Comments on: 50 Item Checklist (final update)

By: Chinle

Chinle — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:18:50 +0000

Animals that can keep moving quickly out of danger and without a set plan tend to survive longer.

I like that one a lot (from the list, not mine). I’ve never been one to make set plans, I like to think I’m serendipitous. That statement makes me feel better about how I live.

By: auntiegrav

auntiegrav — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:23:42 +0000

Not so much a suggestion, but a piece of prioritizing advice:
Tackle the biggest things that you can first, so that you start saving as soon as possible the largest amount.
We all know we aren’t going to do all or most of the things, but of the ones we can each do, set up a prioritized plan. Saving 10 mpg on a vehicle that gets 30 already isn’t as important as saving 10 on a vehicle that only gets 10. It’s the resources we don’t use early on that allow us to work on the other problems later. Transportation, food choices and heat/air conditioning are our biggest immediate ones that can often be reduced with behavior changes rather than investments.

By: susan marie

susan marie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:20:05 +0000

Envirofrigginmental:

Good idea. Especially appreciate the process of separating needs from wants. It’s an exercise for us all to do.

Have begun the first phase by letting go of a monster (home ownership + yard)and am renting a house in “the city” of Fullerton, CA. It is in a neighborhood of nice people, old homes (with porches) and big trees. I can walk to everything, groc.stores, bars, restaurants, train station, library, YOGA, bank, parks. This is a start, as it is not time for me to be isolated from people/community and opportunity for face-to-face collaboration.

Since I am not yet at the smallest footprint possible, perhaps I should consider dedicating my excess in service to others. Like taking in a person who needs a place to sleep or shower (since I have an extra room and small extra bath). Or using my porch or front room for gatherings. Perhaps this helps compensate for the excess?

Ultimately, my desire is to live in a YURT on some land in Mendocino County (CA) with a spring and a meadow.

By: susan marie

susan marie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:53:32 +0000

Charles, you are right about the music!

“If you have no training then play the bongos or have someone show you a simple drum rhythm.”

Music has the power to transform, uplift, and heal. Drums are a great place to start.

Here’s my proof: I once hosted a party for about 40 fencing friends (mostly tech minded types) and clients/business associates. Once everyone had arrived, I pulled out my drum and started a rhythm, got everyone’s attention and asked them to follow me out the door, Pied Piper style. We reassembled on a bluff at the end of the street where I’d planned a SURPRISE – spread out on blankets was a pile of instruments(mostly drums of various sizes and types)- one for everybody. I’d hired a Laguna Beach drum shop + drummers to take over and start the riffs. People were shy at first…but once they got going it was amazing! Most had not played an instrument in years and no one had been in a drum circle before. We played for hours…no one wanted it to end. It was just MAGICAL. That was 11 years ago and people are still talking about it!

By: Envirofrigginmental

Envirofrigginmental — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:37:25 +0000

Great additions!

May I suggest the following: Move into the smallest possible home (and plot of land) you can live in. The long-term environmental footprint (i.e. heating/cooling costs etc.) will be greatly diminished. This requires clearly distinguishing your needs from your wants and getting creative about how you accomodate the activities that occur infrequently. It also requires relinquishing your ego.