Gratifying Simple Living in Your Life...

[Tussiemussies]

Just wondering what aspects of simple living in the way you live it -- are the most gratifying to you?

For me it is when I stockpile for products from the grocery store and use coupons and save lots of money, I really get a kick out of that!

Some of the other things I enjoy and miss I posted on the thread about renting -- organic gardening, hanging out clothes to dry and re-purposing things for another use...

How about you?

[catherine]

* Daydreaming without guilt
* Going into a store and feeling what Thich Nhat Hanh said once to a bunch of kids once, "you can enjoy the things you see in stores without having to own them"
* Wearing a "uniform" every day: black Old Navy yoga pants, plain crew shirt and a hoodie, if needed
* Seeing my efforts at debt reduction paying off!!!!
* The peace from knowing in my heart that what I already have is plenty: kind of like what Nyogen Sunsaki says here:


Like a snail, I carry my humble zendō with me.
It is not as small as it looks
For the boundless sky joins it
When I open a window.
If one has no idea of limitation,
He should enjoy real freedom.
A nameless monk may not have the New Year callers to visit him,
But the morning sun hangs above the slums.
It will be honorable enough to receive the golden light from the east.

[flowerseverywhere]

knowing that you can live a life without the bondage of debt. You really can live without car loans, mortgage, school loans with careful planning and living a life outside the normal lines.

Being happy by riding a bike, bird watching, weeding a garden, reading library books, walking in the woods etc. All the things in life that are free, good for you and gratifying.

[Mighty Frugal]

For me it's not being beholden on anyone. Since participating in simple living we have rid ourselves from all debt. I always sleep at night and I really don't fear lay offs or market fluctuations.

That is the most gratifying. Others would be
-not caring about status symbols-boy, did they take a lot of time and money!
-having a well stocked fridge and cupboards at all time
-having a growing and healthy bank account

[Mrs-M]

Re: aspects of simple living, and the gratification I get out of practicing them and enjoying them, in all fairness, and, without short-changing myself, I really would have to include all, in compiling a list, but to keep this thread fun (and simple), I'm going to resort to selecting a few of my very favourites.


Washing/drying dishes by hand. Peace, calm, serenity, relaxation... No listening to the dishwasher filling with water, the motor whirring away, using electricity, then having to empty out the clean dishes after. With handwashing, I complete washing, drying, and, putting away, in one fell swoop, while getting to reflect upon and playback all the enjoyable and fun parts of the day that took place.


Clothesline drying. I've grown so accustomed to and fond of the gentle squeaking sound one of the pulleys emits when I'm sending out or taking in the line. It's all natural, 100%, no electricity, no motors to listen to, and as an added bonus, I get to enjoy the esthetic richness that comes about through line-drying. Like a fine painters canvas, decorative and alive.


Re-purposing. Nothing like holding something in ones hand that once used to serve as something totally different, and being able to reuse (re-purpose) it for the continued use for something else. The memories behind such never fails to warm my spirit...

[pinkytoe]

There are probably lots of specific things that bring a feeling of gratitude but the most enjoyable is the big picture - that I am living in a way that feels true to my heart.

[Spartana]

I love the freedom of being a minimalist. Of not being tied to "things" either because I feel I need them or must keep up with the Jones. i love living small - a tiny apt or house that is easy to clean and care for and doesn't cost alot in terms of time or money to maintain. I also love living small, especially in a small city, to reduce my carbon footprint. i don't need to drive as everything is close. I don't need to heat or cool a larger place. I don't need to water the lawn or mow it. I can share some things communally like washers and dryers with the other occupants so no need to extract raw materials tto build and ship all those products all over the world. I love that living minimally and enjoying all the many wonderful things to do that are free or low cost has allowed me to retire while young and be free of the rat race to do exactly what I want, whenever I want. I love having all that free time to participate in my community or world on a more meaningful basis (and less stressful basis) then I did while working. I love that I was able to have better relationships with family and friends, and be able to care for both my elderly parents before they died, because I was able to be free from work and had the time. Well, the list goes on.... I don't do any of the domesticly or back to the land simple things per se (like line dry, garden, compost, or wash out my baggies) but I do have a very simple basic lifestyle that allows me the freedom to do whatever I want.

[Gardenarian]

What is most gratifying to me is to see how my daughter has the ability to entertain herself with a pencil, paper, a book, hanging out in the garden with her dog - she doesn't need all the accessories that it seems most 13 year olds can't live without. She has a loving, open, curious mind, she is sensible and fun, and genuinely happy and at peace with the world.

[HappyHiker]

I love having no debt and not lying awake at night worrying about bills. It was not always so for us, and living simply keeps us out of trouble. Moving to a small, easy-going town helped, too. Living in a high-end city and keeping up with the Joneses and all the temptations made us behave like hamsters on a wheel--running after the dollars, charging a lot on our credit cards, and never getting ahead. Stress! It's mostly all gone away now. Peace.

[artist]

I love being free from the burden of having to have status symbols and stuff. For me simple living is about being true to myself, and being free to spend time and energy on the things that really matter in life. Things like friends, family, faith and buiding a better community.

[cdttmm]

I love that through living simply I have discovered that I am very easily entertained. I can read for hours, surf the internet, work in my garden, hang out with my pets, go hiking or running or mountain biking or snowshoeing or cross country skiing on the trails right outside my door. None of these activities costs much money and I am far happier doing those things than going to a movie theater or a dinner party, for example. I've discovered that I actually enjoy cooking and baking for the most part. I still love to go out to eat at nice restaurants, but I don't feel that urge as often now that I know I can whip up something super tasty at home. I love composting, recycling, and reusing things -- I find it gratifying to know that by doing these things I'm reducing my carbon footprint and leaving less of a mark on the Earth (don't get me wrong -- I'm far from perfect!). But most of all I enjoy knowing that I will likely never, ever have to work a job that I hate in my entire life. I've lucked out so far and have always enjoyed the work that I've done -- not 100% of the time, mind you, but enough that I can confidently state that I've always liked my jobs. Because of living simply I get to work because I want to not because I have to. Best.Feeling.Ever.

[Selah]

Not having a car is extremely gratifying. Being out of debt is, too. So is being relatively free of clutter, and having no problem whatsoever decluttering whenever I feel the need to. Being free of the temptation to buy my old "gazingus pins" is also wonderful.

[Mrs-M]

Totally lovin' this thread!