Comments on: Minimalist inspirations http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html Financial independence, frugality, self-sufficiency, ecology, capitalism, and voluntary simplicity Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:06:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: DNA http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-863 DNA Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:59:21 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-863 I love Seinfeld's joke, "Why don't dogs carry cash? Because they don't have pockets." So your point about animal examples is really important to me; something I think about every day, with the wild ones particularly admirable. I think this is why I'm not afraid of death--the thought that I or other loved ones go through what the squirrels in the trees face too. And, of course, they live minimally. But then there is the news item I recently saw about squirrels living in a cemetery appropriating those little American flags people put on graves to line their nests! I love Seinfeld’s joke, “Why don’t dogs carry cash? Because they don’t have pockets.”

So your point about animal examples is really important to me; something I think about every day, with the wild ones particularly admirable. I think this is why I’m not afraid of death–the thought that I or other loved ones go through what the squirrels in the trees face too.

And, of course, they live minimally. But then there is the news item I recently saw about squirrels living in a cemetery appropriating those little American flags people put on graves to line their nests!

]]> By: The Chad http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-858 The Chad Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:12:35 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-858 Get a job hippie! :-D Good stuff Jacob. Funny that I'm reading this now as I've been "cleaning out the closet" for the past couple of weeks. I'm also getting ready to buy road tires/wheels for my mtn bike! Get a job hippie! :-D
Good stuff Jacob. Funny that I’m reading this now as I’ve been “cleaning out the closet” for the past couple of weeks. I’m also getting ready to buy road tires/wheels for my mtn bike!

]]> By: Shanti @ Antishay Ventenne http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-855 Shanti @ Antishay Ventenne Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:59:07 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-855 Very interesting post! I like the tie you made between the necessities and our footprint. I also really enjoy how you worked up from animal and then on to the increasing levels of things we can have to make up our needs. Very good, very compelling. Thank you :) Very interesting post! I like the tie you made between the necessities and our footprint. I also really enjoy how you worked up from animal and then on to the increasing levels of things we can have to make up our needs. Very good, very compelling. Thank you :)

]]> By: Hannah http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-854 Hannah Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:55:33 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-854 It's interesting how you place the physiological needs (health and basic shelter) at the top in terms of importance, rather than the bottom, as Maslow does in his hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, the bottom-most portion is physiological, then safety needs, social needs (that is to say social approval) and so on, and at the very top is self-actualization. I'd say most of modern America conceptualizes this pyramid in a consumer sense. First: meet basic needs. Then spend money to impress/peer approval/status/fashion/trends. Buy on credit, pay later! And self-actualization would naturally then be... whoever has the biggest and newest toys! I like how you reframe what is important.. physiological needs must be met with the most economic utility in order to free up time and resources for self-actualization, not the other way around. And you're right in that the most important things can't be bought on the consumer market, such as intelligence, free time, and health. You would sometimes mention how your goal is to maximize your independence. So is it safe to assume that self-actualization for you is self-sufficiency? And is that a means to an end (some project or life goal) or is that an end in and of itself (achievement in mastering the self and one's willpower)? Either way, I think it is a very worthwhile and admirable goal to have, especially in a society of people who kill themselves to out-consume their neighbors. It’s interesting how you place the physiological needs (health and basic shelter) at the top in terms of importance, rather than the bottom, as Maslow does in his hierarchy of needs.
According to Maslow, the bottom-most portion is physiological, then safety needs, social needs (that is to say social approval) and so on, and at the very top is self-actualization. I’d say most of modern America conceptualizes this pyramid in a consumer sense. First: meet basic needs. Then spend money to impress/peer approval/status/fashion/trends. Buy on credit, pay later! And self-actualization would naturally then be… whoever has the biggest and newest toys!

I like how you reframe what is important.. physiological needs must be met with the most economic utility in order to free up time and resources for self-actualization, not the other way around. And you’re right in that the most important things can’t be bought on the consumer market, such as intelligence, free time, and health. You would sometimes mention how your goal is to maximize your independence. So is it safe to assume that self-actualization for you is self-sufficiency? And is that a means to an end (some project or life goal) or is that an end in and of itself (achievement in mastering the self and one’s willpower)? Either way, I think it is a very worthwhile and admirable goal to have, especially in a society of people who kill themselves to out-consume their neighbors.

]]> By: KillerRoo http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-853 KillerRoo Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:08:44 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-853 Though it may be too extreme for some, these homes seem like a nice alternative for someone wanting to live a minimalist lifestyle. I just purchased a home (traditional) before finding out about these; and I currently have a roommate, but I hope to someday have such a small footprint. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ Though it may be too extreme for some, these homes seem like a nice alternative for someone wanting to live a minimalist lifestyle. I just purchased a home (traditional) before finding out about these; and I currently have a roommate, but I hope to someday have such a small footprint.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

]]> By: KillerRoo http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-852 KillerRoo Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:05:54 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2008/03/minimalist-inspirations.html#comment-852 Excellent post! This made me think of something I recently read about: Extremely-small-footprint homes. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/ It may be too drastic for some, but for the true minimalist these home seem to be a great compromise (except for the shipping of the houses if you don't build them yourself). Excellent post! This made me think of something I recently read about: Extremely-small-footprint homes.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
It may be too drastic for some, but for the true minimalist these home seem to be a great compromise (except for the shipping of the houses if you don’t build them yourself).

]]>