Photo by Katie@1
It feels good to finally start to come out of the fog from the past 2- 3 weeks. The miscarriage, the horrible skin infection that turned out to be a “drug eruption” and the emotional roller-coaster that comes with it. Though I’m still not healed physically and definitely not emotionally, I am able to resume tasks, be social, work on my website and blog and have an overall positive outlook for the months ahead.
The one thing I haven’t gotten yet is frugally or living a frugal life. I read blogs such as Remodeling This Life and On Simplicity and I still don’t get it. Yes, I understand having less clutter, not going into debt buying “STUFF” ( I so hate the way that word “stuff” is thrown around in quotes, bolded, put in all caps – is it really that evil?), but is living a easy peasy, simple life, really that fun?
I love taking urban hikes in my area (we have stunning views of the Golden Gate from our home and neighborhood), hanging out with friends for coffee and nothing else, taking a long stroll along College Avenue, 4th street, shopping at the farmers markets, going to The City, Marin, Stinson Beach, and other activities that doesn’t cost much. I really enjoyed resuming some of the housework that was neglected over the past few weeks yesterday. Most of our travels are up and down the California coast, not Europe. In fact, the only time I’ve ever been out of this country was to go to Mexico for four days four years ago. My only debt is a few medical bills. Being on disability also has its limitations.
So where is the line drawn? Can life get anymore simple? I know Steve has a problem with cars – he loves them too much, but even he is thinking about selling one of the two cars we have. We can also live in a cheaper place because our rent is pretty high now. We just started searching for another place to live.
So now what?
What am I missing?
Wow, it sounds like you’ve been through a lot. That all must have been really hard. I wish you the best of luck being positive through everything. Living simply is really hard. I try and try to do it but I find that it’s really one of the hardest things for me to do, so I totally get where you’re coming from with that. Personally, I think it’s okay to indulge in stuff and experiences from time to time. I think the key is not to NEED it.
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It sounds like you ARE living a simple life. I wouldn’t change a thing!
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Carla
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April 20th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Thanks Vered!
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@Positively Present – I also feel the key is not to NEED it.
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Hi Carla,
“Live simple” on your terms…
Does it mean it matches mine, or the guy across the street, or the family living off the land out in the middle of the country? No. And I think that’s perfectly okay. In fact, I happen to think what you’ve described is simple yet grand.
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