The appeal of this message is irresistible: Living with less is better – you travel light, you’re not owned by your possessions, you focus on what matters.
Living in a less materialistic way has clear advantages for the planet; we know that rampant consumerism and the philosophy of bigger is better exact a toll — in terms of depleting natural resources, encouraging extraordinary waste, expanding our destructive carbon footprint, and accelerating global warming.
What’s more – we may very well be happier, considerably happier, if we shed our stuff and recognize “enough.”
So speaks Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger.com, LifeEdited.com, and other entrepreneurial ventures, as he writes in The New York Times.
Your Lifestyle or Your Life
Having spent my own two decades caught in the American Efficiency Wave of “do more with less” – in other words, crank out more work product in less time and with fewer resources in order to increase profitability – I can relate to some of the notions Mr. Hill describes.
While he made millions as an entrepreneur – and no, I can’t relate to that – I recognize the lure and rhythm of the 90s material acquisition game; those of us with good jobs went out and consumed. We furnished our homes, we bought nice cars, we tinkered with newly purchased games and gadgets.
No gadgets for me; my thing was art.
Meanwhile, back at the office, we were working harder (though not necessarily smarter), working grueling, ever-increasing hours, and all to “maintain” the breadth of things we were accumulating. Or, viewed through a different lens, to increase the bottom line in our respective corners of corporate America.
Can we try to push back on expectations when it comes to unreasonable hours at our jobs? If more of us did it, might there be strength in numbers? Are we really reaping the rewards after all, and if yes, at what price? But I digress…
Living With Less, Small Space Living
In his article on “Living With Less,” Mr. Hill details his success and all its shiny and impressive trappings, as well as his personal journey to a very different lifestyle:
I have come a long way from the life I had in the late ’90s, when, flush with cash from an Internet start-up sale, I had a giant house crammed with stuff – electronics and cars and appliances and gadgets…
Somehow this stuff ended up running my life, or a lot of it; the things I consumed ended up consuming me.
He relates his ever-expanding consumption, his epiphany that he was owned by what he thought he owned, and the adventures that followed freeing himself from those very same assets. He points out that all our “stuff” doesn’t make us happier; relationships do, passions do.
Note that Mr. Hill has nothing against comfort, but remarkably (to many of us), he lives in a 420-square-foot studio apartment (smartly designed and constructed), and he thrives: He pursues what fascinates him, he starts companies, he travels. He recognizes his good fortune, but he also took that road less traveled by many – saying no to raging consumerism that ultimately leaves us “less” – rather than more.
Shedding? Simplifying? Easier Said Than Done
I’m the first to admit that I adore my hundreds of books, my abundance of shoes, and my artwork – a collection which I downsized dramatically over the past ten years.
It’s worth mentioning that a fair portion of my art was created by people I know; I love what I have collected and in doing so (when I could afford it), I have “supported“ the arts I so profoundly believe in. Nevertheless, I remind myself of the lessons in editing, simplifying, and focusing. These are lessons that I continue to apply in my own life.
My attempts at shedding have seen only moderate success, and that’s being generous. Some of the issue is financial (would you take twenty cents on the dollar for a family treasure?); some of it is emotional. I’m stuck with the former and working on the latter.
Certainly, ridding ourselves of stuff is more difficult when we aren’t in Mr. Hill’s financial or personal circumstances: when selling a home would mean a significant loss; when family obligations translate into constraints that are nonetheless, choices; when “recovery time” from years of recession is shortened simply by virtue of chronological age.
In Love With Your Stuff?
None of this precludes making reasoned decisions concerning consumerism. Why do we store objects we may never look at again? Why do we cling to our possessions with such fervor and insistence? Why do we continue to waste – including food – at unprecedented rates?
Must we have the latest phones and notebooks? Maybe yes, maybe no – depending on what we do for a living.
What about our kids? All those clothes? All their technology?
It’s heresy to even suggest such a thing as not upgrading to the latest and greatest phone or tablet or notebook or whatever; all the more reason I was pleased to read Graham Hill’s thoughtful and inspiring story.
Can we at least consider reconsidering our consumer behavior? The alternatives for the health of our planet? Might we “divert” some of our gently used stuff to those who could continue to use it? If we streamline, won’t we be able to do more with less and be more with less, with more time to focus on the people in our lives – and the lives we’re actually living?
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I try and minimize every day and really try not to buy anymore stuff. No more collections for me and as I have my house painted, each room gets a makeover and stuff disappears.
Madge – I’m curious. Do you pass your stuff along to your grown children, or give it to the Salvation Army or other organizations?
Less is more? The author lives in a well appointed 420 sq foot apartment in NYC. I can assure you that while he may have shed his stuff, he did so, at least in part, out of necessity. Moreover, he now spends a majority of his time traveling so those four walls don’t need to close in on him. I appreciate his overall message but as I commented earlier today, wealth allows choice. His wealth facilitated his ability to choose what he would and would not have. The desire to acquire as as much to do with filling physical space as it does emotional space. I would encourage the author to spend some some in a less well appointed 420 sq foot apartment in a poorer neighborhood without that choice and then reevaluate his POV.
