Simple living heroes in the news!

[Ultralight]

Hey, I thought it might be fun to have a thread of simple living folks appearing in the news or in the alternative media.

I found this article this morning. They are a very cool couple!

http://www.ktoo.org/2015/07/10/adventure-bound-juneau-couple-moves-8600-tiny-house-wheels/

They built a tiny house for $8,600 and right-sized their lives.

Post an article or video from the news or alternative media of simple living heroes you come across! It can be a new article, a new-ish article, or just maybe new to someone on here. :)

[freshstart]

I could handle 1 in that space, 2- IDK, that's the smallest tiny house like ever! This will probably come off wrong, but I have trouble understanding giving up their jobs. What if they don't work enough quarters for Soc Security and how will they save for retirement if they are not working so can't use IRAs and 401k? That probably shows I don't "get" the minimalist life style and I guess I don't if you can't plan for the future. But I re-read, Kelly is going to re-evaluate after a year

[herbgeek]

I love tiny houses in general, but for me, there would have to be more than a curtain separating the bathroom from the kitchen. ;)

[Ultralight]

Rob Greenfield is another simple living hero. http://robgreenfield.tv/theteenygreenylife/

Check out his videos of his simple life in a 50 square foot tiny house!

[Ultralight]

Dude lives quite well and happily in his Prius! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PCwnCC5Sw0

[Williamsmith]

http://youtu.be/goxGUF62Lec

We should become drug addicts and get arrested because these people are quite well and happy in their jail cells!

now that's as simple as it gets.

[Ultralight]

You did not watch the video of Hotel Prius! lol

[Williamsmith]

You did not watch the video of Hotel Prius! lol

Okay, I admit, I did not watch the video of Hotel Prius. But now I have. What exactly is an organic ​life?

[Ultralight]

Okay, I admit, I did not watch the video of Hotel Prius. But now I have. What exactly is an organic ​life?

I dunno! haha

I think it is slang. Like "Sweet-ass" or authentic and cool all at once.

[TxZen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzHQtaznPo

This is what we are aspiring to!! I could watch this over and over. Love!!!

[catherine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzHQtaznPo

This is what we are aspiring to!! I could watch this over and over. Love!!!

This is great! Love it. I love how she gave her dad the one house and she wound up in the office/bedroom. I've often thought it would be great to have a bunch of tiny houses for my kids and DH/I, and then have a yurt in the middle as a common area

[creaker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzHQtaznPo

This is what we are aspiring to!! I could watch this over and over. Love!!!

"I think simplicity is enough" - nice soundbyte.

[Ultralight]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzHQtaznPo

This is what we are aspiring to!! I could watch this over and over. Love!!!

Heroic indeed! Thanks for posting.

[Ultralight]

Check out the life of Alex Honnold, mountain climber! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CArfaGmYuGM

Super simple!

[kally]

so many great ideas.

[Williamsmith]

This has very limited applications. It works nicely in a rural area with moderate fluctuations in climate like Northern California. But for most living in extreme weather environments, it's not practical. It is also offensive and unsightly in numbers. Scattered across the landscape in sparse numbers is maybe acceptable. The modification process alone creates mounds of hazardous materials. The paint used on them is industrial with materials that are regulated for hazmat disposal. As well as the wood flooring infused with chemicals to deter insects and rot. The modification process in itself uses more energy than building with modern materials from scratch. And there are a multitude of building codes and land use regulations that one would struggle with.

Other than those things.....she has found a nice place in time for her personal niche.

[Ultralight]

This has very limited applications. It works nicely in a rural area with moderate fluctuations in climate like Northern California. But for most living in extreme weather environments, it's not practical. It is also offensive and unsightly in numbers. Scattered across the landscape in sparse numbers is maybe acceptable. The modification process alone creates mounds of hazardous materials. The paint used on them is industrial with materials that are regulated for hazmat disposal. As well as the wood flooring infused with chemicals to deter insects and rot. The modification process in itself uses more energy than building with modern materials from scratch. And there are a multitude of building codes and land use regulations that one would struggle with.

Other than those things.....she has found a nice place in time for her personal niche.

Which simple living hero are you referring to here?

[Williamsmith]

Which simple living hero are you referring to here?

Alexis

[Ultralight]

Alexis
Ah, okay.

[catherine]

Just spotted this article about a Google employee saving 90% of his income by living in a truck in the parking lot so he can pay off student loans and then travel the world.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-employee-living-truck-company-170000147.html

[rodeosweetheart]

With these folks who quit their jobs and go off to travel the world-- how do they afford to do this? What happens when they run out of money?

[Williamsmith]

Thats a real life simple living hero. Walks the talk.

[catherine]

With these folks who quit their jobs and go off to travel the world-- how do they afford to do this? What happens when they run out of money?

If you can save 90% of your income, I guess you wind up with enough to fund a trip around the world. When you get back, on to the next adventure with the simple living skills you've acquired.

Another simple liver who writes for a living, lives simply and has traveled to all 193 countries is Chris Guillebeau, who wrote The Art of Non-Conformity as well as other how-to's related to unconventional ways to live simply.

http://chrisguillebeau.com

[rodeosweetheart]

If you can save 90% of your income, I guess you wind up with enough to fund a trip around the world. When you get back, on to the next adventure with the simple living skills you've acquired.



But that is the part I don't get. How do you fund the next adventure? How do you pay for healthcare? I would hate living in my vehicle forever. It's just so anthithetical to how I'd like to live, to have no garden, sense that I could take care of myself if I could not work (savings.) It seems to me the line between living in one's car and being a bag lady is pretty slim--just the car. And how long can you keep that going? Cars wear out.

