Voluntary Simplicity

Nancy Reading wrote:My husband told me this morning that we are officially living in poverty... funny, I actually feel that I am rich and have too much stuff

Same here. It's quite enjoyable being income-poor while having all the intangible luxuries.

Gray Henon wrote:I’ve always said there is nothing simple about the simple life!  I’m a mile wide and a bit more than an inch deep. We garden, raise livestock, hunt, fish, cook, food process, cut timber, vet, engine repair, home renovate (electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc), raise kids, volunteer, the list goes on.

I think there is wisdom in this. The simple life may look simple on the surface, but it requires complex strategies, tons of skills, and an endless supply of energy and effort. Nothing simple about that! Though at least it's honest, meaningful work compared to the cubicle farm wage slaves with their bank-owned BMW's who pretend to be wealthy.

I hear you, about all that gives you abundance in your life: good relationships with a good family & community who have a good range of life-skills, interests, shared resources and infrastructure, including secure tenure on good land ..  

Cash-flow is just not the most important measure of quality of life, once you have so much of what means life is worthwhile, established.

Very happy for you.

Hester Winterbourne wrote:What I've noticed is how quick some people are to offer you something when you tell them you don't have one.  Smartphone, microwave... .

Yes, that's why there's a hair-dryer in my closet (someone gave me) and for some time I had a laundry dryer (someone gave me, but luckily I could give it to someone else). I was lucky to give the TV away too, after my husband died (he always watched sports).
I am not without any modern conveniences. I do have central heating in this rented apartment. I have a washing machine.
I have a smart phone, but don't like to use it (or any phone). I have a laptop computer, very happy to be able to use it to communicate by e-mail, this forum, some facebook groups, a.a.

The most important to have in a really rich life: friends!