Which Simple-Liver Do You Most Identify With?

[catherine]

I wish I had a fun little game where you answer 8 questions and you find out which simple-liver you are, but I don't.

So, let me just ask: If you were a famous simple-liver, who would it be, and why? Here's a list, but feel free to add your own:

Henry David Thoreau
Mr. Money Mustache
Helen or Scott Nearing
St. Francis
Richard Proenneke
Peace Pilgrim
Vicki Robin/Joe Dominguez
Amy Dacycyzn
Dalai Lama
Diogenes
Gandhi
Jim Merkel (author of Radical Simplicity)
Joanna Macy
Jacob Lund Fisker (Early Retirement Extreme)
David Holmgren/Bill Mollison (founders of permaculture)

[Zoe Girl]

hmm, i recognized Joanna Macy as a buddhist teacher related to some i have worked with. i read more on her and wow, she has so much going on. So as i move from full time mommy to the next stage i would say i am moving in that direction, however for many many years i was like Amy Dacycyzn. i actually splurged and bought her books, and shared with friends. it seemed like every good idea i had she already had a better one, the only difference was she had lots of space and i have lived where space is a very expensive thing.

i also have a last name no one can pronounce.

[cdttmm]

I would have to say Vicki Robin/Joe Dominguez, first and foremost, because YMOYL was really want inspired me to get out of debt, save money, and live a simpler lifestyle. But I'm also very inspired by and would like to be more like Richard Proenneke and move to the wilderness and live in a tiny house.

[catherine]

I think it's interesting that both of you have your "root" influences, which frankly is probably the common element on these forums. Many of us got here through YMOYL to Dave Wampler to New Road Map Foundation to just us. I know I did.

But I also think it's neat that you have an aspirational "you" in the form of Joanna Macy/Richard Proenneke.

I am kind of like a Wanda Urbanska, the woman who wrote books on simple living and had a PBS show. She's a simple liver and writes about simple living values, but she looks like any suburban soccer mom, and she probably has a fairly mainstream lifestyle. That's me.

But I definitely have my aspirational influences also, and those tend to be people who reassure me that money is not important, or even needed--people like Daniel Suelo, Mark Boyle, Peace Pilgrim--I love the whole idea of "how low can you go money-wise" and at the same time maximize true abundance. My aspirational simple livers are also Thoreau and St. Francis.

I sometimes grapple with whether or not I draw inspiration from those people because I'm second generation "what portfolio?" but I don't think I like them because I'm in this situation; maybe I'm in this situation because I have seen that money doesn't lead to happiness and lack of money sometimes makes you very happy--thinking of my mother who was never so happy and cheerful than when she had not a penny to her name. Plus, I've long admired these moneyless people, even before 2008 when I was making a lot of money had had decent 401k, and high hopes for a "real" retirement fund--before the recession tore my finances to shreds.

I need the counterpoint in my life against the cultural notions of money and its importance. I consider that money story to be just a story, and that's truly how I feel. Yes, in this culture, it's really, really hard to live without money, but I believe in a better way. Maybe someday we'll get there.

[Zoe Girl]

i noticed something when i was at my sister's for thanksgiving this year. my BIL, was looking at the sale ads for tv's and was talking about getting a newer and bigger one. they can afford it, so no harm really. but if he kept the old tv, put that money into savings (he at least pays cash for anything luxury) then no one would know the difference when they came to his house. so it is very possible to live a life that does not appear different but actually is quite simple in some ways

[Tussiemussies]

I just love Peace Pilgrim, although I could never live the way she did. She was so, so simple and so enlightened. So I can't say I am like her but aspire to be like her...certain aspects.

[Gardenarian]

Hmm, I guess Thoreau, the Nearings, or the permaculture folks. I'm more of a nature person than a budget person. Way more.
One of my heroes growing up was the kid in "My Side of the Mountain."

[iris lilies]

A mix of Dominquiz and mr money mustache.

i can't imagine working out all of the costs per use and other details that Amy d did, although I admire her for it.

i am not interested In saving anything, the world, the environment, humans, or whatever. I do have some interest in saving Bulldogs, but that has little to do with simplicity (although it IS recycling--recycling dogs! Haha)

to me, the deep truth of life is expressed by YMOYL and MMM and that is:find your authentic self, live your life according to that self. It almost NEVER means spending silly wads of cash on consumer goods.

