What does "Simple Living" mean in the forum's title?

[ewomack]

Hello - I couldn't decide on a forum to post this very general question in, so I thought, "ah! Open forum!" Sorry if I chose poorly.

I'm just curious on the history of philosophy of this forum. I've been coming and reading it once in a while, I'm certainly not a regular, but I still come back maybe a few times every few weeks.

I was initially attracted to the forum's title: "Simple Living," mostly because I'm hoping to de-complicate my life, rid myself of clutter and hopefully live more peacefully overall.

Is that sort of what the "Simple Living" in the forum's title refers to? Or has the forum evolved over time?

Just curious. Thanks!

[lmerullo]

It means different things to each of us, I think.

The origin might have come from the book "Your Money or Your Life" Summary here, with apologies if this is not permitted please remove : https://yourmoneyoryourlife.com/book-summary/

The group is diverse and we share what it means to us as we navigate through our lives.

As you can tell, some of our favorite discussion topics are already laid out in the different flavored forums.

[early morning]

I always think of it as a "rat race" thing. As in, not being part of it if we don't want to be. Alternatives to keeping up with the Jones's, etc. I think it was originally based on Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin's book Your Money or Your Life. It's evolved over time, and been hosted on several sites. For me, it also brings to mind the quote "live simply, so others may simply live" - there's a bit of that ethos here too, I think. But really, it's whatever you take from it, isn't it?

[iris lilies]

Ewomack, I like your concept of leading a peaceful life that includes not being in service to objects—hence, decluttering is important.

That’s where I am. My simple life may not be frugal and that is ok. I try to focus on people and activities that enhance my life. It is true that currently I am doing a hell of a lot of shopping, but I make sure it’s fun and I do not want to buy cheap schlock from China. I enjoy the hunt, My “stuff” is highly curated. Or so I tell myself, haha!

[frugal-one]

Simple living has evolved for me, I think. Originally it was to live simply and be frugal so I could retire. Now simple living is having less so I can enjoy life more. I want less to take care of. I never had a large desire for things but adventures. That has not changed.

[rosarugosa]

Someone on the Forum recently said it quite well, but I cannot remember who or when. As well as I can paraphrase, it was something along the lines of being willing to examine one's life and strip away the things that are not important and do not give adequate value in order to focus on those things that truly are meaningful.

[Tybee]

That's such a great definition.

[Simplemind]

When I started it was mostly financial and I needed to conserve and be frugal. Now I'm pared down because I like it and pretty much a minimalist and constantly work to evaluate my possessions. I'm frugal in some areas but don't hesitate to spend on something quality when needed/wanted. I loved leaving the "rat race" and my homebody desires were certainly answered with the pandemic. It also showed us how little we really needed to be happy.

[Teacher Terry]

I prefer to focus on people and experiences versus things. I only have things in my home that I love.

[catherine]

As far as the history goes, this particular forum had its genesis in a site hosted by Dave Wampler, who called it Simple Living Network. In addition to the website, he sold books and other simple living accoutrements, like posters and stuff, and he published a newsletter and articles on a regular basis. The philosophy was a build off of the book Your Money or Your Life and was loosely associated with The New Road Map Foundation.

The discussion board was very lively, so when he decided to shut down the site in 2010, the simple living discussion board community carried it forward by changing the name, but pretty much sticking together.

There was an article published in the Washington Post 1994 about the simple living network and its mission, along with quoting other members of "the movement." https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/01/09/the-simple-life/32338126-cce0-491f-a2db-083ff97323c2/

In that article, there's a quote that sums up the answer to your original question:

"It's a lot of people wanting to live saner lives...People basically are looking in one way or another for more meaning, wanting to slow down and get a more purposeful life. Maybe the pendulum is swinging back. Maybe people like myself are realizing there are long-term and sometimes devastating impacts to what we do in life."

Some of us were part of that original discussion board and of course many people have joined, come, gone, and stayed. What I like about it is we are very different in many ways, but we have this one thing in common--to make the most of our lives with out the distractions of running on the earn/spend treadmill.

[miteigenenhaenden]

Thank you for this explanation. She is very interesting.

[ewomack]

Thank you everyone for your responses and some of the details behind the longer history of the forum. It has an interesting backstory.

It also makes sense that the forum means something a little bit different for everyone, but the common theme seems to be "live well."

I've definitely struggled with the concept that things can bring meaning and purpose. Some of them can, but when the act of acquisition becomes overwhelming I start to feel miserable. Starting collections of various things has done that to me a few times throughout my life. It never made me happier in the long run, despite the "thrill of the chase." As each collection piled up, I felt like it more controlled me than consoled me. The dopamine highs wear off fast. As one of the ancient Cynics said: "He doesn't own a fortune, his fortune owns him."

