Simplicity movement

June 17, 2003

In a message dated 6/17/03 8:43:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

nkohn writes:

> I'm wondering how many of the people on this list embrace the simplicity

> movement? I know a few people who believe that simplicity and vegetarianism go

> hand in hand. Its certainly does for me and simplifying my life has been a

> godsend. Any thoughts from you all on that?

>

I'm not sure what you mean by simplicity movement. My life is about as

simple as it gets most of the time. At least compared to most peoples. Or maybe

it's just predictable. <grin>

Heather in Ontario

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" When you live in the shadow of insanity, the appearance of another mind that

thinks and acts as yours does is something close to a blessed event. " -- R.

Pirsig

" HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig. "

Go Veggie.

June 17, 2003

My life is lived as simple as can be.

I'm also a naturist.

I'm not materialistic like most people are in today's

society.

The simpler things are the better.

I'm happy with just having a roof over my head and

just having the basics to live .

Doesn't take much to make me happy.

Hope that answers your question. :-)

--- diamyst wrote:

> In a message dated 6/17/03 8:43:41 PM Eastern

> Daylight Time,

> nkohn writes:

>

> > I'm wondering how many of the people on this list

> embrace the simplicity

> > movement? I know a few people who believe that

> simplicity and vegetarianism go

> > hand in hand. Its certainly does for me and

> simplifying my life has been a

> > godsend. Any thoughts from you all on that?

> >

>

> I'm not sure what you mean by simplicity movement.

> My life is about as

> simple as it gets most of the time. At least

> compared to most peoples. Or maybe

> it's just predictable. <grin>

>

> Heather in Ontario

>

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

>

> " When you live in the shadow of insanity, the

> appearance of another mind that

> thinks and acts as yours does is something close to

> a blessed event. " -- R.

> Pirsig

>

> " HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a

> lifetime commitment for a pig. "

> Go Veggie.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!

http://sbc.

June 17, 2003

Hi Heather....

By the simplicty movement, I mean, the whole " Less is More " mentality. Less

materialism for more quality of life idea. For us, it meant a much smaller place

to live (2000 sq.ft. down to 560 sq.ft) simplier meals, less commitment to

material, and " social " obligations, learning to say " no " to things that sapped

our time and energy, stuff like that. Does that make sense? Henry David Thoreau

( " Where I Lived and What I Lived For " Walden) writes, " Our life is frittered

away by detail... Simplify, simplify, simplify! ... Simplicity of life and

elevation of purpose. " I think a lot of people who are vegetarian are also

simplifyers...does that make sense?

Nancy

-

diamyst

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 9:26 PM

Simplicity movement

In a message dated 6/17/03 8:43:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

nkohn writes:

> I'm wondering how many of the people on this list embrace the simplicity

> movement? I know a few people who believe that simplicity and vegetarianism

go

> hand in hand. Its certainly does for me and simplifying my life has been a

> godsend. Any thoughts from you all on that?

>

I'm not sure what you mean by simplicity movement. My life is about as

simple as it gets most of the time. At least compared to most peoples. Or

maybe

it's just predictable. <grin>

Heather in Ontario

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" When you live in the shadow of insanity, the appearance of another mind that

thinks and acts as yours does is something close to a blessed event. " -- R.

Pirsig

" HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig. "

Go Veggie.

June 17, 2003

yes it does, but does your thinking in how you live a life of simplicity fall

hand in hand with being a vegetarian. I guess what I am asking is does

simplicity and vegetarianism go hand in hand? Just curious on the whole topic of

simplicity and of course, vegetarianism.

Nancy

-

I b

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 9:41 PM

Re: Simplicity movement

My life is lived as simple as can be.

I'm also a naturist.

I'm not materialistic like most people are in today's

society.

The simpler things are the better.

I'm happy with just having a roof over my head and

just having the basics to live .

Doesn't take much to make me happy.