There was someone who used to post here who was living in her van, with her family, and trying to fund the whole deal with her website, and selling Shaklee, and ads on her website. How many people want to read those websites--it's almost like a ponzi scheme, in a way, the whole, "look at me, I'm living in my car."

Oh well, some of us are born to be farmers, I guess, lol.

[catherine]

Here's another one: Mr. and Mrs. Frugalwoods who are socking away 71% of their income in order to retire at age 33, leave Boston, and homestead in Vermont.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2015/08/04/frugalwoods-early-retirement/

[Ultralight]

Frugalwoods are amazing!

[Williamsmith]

You can find scores of singles and couples and even communities that are doing the same as the Frugalwoods. It is definitely another movement back to the land and homesteading. What is driving it? Perhaps the work paradigm is changing as the pendulum swings away from one job to many, from week day work to all shift work, from healthcare coverage to huge gaps in care, from defined benefit pensions to your on your own buddy. What would make a person or couple want to stay committed to a job or jobs that simply allow subsistence living and poor quality subsistence living at that. A homestead provides healthy eating alternatives, freedom of personal choices, exercise and activity, and time to be with people you love and participate in activities you enjoy. I stayed at my job because I knew at 51, I was going to be free of the treadmill. That promise is gone. You might as well get an early start or run the treadmill until you die.

[jp1]

But that is the part I don't get. How do you fund the next adventure? How do you pay for healthcare? I would hate living in my vehicle forever. It's just so anthithetical to how I'd like to live, to have no garden, sense that I could take care of myself if I could not work (savings.) It seems to me the line between living in one's car and being a bag lady is pretty slim--just the car. And how long can you keep that going? Cars wear out.

There was someone who used to post here who was living in her van, with her family, and trying to fund the whole deal with her website, and selling Shaklee, and ads on her website. How many people want to read those websites--it's almost like a ponzi scheme, in a way, the whole, "look at me, I'm living in my car."

Oh well, some of us are born to be farmers, I guess, lol.

I think it all depends on one's own decision of what is enough. I used to know a woman who spent much time traveling. Very cheaply. Staying in hostels. Doing chores for the hostel if she could stay for free, etc. When her money ran out she went to Alaska and worked in a fish cannery. She'd seen the ad promising great wages and room and board included. It turned out to be long hours and in a remote place where there was not much to do. So she saved several thousand dollars and started traveling again. She figured she could go back to Alaska and can fish again once the money ran out. I doubt she's still following this pattern of life, (this was 25 years ago) but who knows. If she is she's probably as happy and excited about life as she was back then.

[Tulips]

I like the hotel Prius video. I can see that working out for a young guy but as a woman I would feel anxious at night. I like the solar panel to store power for his cell phone

[Ultralight]

I like the hotel Prius video. I can see that working out for a young guy but as a woman I would feel anxious at night. I like the solar panel to store power for his cell phone

Check out Suanne! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suiPFn3xa2E

[thinkgreen]

Here's a fellow who paid off his mortgage in three years. He lives up in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mortgage-pay-off-three-years-1.3302229

[Ultralight]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMYQn-gClAOh man! This is a good one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMYQn-gClA

[Ultralight]

This woman has some pretty good ideas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T33vGEPL-wg

[catherine]

I get Rob Greenfield's Facebook feeds, and I found this article, his transformation timeline, to be especially inspirational and instructive. While he has his path, and other people have their own, there are good links here, and good ideas for simplifying. He is walking the walk (and biking the bike :)

http://robgreenfield.tv/timeline/

[Ultralight]

Check this dude out! He travels internationally without a bag but he is super clever about the way he stores his items in his cargo pants!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsjy-A1HA34

[gimmethesimplelife]

Just spotted this article about a Google employee saving 90% of his income by living in a truck in the parking lot so he can pay off student loans and then travel the world.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-employee-living-truck-company-170000147.htmlCOOL!!! I love to hear stories of young people living like this! Rob

[jp1]

Check this dude out! He travels internationally without a bag but he is super clever about the way he stores his items in his cargo pants!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsjy-A1HA34

Wouldn't want to be behind him in line at the airport...

[Ultralight]

I wanted to revive this thread and add a few videos about people who live simply in such unique and interesting ways.

While I strongly dislike motorcycles I will say I admire this dude! He lives on a motorcycle with a trailer attached to it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff6tksVG08I

[Ultralight]

If you all have not heard of Slim Potatohead then you are missing out!

This dude lives much of the year in an a-liner trailer! Super charming guy!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Uv_qBBvQE

[happystuff]

Very, very late to this thread but love it! Haven't gotten through the first page, but thanks for everyone who posted. I'll be trying to watch more over the coming weekend.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

[happystuff]

Wow! Some very inspiring people! I still have a few more links to get through, but what a great way to spend an early morning. Thanks again for all who posted.

[Ultralight]

Okay, so there is a little intro to this video, skim past the first 30 seconds. After that you get to know a really cool frugal, minimalist, simple living couple!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20rMBoMK9j0

[herbgeek]

She posts on the MMM site, this was interesting to put the face to the username.

[Tammy]

We just got back from Vancouver, and I’m pretty sure I recognized their apartment building from my walks around the city.

I like how they travel, and don’t worry about spending money on that, because they like it. For others it might be having a car, but not traveling, because of what they value. They’re not either/or thinkers like so many minimalists can be.