The book "Goodbye, Things," by Fumio Sasaki, started my latest venture down this simpler path. It includes tips for ways to reframe the meaning of objects. Despite the help it offered, I still buy too many books. More than I can read, which then overwhelms me. I'm getting there, but every once in a while I suddenly buy about 10 books all at once. Some of them I read and some I discover on my shelf 10 years later. I suppose much worse addictions exist.

Thank you again for all of your input!

[iris lilies]

Thank you everyone for your responses and some of the details behind the longer history of the forum. It has an interesting backstory.

It also makes sense that the forum means something a little bit different for everyone, but the common theme seems to be "live well."

I've definitely struggled with the concept that things can bring meaning and purpose. Some of them can, but when the act of acquisition becomes overwhelming I start to feel miserable. Starting collections of various things has done that to me a few times throughout my life. It never made me happier in the long run, despite the "thrill of the chase." As each collection piled up, I felt like it more controlled me than consoled me. The dopamine highs wear off fast. As one of the ancient Cynics said: "He doesn't own a fortune, his fortune owns him."

The book "Goodbye, Things," by Fumio Sasaki, started my latest venture down this simpler path. It includes tips for ways to reframe the meaning of objects. Despite the help it offered, I still buy too many books. More than I can read, which then overwhelms me. I'm getting there, but every once in a while I suddenly buy about 10 books all at once. Some of them I read and some I discover on my shelf 10 years later. I suppose much worse addictions exist.

Thank you again for all of your input!


I don't know that much worse addictions exist! I always say books are the Final Frontier of decluttering. Haha, but true.

I decluttered my book collection in 2020. Thanks, Covid! I had downtime to sort, sell, donate 800 books.

[Teacher Terry]

I have books on my kindle app now so only own about 10 physical books.

[catherine]

I have books on my kindle app now so only own about 10 physical books.

I have more than 10 physical books, but far less than I used to because of Kindle. The only problem with Kindle is that I feel books are "out of sight, out of mind." So, I'll hear about a really interesting book, go on Amazon to check it out, and I see a banner at the top of the page that says "You purchased this book on July 18, 2019." Whoops. I also have a harder time remembering the name of the books I buy on Kindle, even as I'm reading them. There's something about having an actual tactile experience with a book that makes it superior to reading on Kindle, but Kindle certainly has its place.

[cx3]

Catherine gave a good historical summary. I first showed up here around 1998ish.
Thought I'd drop in today. Out in the woods today and became bored, these forums came to mind.
Hello everyone.

[catherine]

Catherine gave a good historical summary. I first showed up here around 1998ish.
Thought I'd drop in today. Out in the woods today and became bored, these forums came to mind.
Hello everyone.

So cool!! So great to hear from you cx3! Please stick around--let us know what you've been up to!

[cx3]

Ty Catherine.
I just added this site to my home screen, so I'll remember to come back more often.

[littlebittybobby]

Okay---To me, it means not being so Consumeristic. It doesn't mean "pitch everything to be neat & tidy". That's sometimes called "decluttering". But yeah-- Torsten Veblen was a college professor at various institutions 100 years ago, who identified consumerism in the emerging "middle class" in America, and made his theories known. He was not very popular, though. Because even pursuing "higher education" was a new form of consumption for many people, in his view. In the old days, you could become a teacher or a lawyer without a big College Degree! Yup. Now, people attend college to study Feminism, for example, and rack up large debt to do so. Ha. Hope that helps you some.

[littlebittybobby]

Okay----there was a terrible wreck, a couple miles from me, on the super slab on T-Day evening. A hetero couple was headed somewhere, and the guy swerved to miss a slower moving vehicle he encountered, but clipped it and spun across the median and hit one going the opposite direction. But yeah---the couple was killed, and the hetero couple in the car they hit was killed, and only a small child in the back seat survived. There was a fairly short, matter-of-fact article on most local news outlets, and the police said they were still figuring out the precise cause of the crash. No photos of the crash scene were published. Other than that, not much else about the wreck has been deemed newsworthy. After all, I 'spose it was 'cause it involved only 4-5 people(2 hetero couples & a small child), and car crashes happen all the time. Why belabor the issue? Yup. Traffic is murder. But, ya gotta have it, to drive-n-eat. Well, don't ya? Hope that helps you some. Edited to add: Oh, shoot! This very important subject was supposed to go on my thread about VERY important subjects. Oh, well. Too bad. I think we'll be okay. Yup.4975