Why we need to live with less

backseatLover12

Pretty interesting.


http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsibl ... nfographic

hedonist

I'd love to live without the Wright quote and sign-up! popup that won't go away and is preventing me from fully-appreciating the link

Carlin did a classic piece on stuff. Puts a lot of shit into perspective.

For us, living in a very small space forces us not to accumulate too much, and clean out the unnecessary on a regular basis. I like where our focuses are.

Everyone's got different priorities though. Some live to shop, some live to post pictures of themselves and their meals, some people consume (maybe to fill a void, who knows)...etc.

I don't see the mindset changing anytime soon.

Pap

Very interesting! :thumbup:

ajedigecko

I was about to clicl the "shop" link at the top and buy me some stuff.

Luckily i saw this topic.

brianlux

Less is great. I have a lot of stuff which comes as part of running my own business and really enjoying my books and records but the happiest I've been as far as having stuff goes was four periods in my life when everything I owned I could pack into my car or van. That was very cool! Most stuff is just burdensome and puts a strain on natural resources.

bootlegger10

Four walls, a roof, and a guitar.

Pap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy6iwP9Ux3A

backseatLover12

I was talking to a new neighbor a few months ago, she was from the UK. She was telling us what it was like to live in Europe; MUCH small living space, washer/dryer was stacked units located in kitchen. She was kinda disgusted with how much wasted space we live with in America, although she likes the spread out countryside where we live. "Unnecessary" and "just more to clean" is what she kept saying. I can understand and agree with her!

unsung

I'm in clean up mode. What I can't sell, I give away. What I can't give away, I recycle or throw out. I've got about thirty 18g Rubbermaid containers with stuff in them to still go through.

My only purchases have been groceries, preps, silver, gun stuff, and camping gear. Electronics, furniture, clothes, and non-essential items will soon be gone.

I CAN NOT wait to move. I need a job first though.

Pap

backseatLover12 wrote:

... Washer/dryer was stacked units located in kitchen.

I live in UK and I absolutely hate this. I grew up in Greece where it's kind of rare to find a washing machine in the kitchen. That's called quality of life my friend...

polaris_x

our excesses here in north america should make us all feel like shit ... but no one likes to feel like shit here so we'd rather shit on everyone else ...

this is a no brainer to anyone with any sense ... but sadly - that's not a whole lot of people these days ...

unsung

I would list stuff on eBay but that website has turned into a ripoff. They get way too large of a cut.

backseatLover12

unsung wrote:

I would list stuff on eBay but that website has turned into a ripoff. They get way too large of a cut.

That's true, it used to be nice and cheap once upon a time. Try Craigslist.

I don't even bother selling my stuff, I give it all away. For what I would make off of used clothes, outerwear and books? Not worth it!

lukin2006

Agree ...

MK13579

I've been running a business buying & selling storage lockers for over a year... and let me tell you... people hoard waaaaaaay too much stuff. At this point in my life, I don't want to own anything but the essentials. My goal is to sell everything and live out of an RV so I can travel. A good quote from another band (Papa Roach) "the things you own, own you"

Byrnzie

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/21/ ... scientists

"We Have to Consume Less": Scientists Call For Radical Economic Overhaul to Avert Climate Crisis

A pair of climate scientists are calling for what some may view as a shocking solution to the global warming crisis: a rethinking of the economic order in the United States and other industrialized nations. Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows-Larkin of the influential Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in England say many of the solutions proposed by world leaders to prevent "runaway global warming" will not be enough to address the scale of the crisis. They have called for "radical and immediate de-growth strategies in the United States, EU and other wealthy nations." Anderson says that to avoid an increase in temperature of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the world would require a "revolutionary change to the political and economic hegemony."

polaris_x

Byrnzie wrote:

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/21/we_have_to_consume_less_scientists

"We Have to Consume Less": Scientists Call For Radical Economic Overhaul to Avert Climate Crisis

A pair of climate scientists are calling for what some may view as a shocking solution to the global warming crisis: a rethinking of the economic order in the United States and other industrialized nations. Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows-Larkin of the influential Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in England say many of the solutions proposed by world leaders to prevent "runaway global warming" will not be enough to address the scale of the crisis. They have called for "radical and immediate de-growth strategies in the United States, EU and other wealthy nations." Anderson says that to avoid an increase in temperature of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the world would require a "revolutionary change to the political and economic hegemony."

like i said in the biggest scams/myths thread ...

the whole economic concept is the worlds biggest fraud ...

brianlux

"Growth is the ideology of the cancer cell."
-Edward Abbey

MotoDC

MK13579 wrote:

I've been running a business buying & selling storage lockers for over a year... and let me tell you... people hoard waaaaaaay too much stuff. At this point in my life, I don't want to own anything but the essentials. My goal is to sell everything and live out of an RV so I can travel. A good quote from another band (Papa Roach) "the things you own, own you"

Haha dude you're straight out of a reality show. You really able to make money buying abandoned storage units, sight unseen?

