Simple Living

I'd have to say my motivations are partly because of my spirituality and the environment ... they are tightly woven together. But then there's also because I hate to be greedy and wasteful. I just feel better not wasting things.

And then thrown into the mix, I'm a bit cheap and selfish all at the same time. I hate to waste money on groceries or fancy lunches for work when I can be cheap and eat PB&J and then I can blow money on going to the movies or really save up and go on vacation.

I don't think simple has to mean green. My bosses live simply but they aren't green.

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being 
hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. - Erma Bombeck

I'm just stopping in for the first time.

Our motivation for simple living is the overall health & happiness of my family, the pace of our life and responsibly managing our resources, whether those resources be happiness, sanity, health, wellness, space, time, energy, gasoline, dollars.

I generally don't quantify our simplicity from an environmental stand point; it's mostly a sanity/happiness/health thing for us. On some level it becomes environmental, but that's not my primary motivation, therefore I do not choose to quantify our simplicity in terms of "greenness". That complicates it. We're simple because we are true to ourselves & our own ideals; not because we aspire to someone else's ideal of who we ought to be.

I work in architecture and am fully aware of the complexities and the design challenges and the satisfaction found in creating a sustainable design for a community's needs. Because I choose to work in an architectural field that serves the community as a whole through the design, construction & renovation of churches and public libraries I am not specifically familiar with the residential sustainable design trends as they exist today.

This is a really excellent question...I wish I could remember when I started feeling the desire to live more simply. I think for me it's been a gradual thing, when I think back to the last 5, 10 years I realized how much I've changed and how my life is so different (and better) than it had been. I think I've spent a lot of time observing people and I think I have always felt that the people that have less quantity have the greatest quality of life. I know so many people who just keep buying and buying and buying (and I'm talking name brands here) and I find that these people, if you look past them being shallow, are just unhappy and just trying to buy happiness.

I think that 9/11 had a lot to do with it too, I was in the city that day and I actually ran past the buildings to get out of the city...I don't remember ever being so scared in my entire life... I had to wait nearly 14 hours until I got reunited with my husband...I was lucky enough to be with the rest of my family that day and I remember thinking, this is all that is important to me in my life...I don't care if I don't ever have another "thing" for the rest of my life, I just want my husband and my family to be safe. You realize what your priorities are, they come into focus so quickly. I realized what was important in my life.

Sorry, I don't know if this is exactly what you were looking for...I don't know if I exactly "live Green" - I try to buy paper over plastic and we always recycle...Mainly I just try to remember that peace and happiness and faith come from within and I try to live my life accordingly.

Welcome to the board!  Thanks for sharing your views!

Good work on the sustainable design.  I've had the fortune of working with some sustainable design architects on some projects for the Tribe I used to work for.  Very cool stuff indeed.   The playground build I chaired relied on sustainable principles and recycling for many of its components.

I'm still getting back into the swing of things from being out for a few weeks, so if I don't respond quickly know I'm not ignoring your posts.

   

   

Well, I can imagine the 9/11 experience could certainly help focus on what's important!!! I'm so glad you're safe!

Your answer was wonderful and great to think about!

While not on as big a scale, my little heart issue a few weeks ago is helping me focus!