Points well taken, Liz. And I agree completely that even modest wealth provides choice – including the choice to design your “less.”
Yes to what Liz said. But the realization that many, who’ve made millions, had lots and lots and lots of stuff, like Mr. Hill, find having it all shallow and unable to fulfill, happens over and over – so what I take away from that, having never made millions and millions myself, it that the pursuit of wealth ends for me, at comfort and the ability to have some freedom with how I spend my time. Not a bigger house, not a more luxurious car, not more stuff to dust and insure and hoard and hold on to tightly. It’s the ability to pursue passions, some down time and the freedom and means to travel that mean the most to me and are worth working toward.
And as an aside, I’m currently living in a 405 sq foot home – having downsized from a 4,000 sq foot home – and have been perfectly content. Well, almost perfect – I’d like more white in my space, a place for my books (I swear they have energy and still prefer them to my e-books) and DO miss some of my kitchen pretties. Ahhhhhhh the tradeoff.
It’s something I struggle with. After scaling down due to a job change and significant reduction in pay I’ve learned that I don’t need many of the things I thought were important 5 years ago–it’s been a useful lesson.
yes.
agreed.
totally.
we have pared-it-down and found-it-more-beautiful.
tis true.
*wavingfromabove* (flying over america).
and smiling.
as you know – we Love an Adventure.
I had an epiphany about 5 years ago that I thought I’d share with you. Hubby and I were vacationing in Hong Kong and the day before our return flight, the airline went on strike, turning our three week vacation into four. Instead of buying more stuff to tide us over, we made do with what we had packed for a three week stay, laundered our clothes more often, and forged on with whatever we had with us.
I’d have to say that it was freeing to have so few possessions, and each item we had with us grew in value as our trip became longer and longer. It turned out to be one of our most enjoyable stays in Hong Kong ever.
When we got back home, surrounded by our belongings once again, it struck me that if I could be as happy as I’d been in Hong Kong living out of a suitcase for four weeks, why did I need all this stuff?
Ever since then I’ve been circumspect about acquiring possessions and I can honestly say i’m just as content with less and value what I have even more.
Lovely example, Jennifer. I don’t travel frequently these days, but the travel example is an excellent one. Like you, when I’m away and have less, I quite enjoy it.
(On another note – Hong Kong! How exciting! A place you travel often?)
By our move time this June, we should be down to about half the possessions we had a year ago. I find it difficult; Fran would prefer a one room cabin such as we lived in this summer. But so far, I’m not regretting what has moved on. But it will definitely change my life. As an activist, I possess a lot of specialized information that is more than anyone could hold in their head. I am the resource for some people. Also, I have material that enables me to do a lot myself without paying others. But space costs, even outside of New York. The article’s author is not cooking up a meal for his friends.
More good points, Paul… And space costs, yes.
Interesting that you mention acting as a resource. I have a substantial art reference library, gathered over my years of collecting and expanded when I was writing on art. This morning, one of my sons and I were discussing particular artistic movements, which related to work he is doing on his own as well as interests pertaining to his architecture program. I was able to lay my hands on specific books, including some acquired in Europe (this isn’t information you can get online) – and he was able to peruse at his leisure and absorb.
That balance of “enough” and not too much? Clearly, it changes as our life circumstances change. But I think that the so-called “simpler life” is not so simple for some of us, and with good reason.
I’ve been shedding, in fact I went so far as to have an estate sale and then move back in and start with just things I truly love. But of course, there were my grandmothers pieces etc…
I spent my 20s broke, my 30s acquisitive in a BIG way, my 40s pondering what I had done, and now in my early 50s, I find myself just wanting that which I really want. By which I mean things that I find beautiful and special, things that make me smile. I could happily downsize from my big house to a 2 bedroom apartment, and I will when the economy allows me to. Those things I really love don’t need walk in closets and basement/attic storage.
Today I went to Target and bought 4 sets of dinnerware – (at $16.99 per set), which seems like a lot for two people. But I have teenagers in my house ALL the time and dishes just break. I woke up Monday morning with literally one kitchen dinner plate. My solution was to get 16 so that I don’t have to replace for ages and ages…and my son can take a set of 12, or 8 or 6 or 4 with him when he moves out. At which point I will use my grandmothers china everyday and rarely lose a plate.
Time does have is lessons and age its own beauty!
I love your perspective, Meg. (And I understand about those teens and plates.)
thank you for reminding me again.
it is good to do some feng shui/mind clearing every once in a while and to get rid of “things”.
will do that before the snow melts here in berlin.
love, j.
