The Game Box

Gaming Stuff => Calandale => Topic started by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 04:26:22 pm



Title: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 04:26:22 pm
I've always lived with more or less as little as I can, I think.
Not as some sort of goal, mind you, but I was poor for a long
time, and ended up just getting used to it. Things that didn't
add much to my life (TV for example) just never became a part of
my life. The computer and interwebz is probably my biggest
'unneeded' luxury (although I do need some communications medium,
and did need it for work - I've had one when I did not absolutely require -
for gaming, pr0n, and spammin').

In some ways, I've been overboard. Like not having a car here in
Phoenix. It's a tough city to do that in: especially in the summer.
My semi-weekly shopping trips take about an hour and a half walk
in each direction; life was much more difficult before I got a wheelie
cart. Part of this is where I chose to live in the city though; there are plenty
of places I could be closer to food - but I really like my view off my porch (no
not the construction company). It's strange what things are chosen to be 'more
valuable'.

It's been shocking how long I've been able to do without a car actually.
Only owned one for a couple years after getting very ill. It was more
hassle than I could cope with. Having to get it serviced every couple years,
for example. The cost of the emotional angst from something like that -
for months - is far worse than having to hand-haul groceries. Plus, it was
making me fat. And hassle is, I think, a big part of the motivation in my minimalism.
I don't want to be bothered with many things - actually can't face most of
what 'normal' lives are made up of.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: usrlocal on July 24, 2014, 04:34:53 pm
Get a bike, dude. It'll open up a lot of possibilities. Or is Phoenix bicycle-unfriendly?


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 04:49:58 pm
I'm bicycle unfriendly. Less able to ride one than to drive.

Phoenix itself ain't great for them either. Gotta ride on the sidewalks in a lot of places.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: anarchy on July 24, 2014, 04:55:29 pm
You could get one of these:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T9qRRconOdI/THgnf_TBrtI/AAAAAAAABMk/mimYKE4CEC0/s1600/trike.jpg)


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 05:00:33 pm
Walking is nice. Even the little cart causes headaches. What do I
do if a wheel comes off?

If I break, I'm just out of the game.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: kira1y on July 24, 2014, 05:03:23 pm
Being without a car here would be very difficult. While I live within walking distance of all kinds of places the actual act of walking in this city can be dangerous to your health (riding a bike isn't any better). There are no fucking sidewalks anywhere. Public transportation here sucks as well. I once tried to figure out how long it would take for me to get to work using city buses, it was something like two hours (once the 1.5 mile walk was added in). I can drive there in 15 minutes, it's only like 7 miles away, so it's not even worth trying to use the buses to get there.

I like the idea of going minimalistic but I'm too much of a wuss to give up my little comforts.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 05:08:00 pm
Even WITH the car, I usually didn't use it. I'd take the bus to work most
days, and even haul my shopping by hand pretty often. It was nice when
the temp got high though (although the thing didn't have A/C).

You do what you are used to, I think. I've been so used to not driving,
that taking it up was more of a burden than not.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 07:38:12 pm
Crap - stupid green things all over my stars.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 07:51:28 pm
Yay! That's better.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: usrlocal on July 24, 2014, 07:53:08 pm
Yay! That's better.

It's the small victories..


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: stemcider on July 24, 2014, 08:24:01 pm
I don't own a car, a TV, or a bike, but I'd hardly call myself minimalist. Maybe for today's society's standards I am.

I did live in Mendocino for a year and had no computer, tv, car, bike, or anything of any real value. But my friend was letting me live at his place rent-free and I had a storage unit in the Bay Area with my stuff.

I also eat simply (beans/rice/veggies all the time) and I am a major hermit. Push come to shove, I could totally live in a monastery.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 08:51:52 pm
I don't own a car, a TV, or a bike, but I'd hardly call myself minimalist. Maybe for today's society's standards I am.


I guess the thing is that people seem shocked by how I live. No TV is more common now I guess -
I remember jaws hitting the floor in the 90's. I got by without internet in grad school and the first years
here - but often was able to leech off unprotected wireless. The wife really is what forced me to
pay for a connection; and then work.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: stemcider on July 24, 2014, 08:57:34 pm
I don't own a car, a TV, or a bike, but I'd hardly call myself minimalist. Maybe for today's society's standards I am.


I guess the thing is that people seem shocked by how I live. No TV is more common now I guess -
I remember jaws hitting the floor in the 90's. I got by without internet in grad school and the first years
here - but often was able to leech off unprotected wireless. The wife really is what forced me to
pay for a connection; and then work.