Hope that answers your question. :-)

--- diamyst wrote:

> In a message dated 6/17/03 8:43:41 PM Eastern

> Daylight Time,

> nkohn writes:

>

> > I'm wondering how many of the people on this list

> embrace the simplicity

> > movement? I know a few people who believe that

> simplicity and vegetarianism go

> > hand in hand. Its certainly does for me and

> simplifying my life has been a

> > godsend. Any thoughts from you all on that?

> >

>

> I'm not sure what you mean by simplicity movement.

> My life is about as

> simple as it gets most of the time. At least

> compared to most peoples. Or maybe

> it's just predictable. <grin>

>

> Heather in Ontario

>

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

>

> " When you live in the shadow of insanity, the

> appearance of another mind that

> thinks and acts as yours does is something close to

> a blessed event. " -- R.

> Pirsig

>

> " HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a

> lifetime commitment for a pig. "

> Go Veggie.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!

http://sbc.

June 17, 2003

Of course it does go hand in hand.

How many meat eaters do you know where their life is

simple?

--- " Nancy K. " <nkohn wrote:

> yes it does, but does your thinking in how you live

> a life of simplicity fall hand in hand with being a

> vegetarian. I guess what I am asking is does

> simplicity and vegetarianism go hand in hand? Just

> curious on the whole topic of simplicity and of

> course, vegetarianism.

>

> Nancy

> -

> I b

>

> Tuesday, June 17, 2003 9:41 PM

> Re: Simplicity

> movement

>

> My life is lived as simple as can be.

>

> I'm also a naturist.

>

> I'm not materialistic like most people are in

> today's

> society.

>

> The simpler things are the better.

>

> I'm happy with just having a roof over my head and

> just having the basics to live .

>

> Doesn't take much to make me happy.

>

> Hope that answers your question. :-)

>

> --- diamyst wrote:

> > In a message dated 6/17/03 8:43:41 PM Eastern

> > Daylight Time,

> > nkohn writes:

> >

> > > I'm wondering how many of the people on this

> list

> > embrace the simplicity

> > > movement? I know a few people who believe that

> > simplicity and vegetarianism go

> > > hand in hand. Its certainly does for me and

> > simplifying my life has been a

> > > godsend. Any thoughts from you all on that?

> > >

> >

> > I'm not sure what you mean by simplicity

> movement.

> > My life is about as

> > simple as it gets most of the time. At least

> > compared to most peoples. Or maybe

> > it's just predictable. <grin>

> >

> > Heather in Ontario

> >

>

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

> >

> > " When you live in the shadow of insanity, the

> > appearance of another mind that

> > thinks and acts as yours does is something close

> to

> > a blessed event. " -- R.

> > Pirsig

> >

> > " HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a

> > lifetime commitment for a pig. "

> > Go Veggie.

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> >

>

> SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!

> http://sbc.

>

June 17, 2003

mmmm you got me thinking about...

to a extent we are ..i cook much more simple ..not so many proccesed

or boxed items from scratch has become our way..i have yet to put to

good use the bread maker my mil gave me .the recipes intimidate me

and have not found any good multigrain ones..i am a bit attached to

my natural ovens bread..but have gotten our grocery bill down ALOT by

living off the land more and ect..i since have quit 2 jobs so we

spend less on the frivilous things...have more quality time ect..is

this a product of me being a vegetarian? no i would have to say..all

this came to mind previous to my thoughts or likes or dislikes on

food..in fact i found myself eating less and less M*** and thought

wow if i could get family to do teh same what a food cost saver that

would be lol mmmm i am tired it is late for me so i will stop

rambling and give it more thought later...

till later

Niccii

, diamyst@a... wrote:

> In a message dated 6/17/03 8:43:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> nkohn@c... writes:

>

> > I'm wondering how many of the people on this list embrace the

simplicity

> > movement? I know a few people who believe that simplicity and

vegetarianism go

> > hand in hand. Its certainly does for me and simplifying my life

has been a

> > godsend. Any thoughts from you all on that?

