Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.
This week, we have a wonderful contribution from Janet, who shares her story (with photos!) of leading a simpler life.
Janet writes:
Mine is not as much a minimalist story as a quest for simple living. Two years ago as the last of our 3 boys left home we decided to scale back, slow down and try to recapture the time in our life before kids. We were young and didn’t have much but were quite content. This was our vision. So this is what we did…
We traded a big tract home with all the bells and whistles for a tiny, old cottage that is located in a historical park in our town. The cottage required a complete renovation but the location was perfect. We now have 2 very small bedrooms, 1 closet in the entire house, no garage. We do have a tv that is rarely turned on, but no cable. No cell phones (only a landline.) No gardener or pool service (both of which we had before.) We have a small push mower that I love because I’m able to do the gardening by myself if I want to. Our utility bills are a fraction of what they used to be. We have no credit card debt or car payments. My husband works from home and I can walk to work. We maintain a vegan diet for compassion and health. This life we have recreated was not easy but has been so worth it. We still have stress but it is not the nagging, persisent kind that we used to live with on a daily basis.
Friends and family could not understand why we would voluntarily give up so much. But we had a vision and we stuck with it. While I strive to continually pare down, I do love the things we have kept because they hold so many memories. I am always inspired by reading other stories regarding this topic. If you are interested you can see the progress we have made at my blog – www.thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com
The one last thing I’m struggling with is the internet. I’m finding that I’m spending too much time on it and have been thinking about giving it up too. Not quite sure how that will turn out.
Thanks for reading my story.
~janet
Photos by Janet
What a beautiful home! I have seen photographs before of how you rearranged your living room to be more “simple” and it was good to find out more about your story. Downsizing is a constant work in progress I find and these stories and sites are so helpful in bolstering my own vision for how I want my life to be. It especially resonates that you are vegan. I try to be vegetarian and find that difficult enough at times! Thanks so much for sharing.
What a beautiful home, and I love the stone walkway leading up to it.
Your story is very inspiring, thank you for sharing it.
– Charley
i wish i could try giving up the internet too, but my boyfriend needs it for his job, so we have to have it. if it ever goes out he knows right away even when he’s not at work. i wish i could just force myself to stay away from the computer!
sounds like you have the perfect little home, i think i would love living in a little cottage style house.
Lovely post, Janet, and I love reading your blog. Your home is so peaceful and beautifully presented. I also know what you mean about the internet – I’m shocked at how quickly time can fly, while other things go undone.
MM, how about a post on minimising internet use? I need all the help/suggestions I can get!
LOL Michelle, I’m probably the last one qualified to offer advice on this — I’m on the net *way* too often! It’s something I need to work on, too; I actually find it somewhat of a relief when I’m traveling and (temporarily) internet-free.
lol! Janet I love your cottage!!!!! I really wnat to live in one like that. I saw a really lovely cottage in Swanage and I would like the buy it… if you know any other places in the UK (especially Devo, Cornwall or Wales) please tell me!
I adore this home and your pursuit! I spend too much time on the internet too, but I swear I only read good inspiring info – like this blog and post! :) But it needs to balanced with real book reading too… that is my self-discipline quest. With that, I’m signing off – g’nite.
Wow! I love your cottage. I understand too about the internet. I feel like it’s my last dirty little consumer need. It’s good replacement for magazines, TV and buying ‘stuff’ but it’s kind of the final frontier in terms of cutting. We’ll see. . .
Thank you everyone for the lovely comments.
The internet is the last of my clutter to conquer. Getting rid of the cell phone and cable were easy compared to this. I have met so many wonderful people through blogging. But I recognize that I’m spending way too much time keeping in touch with my cyber friends. Having a blog is a lot of work. Not only your own posts but keeping up with everyone else’s. So the next couple of months will decide how I handle it. Thanks again, Sunny for posting my story and keeping me inspired.
~janet
Janet- I am adding you to my list of SHEROES!!! YEE HAW!!! I love it. While you will have to pry the internet from my cold dead body…: ) I do understand. We have no TV and it took some time to really make that choice. Love you blog. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Janet! How long have you been a vegan? Would you mind sharing some tips on how to transition into being one?
Your home looks very warm and cozy. Thanks for sharing your simple living story!
Transitioning from vegetarian to vegan was not hard for me. While I love all the obvious benefits (great skin, digestion and weight control) the main reason we are vegans is for compassion’s sake. Once I learned of how we treat animals on farms and dairy farms it literally took me about 2 minutes to decide on veganism. I should do more posts on this subject. I should post more recipes. I know I should but I already spend so much time on the internet, arghhhh. This is my dilemma.
That home is just beautiful! I would love to live in a place like that, and thank you for sharing your story.
No land line is fine until the power goes out and you have no phone at all.
Dear et,
We lose power a few times each year during the winter. Guess what? We survive! If something dreadful were to happen I have plenty of neighbors close by. So far so good.
It looks like a magical cottage in a fairy forest! I love it.
While I understand your desire to try to minimize the amount of time spent on the internet, I and many others would dearly miss your blogs. You manage to keep so many people focused in such a beautiful way.
We moved from a small home to a small condo. I could go smaller yet, but my husband is happy with a larger space and in fact shows me big houses. Many of our friends, all empty nesters have very large homes. They have big TV’s and all kinds of hobby equipment. A friend mentioned the other night buying clothes and never wearing them. Many of your writers are young and that gives me hope for the future.
We bought only folding chairs for our dining room and then folded the table down as far as it will go. I am thinking of giving some furniture to my younger son when he gets his own place. We could get by with fewer bookshelves and maybe give away another table.
I just turned 66 and applied for social security. My husband applied at 62. We retired in 2002 on 40 0/0 of our incomes. People make strange choices to go heavily in debt on credit cards and buy expensive cars. Friends spend money on manicures, pedicures, expensive hair upkeep and other things I’ve chosen to live without. We haven’t turned on our furnace in 14 years because we live in a south facing condo. We take a cruise every year, we used to go on European vacations every 2 years. I’ve noticed people do what’s important to them.
Some of our friends buy a new car every two or three years. An awful lot own 60″ TV sets. There isn’t anything I need to see or anywhere in my home for a set that big. The kids give us movie or restaurant passes and we have gift cards for stores where we shop. I enjoy having empty drawer space.
I keep giving hobby equipment away. Since much was purchased second hand it is not a problem. My friend asked for July 4th paper in red, white and blue. I was given so many colors of paper, ribbon, and buttons I feel like I will never run out. I am also still giving plants away.
I got many boxes of buttons from people who were moving. I also got a bunch of ribbon. I gave quite a lot away and threw anything away that was faded or broken. I only need enough for crafts for a year or two.