Ya I'll get a "Good for you!" every once in a while for not owning a tv. Shit, I am tempted though considering its $5 more a month for tv. Fvck comast

I do get a lot of shit from my friends for not owning a car. Mostly since we're scattered all throughout the state so theyre sick of visiting me and not the other way around.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 09:00:16 pm
There's so much on the web, I need LESS options rather than more.

That's actually true about a lot of things. Like the whole Obamacare -
it was just too complex to figure out. Hope I can stay healthy until I
have a job-based insurance again - usually there aren't too many options there.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Sluggonics on July 24, 2014, 10:22:43 pm
You could always hire a personal assistant. 

Most people just get married, though.  ;D
 
Does your wife want to get a car?  That could solve a lot of problems. 

My wife and I usually split the household tasks.  She usually handles groceries.  I mow the yard.  She usually cooks.  I do the dishes.  And so forth.  Takes away some of the worries.  Or hassles.




Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 24, 2014, 10:25:56 pm
You could always hire a personal assistant. 

I wish. Doubt I could afford it, but there are a lot of things in the 'normal' life
that I wish I could just offload onto someone.

Most people just get married, though.  ;D
 
Quote
Does your wife want to get a car?  That could solve a lot of problems. 


She does, but doesn't know how to drive. Not sure I'd trust her either.
Plus, SOMEONE would still have to deal with getting it serviced. I'm just
unwilling to cope with the hassle, but she can't deal with people when sober. :(







Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: anarchy on July 25, 2014, 12:28:09 am
My wife does not drive, either. And it's a pain to play taxi driver all the time, especially when each boy was involved in a different sport and needed to be driven to practice or a game.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 25, 2014, 12:31:53 am
They'd get more exercise if they walked to practice.  ;)


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: weateallthepies on July 25, 2014, 02:32:30 am
Yeah I held off on getting a car until about a month ago. Only passed my test this year and I mostly did it just to shut other people up though rather than any desire to drive.

There's going to be much the same pressure to be working once my youngest daughter starts school full time in September. People have been asking me for a year now what I'm going to do once she is at school...you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to drive to the cinema in the **** car you all made me buy.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: kira1y on July 25, 2014, 07:33:16 am
My wife does not drive, either. And it's a pain to play taxi driver all the time, especially when each boy was involved in a different sport and needed to be driven to practice or a game.

My wife doesn't either. I think I was happier when my oldest son got his license than he was as he became the default taxi driver.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Rockhopper on July 25, 2014, 07:54:37 am
It's amazing how stressful life becomes when we fill it with luxuries and conveniences.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 25, 2014, 10:54:43 am
It's amazing how stressful life becomes when we fill it with luxuries and conveniences.

I think this is one of the great draws to the monastic principles.

Or even the military life.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Rockhopper on July 25, 2014, 01:27:00 pm
It's amazing how stressful life becomes when we fill it with luxuries and conveniences.

I think this is one of the great draws to the monastic principles.

Or even the military life.

Military life is exactly what I was thinking about. Through seven years as a Marine, I only had worldly possessions enough to fit in two sea-bags, and I was satisfied.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 25, 2014, 01:30:15 pm
Yeah, more than that though. You don't have as many choices in the military.

Here's an example that would be important for me: you HAVE to go in for regular doctor's
check-ups. I just don't bother with that kinda shit normally - whether I have insurance
or not. The chaos of a normal life is somewhat mitigated.

That kind of paternalism, much as it might seem distasteful, would be very useful to me.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Rockhopper on July 25, 2014, 01:40:59 pm
Yeah, more than that though. You don't have as many choices in the military.

Here's an example that would be important for me: you HAVE to go in for regular doctor's
check-ups. I just don't bother with that kinda shit normally - whether I have insurance
or not. The chaos of a normal life is somewhat mitigated.

That kind of paternalism, much as it might seem distasteful, would be very useful to me.

This is precisely right. We knew that we were essentially "children." They gave us money for clothes (uniforms). I had no bills. They cooked for me.  And someone else took care of the barracks, so I didn't have to go up on the roof and clean out gutters or sweep the chimney like I have to do now. I got on planes when they told me to, and got off them in strange places, where I was provided someplace to stay... even if it was pretty desolate.

Even when it was greatly stressful, more than anything else I remember the simple things that we did. After hours on a pitching flight deck with jets trying to either suck me up or blow me over the side, or chief petty officers yelling at me because I was in the wrong spot, I'll never forget simply smoking a cigarette from the fantail. Or reading a book in the shop when things were quiet.


Title: Re: The Minimal Life
Post by: Calandale on July 25, 2014, 01:56:19 pm
I wish there were other work options that helped out that way. :(