Simplicity, Consumerism, and Back Again

Lately, as I have been surfing around the web of simplicity and homesteading blogs, a feeling of hope has overcome me. I was lucky in a sense, although I didn't always realize it as a child, to be brought up by my parents who were attempting a simple life. My father was an old hippie and my mother was brought up Mennonite who still followed many of their philosophies.
Me, twenty some years ago

We were homesteaders in a way. We had a huge organic garden and sold food at the farmers market (not that common in Illinois in the early to mid 80's). We canned and preserved 100's of quarts of food yearly. My father had a job as a lab technician and my mother was a stay at home mom. We hardly ever went shopping, except for groceries, so my wardrobe consisted of hand-me-downs or cheap souvenir t-shirts of places we visited. I was brought up on venison and non-pasteurized milk from our dairy farming neighbor. We had a very small black and white television (no VCR) so my dad could watch the occasional sports game. We had one old car or truck that seemed to accomplish all that we needed. At some point in my early 20's I went through a phase where I enjoyed shopping, eating out at chain restaurants, watching television and movies, going to college with the intention of having a high paying job and a nice Volvo or Mercedes. While I never fit the stereotype of the suburbia over-consumer, I did seem to be going in the wrong direction. When I moved from Illinois to Northern Wisconsin, I once again started on the simple path. It has been a gradual progression, but I feel as though I am learning more and accomplishing more each day. One of my accomplishments has been to discover items that I feel that I can live without and to develop a list of items or practices that I would like to be free of.

Items that I live without
1. Television. (Of course I have my iMac so I still watch the occasional dvd and keep up with current events)
2. Microwave. (Ever since I had one that blew up and had to pay $20 to dispose of it, I found I no longer need it.)
3. Stereo system. (once again my iMac seems to be all I need for music)
4. Dishwasher
5. Tupperware (old yogurt containers and jars are wonderful)
6. Snowblower (sometimes I wish I had one)
7. Bed. (We do have a futon, which can be restuffed so there is no need to ever buy box springs or mattress. Plus it can be a couch.)
8. Big truck or SUV. (My Subaru does all of the hauling I need)
9. I'm sure there are more, but I'm going blank

Items or practices I am striving to reduce
1. Fewer lights/lamps and more usage of oil lamps and candles
2. Never use the dryer. I do have a drying rack that I need to use more.
3. Less driving to town.
4. Buying books (especially fiction). I am an avid library user, but I still spend too much on books. I can wait for a new book to get to my library.
5. Buy less clothes. Most of my clothes are from the thrift shop, but we have an awesome sewing machine that we could use to make more.
6. Buy less fruit and veggies out of season.
7. Once again I'm sure there are more, but it's a start.

We can all take steps to reduce things that we feel that we don't need. Of course they will not all be the same ( I don't really want to give up my computer and I'm sure others don't want to give up their TV), but any small steps we take will enhance our lives as well as the planet's.