[bae]

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

[JaneV2.0]

Joe Dominguez' "making a dying" resonated full volume--working nearly always felt like that to me.

Iris Lily's philosophy rings true for me likewise. Maybe I can save a life here or there, by taking in a stray or fishing a struggling spider out of a pool of water, but I'm under no illusion that anything I do matters much.

[shadowmoss]

Some cross of Henry David Thoreau, the Nearings and Jacob Fisker. I'm more technical, and enjoy exploring how to make processes work for me, simplify, and need less. I'm not into politics, but I enjoy Walden where he goes into the details of how he lived, and the Nearings as well. I like the idea of only working until you have enough for the next however long that Thoreau and the Nearings professed, and Jacob gets there by just having enough put away that he kind of did it in a macro way, worked till he didn't need to work anymore unless he wants to the rest of his life. It is all kind of just wishful thinking in many ways for me at this point, but I do try to use less, need less.

[catherine]

Some cross of Henry David Thoreau, the Nearings and Jacob Fisker. I'm more technical, and enjoy exploring how to make processes work for me, simplify, and need less. I'm not into politics, but I enjoy Walden where he goes into the details of how he lived, and the Nearings as well. I like the idea of only working until you have enough for the next however long that Thoreau and the Nearings professed, and Jacob gets there by just having enough put away that he kind of did it in a macro way, worked till he didn't need to work anymore unless he wants to the rest of his life. It is all kind of just wishful thinking in many ways for me at this point, but I do try to use less, need less.

I agree--I think that's why I got my PDC--the "design" part of it was really a key part for me. I loved Jacob Fisker's book because of the systems thinking approach. I am the farthest thing from an engineer you'd want to meet having run from any math class I could--but I appreciate the idea of finding patterns and using them to your benefit, which is exactly what practicing permaculture is.

Gardenarian: I consider myself a blend of those same people!

bae: Shoot, I thought I put Marcus Aurelius on my list in the OP--I meant to, so thanks for adding him.

IL/Jane: I agree about YMOYL. It is a life-changing book, and by actually living out the principles the way you both have, you ARE changing the world.

Chris: I am SUCH a fan of Peace Pilgrim. I once bought a set of those little brochures you can buy on her website and would just leave them around where I thought people could see them. I agree with you--I could never do what she did, but she's such an inspiration for "walking the walk" (literally and figuratively!). Imagine, she had a toothbrush and stamps and her iconic tunic and sneakers. That's it. But she was so spiritually in tune.

[bae]

I agree--I think that's why I got my PDC--the "design" part of it was really a key part for me. I loved Jacob Fisker's book because of the systems thinking approach. I am the farthest thing from an engineer you'd want to meet having run from any math class I could--but I appreciate the idea of finding patterns and using them to your benefit, which is exactly what practicing permaculture is.


You might like Christopher Alexanders' works, especially "The Timeless Way of Building" and "A Pattern Language".

[Teacher Terry]

Joe & Vicki for me. I think the many everyday generous things that all of us do really matter. Helping people, saving an animal, etc. It may not matter to the world at large but it surely matters to that 1 person or animal.

[catherine]

You might like Christopher Alexanders' works, especially "The Timeless Way of Building" and "A Pattern Language".

Thanks! I've heard of Christopher Alexander's book, A Pattern Language, but have never read it.

Another book I've enjoyed where the environment and design meet is called The Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology and Design by Lance Hosey.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi again Catherine, that is so great that you used to leave the Peace Pilgrim pamphlets around...I actually have one of her more lengthy ones on my nightstand....So neat.

She was so spiritually enlightened, and I agree, I just couldn't live with my toothbrush and stamps in my pocket and sleep outdoors. Maybe she was guided to safe places?

She was such a beautiful soul giving all, serving all....

[shadowmoss]

There is something sadly ironic that Peace Pilgrim died in a car accident. As a passenger, but still...