PDA

View Full Version : Goodbye Simple Living Forum (Leaving)



heydude
12-25-12, 12:10pm
Thank you everyone for all your kind words in the thread I posted about leaving.

Some asked "why make an announcement?" hehe. Well, the reason is because this forum is very MEANINGFUL to me and the act of leaving is MEANINGFUL as well.

Allow me to explain as I say my farewells.

In my college economics class, packed with over 1,000 students, we were all asked "who would work less if they were paid more?" I was the only one that raised their hand. When asked "who would work more if they were paid more?" Everyone else raised their hand.

Recently, I have been posting a lot of "guerilla" like posts. Posts meant to act like dynamite to our comfortable lives. "I love bad bosses" stating how bad bosses have motivated me the most to pay down debt. "We are losing the battle" which tried to ignite a fire on thinking about even more ways we seriously need to reconstruct our society and lives.

I have become frustrated and have found that I have, in a way, used up all that I can in terms of "cutting down." I need something more than this - Some bigger dynamite. After all the destruction, I need to build something. This year, I went through my budget line by line desperately trying to find more ways to save. I believe I have reached a point of small returns.

I have paid down student loan debt, have refinanced to get my mortgage gone soon, have lived my life simply and without things I do not need. I have cut down everything. I have scraped the bottom of the barrel.

I believe now, that I can not keep scraping. Right now, I need to morph to something constructive - something bigger.

Instead of concentrating on getting rid of, I need to morph in to building a foundation. What is that exactly? I do not know. I do know that, in this journey, I have come to a place where I need to move on and grow past.

It is but a journey and the fork in the road is here.

Thank you everyone for everything and keep up the good work.

As someone said, they like to do things all or nothing. So I am going to leave.

I want to leave you all with an article I read about the author of Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut. He was at a dinner party thrown by a billionaire hedge fund manager. Talking to a friend named Joseph Heller, he says their host makes more in a day than he earned from his popular novel "Catch 22" over its whole history. Heller responds, "Yes, but I have something he will never have...Enough."

fidgiegirl
12-25-12, 12:23pm
Bye, heydude. You'll be missed! *Hugs*

iris lily
12-25-12, 12:33pm
hey kid, go find your bigger dynamite! Cheers!

rosarugosa
12-25-12, 1:53pm
Good luck to you Dude!

Simplemind
12-25-12, 1:55pm
High five Dude!

ApatheticNoMore
12-25-12, 2:14pm
In my college economics class, packed with over 1,000 students, we were all asked "who would work less if they were paid more?" I was the only one that raised their hand. When asked "who would work more if they were paid more?" Everyone else raised their hand.

Haha, I'd work less at the same hourly rate, or a lower one :). Quite honestly and have (working less hours by agreement), so yea for a few years I was even able to walk that talk, but I think they resented me for it in the end. And what I'm not willing to do is what the actual choice often comes down to, which is usually work less for MickyD like wages, conditions, and benefits for less hours. Groan ...

I was just about the only one in high school whose favorite thing we read for the class was Thoreau, if it's any consolation :)


Recently, I have been posting a lot of "guerilla" like posts. Posts meant to act like dynamite to our comfortable lives. "I love bad bosses" stating how bad bosses have motivated me the most to pay down debt. "We are losing the battle" which tried to ignite a fire on thinking about even more ways we seriously need to reconstruct our society and lives.

I have become frustrated and have found that I have, in a way, used up all that I can in terms of "cutting down." I need something more than this - Some bigger dynamite. After all the destruction, I need to build something. This year, I went through my budget line by line desperately trying to find more ways to save. I believe I have reached a point of small returns.

I have paid down student loan debt, have refinanced to get my mortgage gone soon, have lived my life simply and without things I do not need. I have cut down everything. I have scraped the bottom of the barrel.

I believe now, that I can not keep scraping. Right now, I need to morph to something constructive - something bigger.

Would be nice if you dropped in eventually and let us know what your doing, what you found etc. (or told us where you are going if it's an internet forum or something, but I understand being sick of internet forums and the web in general). I like the "guerilla" posts. Do wish we had more diversity of lifestyles here, I would in all likelyhood not become the most out there daring extreme lifestyle choice out there, because I'm really deeply not an all or nothing type - I almost instinctively turn away from all or nothing really, and if that is *all* we had was extremist it would get draining, but some is spice of life, and serves as inspiration.

Zoebird
12-25-12, 3:40pm
I think this place is also about building, it's just that most people start out with the cutting phase. :)

I'm building a business. It's a great joy. It's to create the lifestyle that I want for my family, as well as do something good for my coworkers and clients. And, it's working! it's very awesome!

Good luck figuring out what you want to build!

redfox
12-25-12, 4:08pm
Journey well, my dear!

Rosemary
12-25-12, 4:47pm
So long, and best wishes!

peggy
12-25-12, 6:40pm
I hope you find what you are looking for.:) Good luck!

Sad Eyed Lady
12-25-12, 7:36pm
Think a good thought of us now and then. Goodbye.

SiouzQ.
12-25-12, 7:58pm
Goodbye HeyDude, and good luck! I will miss reading your posts as well. They have given me interesting stuff to chew on, even though I never responded, as I remain more of a lurker around here.

cattledog
12-25-12, 9:30pm
Good-bye dude- good luck with all your future endeavors!

SteveinMN
12-25-12, 10:04pm
All the best, 'Dude! May fortune smile on you in the days ahead.

Stella
12-25-12, 10:54pm
Good bye! We will miss you! I do hope you'll stop in and tell us about all of the "building" you do. I love those kinds of stories.

Tussiemussies
12-25-12, 11:43pm
Good luck on your path!

Selah
12-26-12, 6:48am
'Bye, Heydude, and good luck! I, too, am building businesses as well as looking for ways to cut back simultaneously on other things. Best wishes!

Kat
12-26-12, 8:57am
So sad to see you go, heydude, but I wish you the very best of everything. I'll always be thankful for your posts as they really helped me to view my finances with a fresh perspective and more critical eye. I hope you will come back to share your successes with us. Take care!

Gregg
12-26-12, 11:21am
Hopefully its just more of a break and you'll stay part of the family here! In the mean time I'll miss your young, urban, liberal perspective, Dude. Us old, rural, conservative guys need a foil. The back door's unlocked whenever you want to come home.

Wildflower
12-26-12, 7:38pm
Heydude, I will miss you...

Mrs-M
12-27-12, 9:47am
Be good to yourself, Heydude. May your voyage be safe, happy, and full-filling. (Happy travels).

Your SL friend, Mrs-M.

Gardenarian
12-27-12, 1:50pm
Good-bye Heydude! So sorry to see you leave. It sounds like you have built a passion to create for yourself, and that is a wonderful thing! May the wind always be at your back.

cdttmm
12-27-12, 2:22pm
Add my name to the list of folks who will miss you heydude! Good luck in all your endeavors!

leslieann
12-27-12, 4:06pm
Bye, 'Dude....you remind me of my nephew who is a pretty radical guy. I hope you'll drop back in and report....in the meantime, best wishes on the journey.

ToomuchStuff
12-28-12, 12:59am
I can't imagine you will see this, nor do I think you will be back, since you deactivated your account, rather then just leaving it and not logging in.
Good luck on your journey.

rose
12-31-12, 12:54am
Good luck. Liked your Kirk Vonnegut quote - perfect!