> >

>

> I'm not sure what you mean by simplicity movement. My life is

about as

> simple as it gets most of the time. At least compared to most

peoples. Or maybe

> it's just predictable. <grin>

>

> Heather in Ontario

>

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~*~*~*

>

> " When you live in the shadow of insanity, the appearance of another

mind that

> thinks and acts as yours does is something close to a blessed

event. " -- R.

> Pirsig

>

> " HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment

for a pig. "

> Go Veggie.

>

June 17, 2003

Nancy K. [nkohn]

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 6:44 PM

Re: Simplicity movement

Simplicity...yes but not in the way you suggest.

>>By the simplicty movement, I mean, the whole " Less is More " mentality.<<

I've been veggie for 22 years. I practiced " less is more " in college

because that was the limited choices I faced at the time. Today, things are

much different.

>>Less materialism for more quality of life idea. For us, it meant a much

smaller place to live (2000 sq.ft. down to 560 sq.ft) simplier meals, less

commitment to material, and " social " obligations, learning to say " no " to

things that sapped our time and energy, stuff like that. Does that make

sense?<<

We all make many personal choices about our lives, and those choices bring

us very specific results. If " less materialism " works for you or anyone,

then I say you should embrace it. Love whatever life you have. Love it

honestly and with all the pride of your heart.

For me, such " having less " decisions are not part of my quality of life. As

a long time veggie, I've endured much for my " personal " principles, and I've

kept them alive when many around me faltered. I have achieved more than I

ever expected and apologizing for that success or being ashamed of it is not

about to happen.

I say that from those who have earned much, much is also required. As I

approach 60, my energy level is high and my endurance for frenetic 18 hour

days seems endless. When I see specific needs around me, fortunately I can

facilitate in a number of ways the resources to meet them. " Less material

means " would make that impossible. If I had chosen a life focused on having

" less, " then that's exactly what I would also have--considerably less.

Yet, in another sense, my life is remarkably simple but probably not in the

sense of this thread. While my walk-in closet is larger than 560 sq. ft.,

my house is furnished in a relative spartan style. My meals focus mostly on

promoting my health. My lifestyle is focused on enjoying this life,

experiencing its wonder, building community, and sharing with those of

like-mind beyond my front gate.

>>Henry David Thoreau... " ...Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose. " <<

The key idea here is a high " purpose. " Whether we know it or not, each of

us has a life purpose. Mine endows me with personal power and the strength

to continue when those around me are way too tired. Filling my purpose is

complemented by what's been given to me. I ask of those who chose

" simplicity " to the exclusion of " material means, " does such a " less is

more " state allow you to also fulfill you life purpose?

>>I think a lot of people who are vegetarian are also simplifyers...does

that make sense?<<

That makes sense when one recognizes that each of us views the world through

very different eyes. We may use many of the same words, but often the

visions living within our heads are quite different from them. For me,

being veggie is not so much about individual acts of simplification but

about a personal reverence for life on this planet and the consequences that

practice of reverence manifests.

Dave

June 17, 2003

In a message dated 6/18/03 1:23:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

daveo writes:

> my house is furnished in a relative spartan style. My meals focus mostly

> on

> promoting my health. My lifestyle is focused on enjoying this life,

> experiencing its wonder, building community, and sharing with those of

> like-mind beyond my front gate.

>

My views pretty much too. I have a spartan home because, with severe bone

problems it is much easier to keep clean and I am a clean freak. With 6 cats

and 4 dogs, I dust and vacuum a lot. Having less makes it so much easier. My

meals are very simple as well but geared to optimum health most of the time.

My focus at 52 is " whatever makes it easier " so I am the queen of the small

electrical appliances and any other functional piece of machinery that makes

life easier for my bones. I'm afraid that 560 sq ft would be clausterphobic. I

like open spaces, lots of bright sunny windows and oodles of air. I open my

windows in May and I think I leave them open till just about frost time much to

the chagrin of some family members. Of course I do close em up when it rains

in them. LOL

I like to curl up and read a book knowing that the bread maker is happily

churning out a fresh loaf of bread. I like to know that when my DH brings in

the

entire rhubarb patch at once that the food processor will make short work of

it and thanks to Zip Lock the freezer will keep it fresh tasty all winter.