Yes!! I’m in Hong Kong for a few weeks each year. I’m in love with the place. Sadly, over the past 20 years, the air pollution has become so bad that a two or three week stay is all I can take. I’d live there if the air were better. It’s an inspiring, exciting place. I love Tokyo too- quite relaxing compared to Hong Kong!
Meg, I can’t wait to use china everyday!
I have downsized out of necessity and found it to be highly survivable. I can raise my hand and nod emphatically that I had WAY more clothing for my children than necessary and created only additional work in the form of laundry and storage than our now smaller wardrobes. I do not regret that at all. However, there are times I miss bikes or space (children sharing rooms is not awful and has benefits, but not always simple, either). I miss having space to spread out and create without having to pack up in order to make room for the routines of the day (meals, homework, etc).
As in most things, I believe balance is likely the key. Find what works for you, your housemates and budget in the present season of life.
You guys have me contemplating my grandmother’s china, and a few odds and ends from my mother, and my own “wedding” china stored in two boxes on unreachable shelves…
And I hear you Melissa, on the fact that those smaller spaces can make some of our routines much harder to actually accommodate. We figure it out of course, but it isn’t necessarily easier or simplifying. Trade-offs, right?
I disagree with what Liz says. You can find legitimate ways to get what you want in life. Regardless of money (or lack thereof) you can travel and live. Well.
I used to work for a major French airline…I traveled the world on a very small salary. We had “trade agreements” with major and boutique hotels all over the world and “they” with us. I have many friends that are still living this “high life” with very small salaries and a simple pied a terre… and LOVE their lives.
You can find great art right off the quais next to the Seine by the students in les écoles de beaux arts. The same can be said for many parts of the world. I know farm families that get by on a pittance as rented farmers and are VERY happy. Sometimes I wish my daughter could see this… as she struggles/juggles work/motherhood/wife duties etc. in the Bay area. I have a journalist friend who raises her family on beachfront property in the South of France. Her children are trilingual and her husband, who works as a caretaker in a retirement home, also works in the “jardin” 15-20 hours a week… They “want for nothing”, eat wholesome natural food, and travel.
I can give you countless innovative examples. People would be surprised what they could do if keeping up with the image of the “Joneses” was of less importance. It is a matter of thinking outside the box…and maybe readjusting their geography
I hear you, La Bergère. But there are some significant issues that persist in this country, that make the execution of the sort of simplifying you’re talking about nearly impossible, depending on circumstances.
There are parts of the country where it remains true that there is no work. It’s worse for the younger adults and also those over 50. There are parts of the country where it’s extremely difficult to sell a home, now valued at 30% or 40% or 50% of what it was purchased for. Even were you to sell and take a loss, what you would end up with is insufficient to live anywhere else for more than a few months – if that.
Combine these facts with unemployment, no social safety net (for medical, for example), and I’d say you have a very neat trap unless you have family or friends to literally take you in, and presumably, one is healthy and no longer support in any way for children.
I say nearly impossible because some can “wait out” the abysmal real estate market, though it may take 3 or 5 or more years. Some may indeed have family to turn to and consolidate in that way. Those who are healthy, have regular (albeit small) sources of income may still be able to manage. And so on. My point here is that Liz’s point, in this country, is extremely valid.
That said, a caretaker’s cottage sounds mighty nice to me. Is there wifi?
😉
My journalist friend and her family live in the caretaker’s cottage…
I believe the more money we make, the more we spend. Rarely do we think we make enough money to satisfy our wants. There’s always something to buy that is out of our reach…regardless of our paychecks! So it becomes not having what we want, but wanting what we have! Real happiness doesn’t lie in the stuff we collect…it lies in the people with whom we surround ourselves.
The airline employees I wrote about are American. I had not thought of the issue of medical insurance coverage being available to the people of the lowest of incomes at all times and their children here in France, you are right . I sometimes have to remind myself how lucky I am to live here. I still find it appalling that the wealthiest country in the world does not insure its people as a basic human right.
I also agree with Lisa and still think there are SOMETIMES possibilities we have not thought about…and the simple act of breathing, without having to work or think about it, is a blessing.
Our health is EVERYTHING. Without it we have nothing. The rest is secondary.
Sing it, La Bergère. C’est une honte, ce que fait ce pays.
As you say:
It’s appalling that the wealthiest country in the world does not insure its people as a basic human right.
I wonder if possessions are the same as clutter…I realize that while I have never been very materialistic, I nonetheless have a house full of just “stuff.” I did notice that after having a child I’ve come to care MUCH less about owning things. I wear the same 3 pairs of jeans over and over and my only guilty pleasure is books (which I usually get at $1 library sales). My biggest concern is my son, who loves THINGS – free used car magazines, business cards, rocks, Happy Meal toys, and, of course, the bigger item and more expensive toys. While streamlining my own life I’m also trying to teach him to live more simply. It’s not easy but I know I need to “train” him while he’s young.
For those who haven’t seen it, Annie Leonard’s video, The Story of Stuff, is a revelation.