

[Prem]

.....http://zenhabits.net/simple-living-manifesto-72-ideas-to-simplify-your-life/

[droid_ca]

There are some good tips on that site and some are so basic they require no additional effort Thanks for sharing that I have it bookmarked now

[Prem]

SC,

Best wishes. Times are tough.

[queeniejeanne]

My favorite topic....hey Prem, how ya doing...Missed ya.I'm done with FB.....made loads of camping friends on the social site but like all other "things" in my world: if it doesn't make a living it isn't hanging round long...other than our campers....

We down sized from a five bedroom home to a two bedroom condo...still too big, 1200 sq ft.....went to the back of the shop (we own a lockshop) and guess what ....in fill and we have an 800 sq ft apartment. got tired of paying for TV we didn't watch, went with HD Air and have 13 stations and can get anything we want via internet, which we also downsized to high speed for 37.00 per month, cell phones are on company plan, payed separately. We also both got Amatuar Radio License (Ham) Tech and General.... yes we traded to some other STUFF but the stuff will help when the power goes down...have a 4000 and a 2000 generators. We camp most weekends, winter and summer..Simple life and Simple People. Queenie Jeanne

[Prem]

Hey QJeanne! I missed you since I quit FB back in March.

Yeah, downsizing is just getting rid of a lot of "luxuries" that are really heavy anchors on one's time, finances and sense of freedom to move.

I'm selling my third vehicle next week. It depreciated $5k in three years, parked 98% of the time/4k miles per year. Our local pubic transportation just went to evening hours and Saturday service, so it seems like some people are getting rid of their cars completely around here. Still, pretty much everywhere, the excess is immense. The local doctors and "lower wealthy" living up on what we call Pill Hill have four and five cars, 3,500+ sq feet to keep clean, the pool and hot tub, the home gym and sauna, and on and on.

Of course, if I win or lose the presidential election (as a write-in candidate), I'm going to trick out my La Jolla, California beach house and finish that 3,500 sq. ft. basement and car elevator for my Mercedes, Chevy and Porsche collection. I have a nearly-magical, reality-defying bank account in the Cayman Islands that just grows and grows, so these costs are not an issue. If you want a job making sure there are no engine oil stains on the garage or elevator floors, it pays $8.90 an hour (BYOHI).

Sorry. I went on a former-CEO fantasy detour there for a paragraph.

I'm off to Mexico City, Veracruz and Zihuatanejo for the month of November with only a small backpack. El vagabundo, traveling by bus, living on tacos and fish. Last year I got bumped on a flight home and they gave me a voucher, so the ticket this time ended up costing less than half price!

Cheaper than staying home. (Really.)

[queeniejeanne]

Prem, do have a good time and when you get back you will be happy..........
We are to small to have public transport, except OATS, they don't go fast enough for me...mostly the 80 year olds, but very ill....

wow, can't imagine having to sell cars....we live downtown and walk a lot of places but we have to pull the bullet or the teardrop or the off road ( still haven't sold that wonderfully joyous piece of camping equipment)...so many memories, we took it off the market for awhile now it s back on for 2,500....Glen up in canada wants a lot more, but his are new models...look like ours though...
Sometimes, fantasyland helps.... sometimes it doesn't. Queenie

[droid_ca]

I have been thinking about this a lot as of late. When my trailer is finished am I going to ride off into the sunset and live a self contained life style Probably not will I have a home-built personal RV that I could show off to my friends probably so...I'd like to say that my vanity wouldn't get to the best of me nut it is human nature to want and desire and to show off..I'm just hoping that I might be able to help someone else out there who may be in the same type of situations that I'm in...in order to achieve a simpler life I think you have to also have some sort of inner peace as when you lay down at night you are happy to be doing what your doing because you are in control of your own destiny and the only one to blame would be yourself...so what is simpler to you everyone has different views of what a simpler life is some may stay away from television radio and cell phones others may stay away from motorized transportation and then there are some that say I'm not going to McDonalds...so it all depends on your own individual situation..for me it is the freedom that I'll be able to achieve. That is one of the reasons I have started my build it isn't going to be a permanent residents..(who knows it just might be) but my own personal little getaway that I can say yes I crafted it with my hands...I just thought that I'd give this thread a bump and maybe see where else it can go

[queeniejeanne]

You know Droid; after our loss of Tex, I have been thinking the same as you....I am not a hermit, but try not to store shop....local if at all. Amazon, Schwans and Omaha all provide what we need...Dennis' has suppliers for our amatuer radio equipment and that is all. we are happy and that is ALL. I want to pick up and go,go,go.....see sites I yet have not seen...I have a friend who takes and small pack for one outfit, he wears and then his personal stuff in the pack, goes to Thailand for months at a time......only catch, his brother in law and sister in law live there....he goes out on his own for walkabouts but let's face it he has a SPOT with luxuries and money. I do not have the advantage that Prem has or I would be in Mexico also.....Panama was amazing...16 days of wonderful, cheap food.....road side stands where you don't have the slightest idea what piece of chicken your eating or even really if it is polo or not... The last election, so mean and ugly, even friends saying bad things has been very depressing to me....we should not be mean and ugly to each other because of different political views....am I right or missing the boat at the dock?.... I rant and rave for a while and am better...am done for now. thanks if anyone is listening, if not that is ok also, Queenie Jeanne

[Prem]

QJ,

I just spent 4 days traveling by 3rd, 2nd and 1st class bus from tropical, lush and rainy Mexico in Veracruz City to Tlacotalpan up the river (to see the master of jarana guitars and his shop), to the industrial city of Coatzacoalcos (ugly), then across the Ismus of Tehuatapec (the narrow part of southern Mexico) to the desert side on the Pacific Ocean at Salina Cruz (near the bottom of Mexico) where a chubasco blew in from the north last night wtih 35 mph wind). Then it was on to hot and humid Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state today. From intense greenery and palm trees in Veracruz to cactus and palm trees in Oaxaca. It's quite a contrast in sides of the country down here in the extreme south!

My little pack fits it the overhead on the busses. The busses are deluxe (2nd and 1st class). I leave the driving to them. What a luxury! I read a novel yesterday on my e-book reader on the run across the flat and visually boring ismus. And yes, the food is as good as always...except at Burger King in Coatzacoalcos, where it sucks and costs more than in the states. Go figure.

I love Puerto Escondido. (Was here seven years ago and loved it. The only thing that changed was that they moved the mermaid statue from the beach in front of my little hotel to on top of the little rock pier.) Puerto Escondido is like Zihuatanejo, where I usually hang out, only smaller, and with lots of surfers. It's also still very much a fishing village with a small town behind it.

I started my day today getting on the bus in Salina Cruz at 7 AM and got here to Puerto Escondido about noon. A very short taxi ride to my favorite little hotel right at the short, rock pier and then a one block walk to get a steak and beans lunch have so far been the highlight of the day. The beer was cold too. Tonight fresh fish!

Prem
from an Internet cafè in the 90 degree heat of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca with two very excited young boys sitting beside me on another computer playing video games

[queeniejeanne]

Yeah and KUDOS to PREM......sir I raise my glass to toast you and your wonder travels...please continue the writings when you get the chance. Jeanne