MotoDC

brianlux wrote:

"Growth is the ideology of the cancer cell."
-Edward Abbey

That's actually pretty fucking profound, all in all.

backseatLover12

MotoDC wrote:

brianlux wrote:

"Growth is the ideology of the cancer cell."
-Edward Abbey

That's actually pretty fucking profound, all in all.

Indeed. Wow.

backseatLover12

Byrnzie wrote:

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/21/we_have_to_consume_less_scientists

"We Have to Consume Less": Scientists Call For Radical Economic Overhaul to Avert Climate Crisis

A pair of climate scientists are calling for what some may view as a shocking solution to the global warming crisis: a rethinking of the economic order in the United States and other industrialized nations. Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows-Larkin of the influential Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in England say many of the solutions proposed by world leaders to prevent "runaway global warming" will not be enough to address the scale of the crisis. They have called for "radical and immediate de-growth strategies in the United States, EU and other wealthy nations." Anderson says that to avoid an increase in temperature of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the world would require a "revolutionary change to the political and economic hegemony."

I completely agree, but who actually believes that the U.S. would change such drastic course in their consumption habits? Most Americans would be completely against the idea of giving up their "things". It's what defines them, sadly. Ask any regular American Joe.

brianlux

backseatLover12 wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/21/we_have_to_consume_less_scientists

"We Have to Consume Less": Scientists Call For Radical Economic Overhaul to Avert Climate Crisis

A pair of climate scientists are calling for what some may view as a shocking solution to the global warming crisis: a rethinking of the economic order in the United States and other industrialized nations. Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows-Larkin of the influential Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in England say many of the solutions proposed by world leaders to prevent "runaway global warming" will not be enough to address the scale of the crisis. They have called for "radical and immediate de-growth strategies in the United States, EU and other wealthy nations." Anderson says that to avoid an increase in temperature of two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the world would require a "revolutionary change to the political and economic hegemony."

I completely agree, but who actually believes that the U.S. would change such drastic course in their consumption habits? Most Americans would be completely against the idea of giving up their "things". It's what defines them, sadly. Ask any regular American Joe.

Excellent point.

I'm curious as to how the average American Joe or Jane would cope with the disappearance (be it gradually or suddenly) of most of there "things". After the initial shock, I really believe most of us would cope fairly well. I lost most of my stuff once and once I got used to it, I discovered it was a major great life lesson and I grew to appreciate the freedom of owning little "stuff". I've had customers who come in to buy books because theirs were lost in a fire. Generally they are mostly philosophical about it. The problem is, most of us have or will simply reacquire more stuff.

So if we are able to adapt to less stuff, how do we change out viewpoint about amassing more stuff and learn to stay in that simple and free place of being less burdened with so much?

PJ_Soul

If I don't use something within one year I get rid of it (besides tools... I have a screwdriver, a hammer, and an adjustable wrench ). If you don't use it within a whole year you definitely don't need it!

brianlux

PJ_Soul wrote:

If I don't use something within one year I get rid of it (besides tools... I have a screwdriver, a hammer, and an adjustable wrench ). If you don't use it within a whole year you definitely don't need it!

Good rule of thumb! Well, sort of... I had a friend years ago who said, "If I don't listen to a record at least once a year I get rid of it." Well, I pulled out my vinyl copy of a posthumous Jimi Hendrix release, "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" and just totally dug listening to it again... and again. For some reason it had sat there on the shelf for a couple of years and oh my, I'm glad I kept it!

MK13579

MotoDC wrote:

MK13579 wrote:

I've been running a business buying & selling storage lockers for over a year... and let me tell you... people hoard waaaaaaay too much stuff. At this point in my life, I don't want to own anything but the essentials. My goal is to sell everything and live out of an RV so I can travel. A good quote from another band (Papa Roach) "the things you own, own you"

Haha dude you're straight out of a reality show. You really able to make money buying abandoned storage units, sight unseen?

It's not "sight unseen"... you can look into the unit from the door, and with the right experience buying good and crappy lockers, you can definitely hone your skills and improve your "luck". However, while I did make money, most of it went straight to overhead: warehouse, utilities, internet, dump fees, gas, etc. Needless to say, I'm very close to calling it quits. It's too much work for very little return... but it is definitely fun... and addicting.

hedonist

brianlux wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

If I don't use something within one year I get rid of it (besides tools... I have a screwdriver, a hammer, and an adjustable wrench ). If you don't use it within a whole year you definitely don't need it!

