A while back Paul Graham realized that stuff is no longer valuable. Just as food used to be very expensive, and thus malnutrition and starvation were real issues, now overeating is by far the bigger danger for most people in America. The same thing has happened with stuff – it is now so easy to produce (or import) and acquire, the greater danger is having too much rather than going without.
Of course, you can’t talk about “Stuff” without a nod to George Carlin’s famous skit (NSFW: some swearing).
I have been living as a total minimalist since 2003. With very FEW belongings, and a simple living arrangement it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. At present I live in a studio rental with supplied basic furniture. The only things I own are 5 days worth of all natural clothes (recycled except for socks and underwear), 2 pair of shoes, very basic toiletries (all natural), reading material, laptop, 6 cyl vehicle that I drive as little as possible. The plan is to travel as light as possible as things get worse rather than hoard things for “survival”.
Quite frankly I don’t care how my lack of consumer spending hurts this totally false economy. I am more interested in lowering my carbon footprint as much as possible.
Simple living is the only solution to the worlds problems. Buying food locally, bartering, and consuming less is more important than bolstering an economy based on hollow speculation and deception. My goal is to live off the grid within the next year. Once you have gotten rid of “stuff” it is easy not to be tempted to buy more.
Left by D Larson on April 9th, 2009