Comments on: Thoughts on Simple Living

By: Mia - Marine Supplies

Mia - Marine Supplies — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:42:16 +0000

I love the "one in, one out" idea – that is similar to how I manage my clothes in my closet. Now if I only I could use the same approach when thinking about supplies for my boat! I just found your site stumbling across sustainable living, and while I hadn't thought of living on my boat for long periods of time, you have definitely given me something to think of pursuing. Best of luck!

By: David

David — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:53:37 +0000

Stumbled upon your website tonight as I am considering living aboard a boat, it has been my dream for many years. I’m a single dad. I’m here to read and learn. I was a Navy Quartermaster for some years and gained some navigation experience. I truly loved it. I hope those skills will help. I definitely enjoyed your simple living post and comments. I bookmarked your site and will come back to read more. Thanks for sharing your experience. David.

By: Lis Sowerbutts

Lis Sowerbutts — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:59:46 +0000

I dont live on a boat – I get sea sick on a 30mn trip LOL. But we did camp 6 months around Australia – deserts and boats are very similar – power and water can be problematical – and in fact the best camper trailers and caravans are built on the same principals as boats -water proof is also sand proof!

My point though is that I saw people travelling completely self-contained – usually with a late model 4WD extra batteries, extra fuel tank, generator – rugged camper trailer. They were self- contained alright but the setup costs are easily $300k plus. We spent $10k on a 1985 landcruiser a tent and gear. We had a spare jerry can of diesel, 30 litres of water, a tent, gas cooking and torchs . We could recharge batteries and the laptop when the car was driving.

We weren’t as comfortable as their setup – we basically needed to plugin in every 2/3 days – but we went everywhere pretty much possilble in Australia – and we never worried about anything getting lost or damaged

People get obssessed by being independent – it the weather was against us as far as camping was concerned – we got a cabin, or a room in the pub! We still spent an awful lot less than $300k!

By: Boat Slips

Boat Slips — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:23:01 +0000

I think the key to simple living is realizing that somestimes less is more. As you mentioned, it gives you more time to focus on the things that DO matter.
I checked out Teresa’s blog and it’s great!

By: Skipper

Skipper — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:19:00 +0000

Hiya, just found your blog and I can see I’m going to spend a lot of time ‘here! Wanted to comment on the ‘plugged-in heating’ issue, because we went through a similar dilemma. But almost two years ago we took the plunge and installed a special little wood heater, and we love it, love it, love it! You can read about it here ….
http://mvwindwalker.blogspot.com/2007/12/but-arent-you-cold.html . We sure haven’t had any regrets!

By: kristi

kristi — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:58:23 +0000

i enjoyed the post. i like how you address the trade off between being more independent, and making things more complex. i recently pondered whether adding a fax machine would simplify my life (don’t have to go to kinko’s to fax) or make it more complicated (another toner cartridge, another machine, etc.). i wasn’t sure … so i went with my default strategy for when i’m not sure and did nothing. i think with your power situation … when and if the ‘system upgrade’ really makes sense – you’ll know it.

also, one thing i find works well to keep things simple and minimal is to not hesitate to buy the best of whatever you need. yeah, quality stuff costs money – but it lasts longer, works better, makes you want to take care of it, has better resale value, etc.

By: How to Live Off Grid

How to Live Off Grid — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:54:32 +0000

Wow, what an amazing site, and how amazing you have done this for your family. At one point my husband and I talked about living on a boat. I think it would be wonderful.

I too have problems with the “gift” aspect of things. Grandparents getting upset when we give gifts they’ve given, even when they are outgrown. The whole “guilt” aspect and fear of offending people. But I think a lot of that has to do with me than anything else.

I would love to keep my house but get rid of the clutter, and the non essentials. I am also hoping to make our house self sustaining, both power and food.

I guess it’s all just one step at at time huh?

Jackie

By: Tina

Tina — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:49:20 +0000

Again Thanks so much for your thoughts I have been thinking so much lately how to bring different communities together and have them each learn from others experiences–you have eloquently answered my questions on Simply Living as in my email response –with one addition

I love that you live your dream the way it works for you—as I see it Simple Living is about–

1- being true to yourself and your dreams
2- fulfilling those dreams in any matter that works for you
3- Loving & Appreciating people above all else ie. material things
4- teaching your children that love of people is the most important thing to value
5- Cherish the moments and not the material things
6- Achievements through work you are passionate about is a gift
7- Stop to smell the roses

Did I get it? Is this the heart of simple living?

By: strathy

strathy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:25:53 +0000

“Simple seems like a mind set” That’s it. I think you’ve stated it exactly right with that statement. It all begins in your mind and what priorities you set in your life. Once you’ve created the time and space you need to think straight then you can apply yourself and your time to whatever is the’ very important’ to you. Be that the local soup kitchen, your family, reading a book or anything else, living life in a simple and uncomplicated way affords you the time to commit to those commitments that you choose. So often we give our lives up to everyone else … and I recognize that serving others may be one of those things that is on your ‘very important’ list, but saying “No”, while hard to do at the time, is sometimes the best answer to give to a demand or request. I’m sure we’ve all had bosses that expected us to do 12 hours of work in the 8 hours they wanted to pay us for … that is the situation that you want to alleviate in your personal life. Take time to breath, or as we used to say, smell the roses. Your mind will be better for it.

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:01:06 +0000

Yes thanks—it does make more sense to me and I appreciate your thoughts but I was not talking about selfish living in terms of your own family but in terms of giving to community and showing your family how to give and love others whatever it is donating time to soup kitchen working with kids in a hospital, volunteering at a school it seems if you go place to place your children dont get the experience of community

The way you explain simple living it is not different from the way anyone else that makes there kids an important focus in there life as well as community which I actually didnt get what your contribution was to community?— Toronto is one of my favorite cities—and traveling is great I love to travel too. I think just because you dont have a lot of material things doesnt make your life any simpler to me it just means you have less space—Simple seems like a mind set—and not related to material things at all —you could have a boat, a motor home, a house, and still live simple and enjoy life and the material things you chose to make important to you whatever they may as long as they are not more important than a person or people material things can be very fun —simple then doesn’t sound like you need to give up material things after all a boat is a material thing right? It is how you make a lifestyle rather than making life simple that you are talking about—because you have to spend time rationing water doesnt make your life simpler than mine because I just get in the shower? It just makes your focus different does that make sense? Is that true? I am just curious and your thoughts do mean a lot to me –I hope you will come visit when you are in New York City