Good rule of thumb! Well, sort of... I had a friend years ago who said, "If I don't listen to a record at least once a year I get rid of it." Well, I pulled out my vinyl copy of a posthumous Jimi Hendrix release, "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" and just totally dug listening to it again... and again. For some reason it had sat there on the shelf for a couple of years and oh my, I'm glad I kept it!

Talking about synchronicity (as on the other thread), I read Ms. Soul's post up there earlier and went about my business thinking "good rule of thumb". And, the stuff we do have that isn't "needed", but so sweet when revisited (ie, my mom's old Betty Crocker cookbooks from the early 60s - it ain't Hendrix, but still)

Yer in me head again, Lux!

That said, shitload of vinyl here too that hasn't been listened to in ages (no player for them). I wouldn't voluntarily get rid of them, but if by whatever circumstances we didn't have them anymore?

It'd be OK.

(I say this on the day my sweetheart turns 41. Given the roads we traveled to get here, through experiences that make THINGS seem inconsequential, I salute everything untouchable...but feelable )

brianlux

hedonist wrote:

brianlux wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

If I don't use something within one year I get rid of it (besides tools... I have a screwdriver, a hammer, and an adjustable wrench ). If you don't use it within a whole year you definitely don't need it!

Good rule of thumb! Well, sort of... I had a friend years ago who said, "If I don't listen to a record at least once a year I get rid of it." Well, I pulled out my vinyl copy of a posthumous Jimi Hendrix release, "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" and just totally dug listening to it again... and again. For some reason it had sat there on the shelf for a couple of years and oh my, I'm glad I kept it!

Talking about synchronicity (as on the other thread), I read Ms. Soul's post up there earlier and went about my business thinking "good rule of thumb". And, the stuff we do have that isn't "needed", but so sweet when revisited (ie, my mom's old Betty Crocker cookbooks from the early 60s - it ain't Hendrix, but still)

Yer in me head again, Lux!

That said, shitload of vinyl here too that hasn't been listened to in ages (no player for them). I wouldn't voluntarily get rid of them, but if by whatever circumstances we didn't have them anymore?

It'd be OK.

(I say this on the day my sweetheart turns 41. Given the roads we traveled to get here, through experiences that make THINGS seem inconsequential, I salute everything untouchable...but feelable )

Mom's old Betty Crocker Cookbook. Yes! A cookbook for the ages! (And, er, um, the aging. )

Happy birthday to your mate, Hedonist!

And while I'm at it, Happy Anniversary Part 1 of our ninth to my sweetheart. We got married two days in a row, on the 22nd and the 23rd of November. It's a long story.

hedonist

brianlux wrote:

hedonist wrote:

Talking about synchronicity (as on the other thread), I read Ms. Soul's post up there earlier and went about my business thinking "good rule of thumb". And, the stuff we do have that isn't "needed", but so sweet when revisited (ie, my mom's old Betty Crocker cookbooks from the early 60s - it ain't Hendrix, but still)

Yer in me head again, Lux!

That said, shitload of vinyl here too that hasn't been listened to in ages (no player for them). I wouldn't voluntarily get rid of them, but if by whatever circumstances we didn't have them anymore?

It'd be OK.

(I say this on the day my sweetheart turns 41. Given the roads we traveled to get here, through experiences that make THINGS seem inconsequential, I salute everything untouchable...but feelable )

Mom's old Betty Crocker Cookbook. Yes! A cookbook for the ages! (And, er, um, the aging. )

Happy birthday to your mate, Hedonist!

And while I'm at it, Happy Anniversary Part 1 of our ninth to my sweetheart. We got married two days in a row, on the 22nd and the 23rd of November. It's a long story.

Sweetness! Thanks, and cheers to you both.

(oh, and the cookbook...had to go look - first edition, second printing - 1958. Yes, I am aging! And fucking thankful to be doing so...though perhaps somewhat shy of gracefully :P )

brianlux

hedonist wrote:

Sweetness! Thanks, and cheers to you both.

(oh, and the cookbook...had to go look - first edition, second printing - 1958. Yes, I am aging! And fucking thankful to be doing so...though perhaps somewhat shy of gracefully :P )

Thanks, H. Cheers to you too!

jumbojet

Pap wrote:

backseatLover12 wrote:

... Washer/dryer was stacked units located in kitchen.

I live in UK and I absolutely hate this. I grew up in Greece where it's kind of rare to find a washing machine in the kitchen. That's called quality of life my friend...

Hehe, I lived in Germany 5 years and I also had washing machine in my kitchen, I also found it weird.