Why we need to live with less

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 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!

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 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 )

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.

jumbojet wrote:

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.

I have spent some time in England too, and the laundry in the kitchen is probably the thing i like least about the country! It seems gross... Food smells getting into your clothes. Dirty clothes by your food. Icky. :sick: I'd prefer it in any other room of the house! Or a laundromat!