Simplifying Life

ceridwen

You're welcome - cant recall the websites where I spotted them I'm afraid though - though I have seen a gorgeous book full of photos of these. Thinks....Amazon....here I come (thinks Ball and Chain).

'Course you do realise thats several of us who have already invited ourselves round for a "house" warming party if you do go ahead! We'll bring the booze.:rotfl:

annie123

ceridwen wrote: »

Pondering Pandoras thread on how warm people keep their homes - and think I can see where she is coming from putting this question.

So - what is the simplest lifestyle we feel individually we could tolerate I wonder? There are things I regard as absolute necessity of the type that dont cost any money - but I'm wondering about the type that do cost money.
If the s..t hit the fan - whether on a personal level or to the economy as a whole - I am wondering what I REALLY couldnt do without being a total miseryguts.

In my case - well, we have established that includes a warm home. Thinking about what else I rate as VITAL is:
- a daily shower/hairwash (except for odd days when I am at home all day and not expecting visitors, so having a "slob-out" day)
- enough food (of a healthy type and including plenty of fruit and veg.)
- something to moisturise my sahara-dry skin
- plenty of interesting stuff to read
- a few changes of clothes (but nowhere near as many by far as I have)
- real coffee
- loads of bedding for my bed
- a radio
- a light to read by whenever I want
- a comfortable wide bed
- comfortable seating
- a cooker
- a fridge
- access to a washing machine

Think thats about it.

What is your "Vital - no matter what - list"?

Most of those above but you forgot something!


internet access and a computer to use this site.

Cant go a day with looking!!! :rotfl:

ceridwen

annie123 - I do see your point re internet access - and I have pondered this (as I do find it useful) and mobile phones as well. But - ultimately - I could "trade" those things off for more "valuable" things in non-monetary terms (eg increased sense of community/greater freedom from the need to have a job etc).

BallandChain - still thinking on your dilemma - and its one shared by a lot of people. Thats part of why I think around these "alternatives" - as in I am a homeowner (bought and fully paid-for) - but do wonder what I would do for a home if I had to start out again. "Lateral thinking" is the term that comes to mind - and, indeed, I had to use quite a bit of "lateral thinking" to be in this position, where I do own a house - as straightdowntheline conventional thinking would have equalled I still didnt own a house to this day.

Pandora123_2

Have a lookie at the floor plans near the bottom of this page: one has a sink & toilet, the other shower, sink & toilet.

Yurtco

:A

ceridwen

.....couldnt swear to it - but think the following book available from Amazon might possibly be the gorgeous book I glanced through recently in a bookshop:

Yurts: architecture in the round
- by Becky Kemery

('fraid - not much good at links yet)

Also - found some of the photos I mentioned:

www.coloradoyurt.com/photos/photos_yurtsindex.php#

champys

Ceridwen I have been thinking about your list of vital things and there was something niggling me, but couldn't remember, that I would add - I have just recalled it.

I am not bothered much about the toilet being indoors or outdoors or even using a latrine or a bucket instead. But I would want to have access to toilet paper......

There was a country I lived in where it was only intermittently available, and I really hated using newspaper when there wasn't any!

ceridwen

I guess this was where I was basically talking about possessions that I consider Vital. I did specifically contemplate including loo paper and toothcare-type stuff - before mentally lumping both under "medical" and hence not possessions.

One does wonder how people managed before loopaper! - on some of the more "extreme" environmental sites people talk about using rags - yeuch! I guess we should - but, no thanks, I wouldnt be at all sure about the hygiene angle of that!

ceridwen

....course bidets are also a possibility. But then - loo paper has other uses as well - tissues, instead of specific tissues for the purpose of dealing with colds.... I think I'll stop now whilst I'm ahead on this subject:cool:

Janeryan

What a good thread-it inspires me to have alook at what I could simplify(although by a lot of my friend's standards I already live a fairly simple life)

An example-our car was in for it's MOT and I asked my work colleague for a lift home-they asked why my husband could not collect me as they automatically assumed that we had at least two cars! We have only ever had one car during our 20 year marriage(not the same one all the time though!)

Also I never buy women's mags-if I need a fix of one there are plenty in the cantten at work and I also get passed some by a friend who buys loads!!

rosieben

I remember having to tear up newspapers and thread string through it to hang on a nail in my gran's privy. I really wouldnt want to go back to that but if needs must ........

In a real crisis situation the necessities are food, warmth and shelter. Its a sobering thought to realise so many people exist without even those three things.

I have kitted myself out for bad weather with well-stocked food cupboards, and for power cuts with torches, candles and camping stove. I think light and warmth would be my priorities - maybe a wind up torch and a hot water bottle!