My life is simple in that I don't have outside commitments, mainly because,

with my health, I'm not reliable enough to make them. I do, however, entertain

a lot and spur of the moment dinner parties on days I feel great are quite

common. I have a reputation amongst my group as a good cook so finding 10 or 15

people to come for dinner on a couple of hours notice is never a problem and

I love cooking for a crowd.

I spend a lot of time with my family and friends. I am a freelance writer

and Rosary Maker and sell my wares from home and over the internet so I don't

have to actually " go " to work which is nice. We live out in the country on an

acre of farm land. I have a wondeerful flower garden. No veggies t hough.

Mr. Gibson, the green garden guy in Winchester has a wonderful veggie stand and

I buy through him. Great produce and I didn't have to do any of the work -

that's simple. <grin> Every morning I take my coffee out to the porch and

watch the farms beside and in front of me come to life. My back yard is full

of friendly, talkative holstien cows. They eat up all the leftover veggies

and fruit that we don't and are very grateful for them, especially leftover

salad and peaches. I listen to roosters crow and hounds bay. If I am up during

the night I quite often get a glimpse of the local fox. She is a real beauty

and I feed h er sometimes. We also have racoons, skunks and porcupines which

are not quite so welcome as the fox mainly because they like to help

themselves to the garbage and sure can make a mess. We have lots of deer in

our area

which are becoming a problem. Over population is a killer, literally. In

the fall and winter I quite frequently see wolves or coyotes, sometimes right on

the driveway beside the house.

Yesterday we had nature inside for awhile. One of the kittens b rought in a

mouse, then another one, then a huge momma mouse, all of which had to be

returned to the great outdoors, only to be brought in again later - or maybe it

was

a different group, who knows. Thank goodness they aren't carting in

chipmunks or baby bunniers like our neighbours cats do. A loose chipmunk can

provide

quite a lot of lively exercise for everyone.

Anyhow, this is way to long, sorry. Got carried away. I think my life is

simple but not because I'm a vegetarian and I know lots of meat eaters who have

a life that is far, far more simple than mine so I don't think veggie and

simple go hand in hand at all.

Heather in Ontario

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" When you live in the shadow of insanity, the appearance of another mind that

thinks and acts as yours does is something close to a blessed event. " -- R.

Pirsig

" HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig. "

Go Veggie.

June 18, 2003

What wonderful images you create. Thanks for sharing them.

diamyst [diamyst]

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 2:59 AM

Re: Simplicity movement

In a message dated 6/18/03 1:23:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

daveo writes:

> my house is furnished in a relative spartan style. My meals focus

> mostly on promoting my health. My lifestyle is focused on enjoying

> this life, experiencing its wonder, building community, and sharing

> with those of like-mind beyond my front gate.

My views pretty much too. I have a spartan home because, with severe bone

problems it is much easier to keep clean and I am a clean freak. With 6

cats

and 4 dogs, I dust and vacuum a lot. Having less makes it so much easier.

My

meals are very simple as well but geared to optimum health most of the time.

My focus at 52 is " whatever makes it easier " so I am the queen of the small

electrical appliances and any other functional piece of machinery that makes

life easier for my bones. I'm afraid that 560 sq ft would be

clausterphobic. I

like open spaces, lots of bright sunny windows and oodles of air. I open my

windows in May and I think I leave them open till just about frost time much

to

the chagrin of some family members. Of course I do close em up when it

rains

in them. LOL

----clipped---

June 18, 2003

Dave, thank you for such insight into what simplicity means for you, and by no

means did I intend that anyone should apologise for thier success..I hope you

did not think that by my post. I loved reading your thoughts, thanks for sharing

them!

Nancy

-

daveo

Wednesday, June 18, 2003 12:58 AM

RE: Simplicity movement