Monday, February 16, 2009

Simply Living

I have been blog lazy for a few months letting Steve take over. And he has done an amazing job. I just have been thinking I should post some things out, some thoughts. We get questioned often about how we live and how we do without lots of things, why we live this way. Lots of questions. Well we feel strongly about experiences and little about things. I've always wanted to travel and love to explore. We are life learners. We love to see and do. To learn about things up close and personal. We could read about all the cool interesting places we go and teach our kids out of a textbook but why not let them experience it, live it. Some people like having the security of a stable house, job, life. Others live that way cause they are stuck in the rat race and want out, but are afraid to take the leap. This is YOUR life, what are YOUR dreams? As a good friend told me once, YOU need to make a decision and then make it happen.

So for us, living in an old school bus, cooking on a camp stove, hauling water, using a composting toilet, not owning a shower or bathtub, not owning a washer/ dryer, not having some of the basics (by some peoples standards) are OK with us. And sometimes they make life more fun. Not owning a shower/ pool means we get to go find local pools/ showers across the country and check out all kinds of pools, hot tubs, hot springs. Cooking on a camp stove means we keep our food simple and hauling water means we know how to conserve....big time! Using a composting/ sawdust toilet means our waste is not going into your drinking water....and conserving water again. Not owning a washer/ dryer means I only do laundry 2-3 times a month and get it all done in 2 hrs at the laundry mat, while I read a good book. We own much less clothes then most US families, and we recycle if it's not dirty. How can we live in such a small space, 40ftX7ft with 4 kids 2 big dogs and a cat? Well we really don't mind the small space, except the cat which often tries to jump ship. We have the world as our backyard! We are often found hiking, biking, swimming, exploring, so when we get a rainy day or we feel like staying home, we all just find our spot and relax, read, draw, make crafts, listen to dad play guitar, play games, ect. Hopefully this answers some of the questions about how we live and why we choose this lifestyle. We feel so very blessed to be living our dream!   

10 comments:

Sarah said...

Thanks for sharing! I can totally see why you would want to live like that. I lived out of a duffle bag in Texas and realized I could live with a lot less clothes. It was nice not to have all that laundry, actually.

Unknown said...

Amen to that! Life isn't all about what you don't have to begin with. Matt & I could do without like we do with most materialistic things that others think it requires to even be a part of that group. keeping it real is what it is all about. You do what you feel is right for your family & enjoy it while it's here. You only have this life to experience things. Thanks for a refresher!

Amber said...

I love it!!! Have a great time enjoying life to it's fullest!!!

suburban hippie mama said...

My hubby & I have been flirting w/ the idea of living this lifestyle...we want to travel soooo bad...but w/ 4 young children we have been scared to take the leap. One day the time will be right....

Carrie said...

I am glad you all are having such a great time! We maybe moving and you will have to visit us if we do...Not for a few months but is coming! Have fun!

Christi said...

You & Steve always march to the beat of your own drum- no doubt about it! Glad you are living your dream- you & Steve are glowing in all your pics! Love ya!

laurie l. goodman said...

I can identify with so much of what you have said...we are life learners too! I prefer that term to 'unschoolers' -keeps school out of it and better identifies what we all do... I am also inspired by the environmental benefits of your lifestyle choices especially related to water. We still rely on full hook-ups with our travel trailer! We haven't dry-camped yet... someday. Good for you! Keep enjoying the ride! I love your blog...I go on just to hear your tunes!

Remodelaholic said...

Julie- Yeah! I just found you off of a freind of a friend's blog, it's amazing what a good 10 minutes of blog stalking will get you!

Anyway, I am just literally running out the door so I haven't been able to read anything but I am so excited to hear what you guys are up to!

Check out our blog comeitch.blogspot.com when you get the chance... we have some exciting news!! love ya! Cassity

Show Us The World said...

I agree with all you wrote here. I couldn't imagine a better way to show our children exactly what they'd be reading about if in school. We feel so blessed to have this lifestyle too.
Krystal

Unknown said...

well said!

my name is chrissy and i have been envying families like yours for a while now. do you have any specific advice on how to go from the "american dream" to "simply living"?
we are seriously wanting to do it but don't know where to begin!