Do you think simple living is easier for some?

**Sara Noel** · 07-07-2002, 12:16 PM

because of their location? Ex: Jane lives in Iowa....the perfect simple living region.
When/if you do think of regions that seem to encourage simple living, what cities/states come to mind?

Sara

**bmiltimore** · 07-07-2002, 12:31 PM

Not mine!

I live in Southern California in a community with million dollar homes (we are in a condo)

People zip around in their fancy cars and flash their name brands and jewelry.

It is hard to live simply here when EVERYTHING costs money.

The only good thing is the GREAT stuff I get at garage sales.

**Jerseygirl** · 07-07-2002, 10:30 PM

It is so hard to live simply here. I live within 10 minutes of 2 major malls-Fortunoff, Macy's Sears, JCPenney, etc etc etc. But then I also live within 15 minutes of 3 urban renewal zones where the state has lowered the sales tax to help business in the town.

**summercat** · 07-08-2002, 04:37 PM

I think it is easy for people to live simple in my area, we have a lot of stores that have good sales and we are in the process of getting a walgreens built plus we have a big second hand store.

**gw72356@fullnet.com** · 07-09-2002, 01:01 AM

We live smack dab in the middle of low-income areas all the way around us and everything in this county is twice as expensive! It's really hard to find good bargains-the goodwill wanted $4.00 for a little baby t-shirt

We do have a SavALot and a Walmart,but no dble coupons,and few good yard sales. We stopped at one and they wanted $200.00 for a used sofa that could be bought new for $300 Yikes

**CAGmomof2** · 07-09-2002, 12:15 PM

I think it really depends on the person and where they live if simple living is easier or not!!
I live in the Country the Nearest Town is about 10 to 15 minutes away and that is not really the town itself that is just the start of the city limits!!
I try to live a simple life but it is even hard for us because of all the things we need to go through and get rid of some our home will work for us and not be so cluttered!!

**MicheleMomof3** · 07-16-2002, 02:19 AM

I think this is an excellent question. Last year we lived in town and found it hard to live a simple life. We have now moved 30 minutes away and life is much simplier plus alot cheaper. We live in a very rural area that has agriculture as its No.1 industry. We find that our groceries are cheaper.Course our situation gave us a bigger home. We have yet to unpack the garage.

God Bless,
~Michele~

**Noturningback** · 07-16-2002, 06:02 AM

I moved from New York to Sweden and life here is more simplistic. Now my husband and i are moving to the Puget Sound region of Washington where we hope to continue a more simplistic life.

**AmyBoz** · 07-16-2002, 12:25 PM

I'm only about 30-45 minutes outside of NYC and it is difficult to stay simple. It's very fast paced, everyone is in a rush, everything is expensive, and it's just not a relaxed environment. I went to college in Ohio and found it a lot easier to live simply...even in college!

**homesteadmamma** · 09-01-2004, 01:23 PM

Bumping this up. What a great question about simple living.

Although we lived a simple life when we lived in Winnipeg, it is far easier living a simple life where we live now, in the country. Everything is much slower, from not having debit card convenience to vehicles driving so slow that a turtle could probably beat them.

How about where you live?

**canadian gardener** · 09-01-2004, 03:10 PM

I like my area, I'm up in the hills above Kamloops, on the outskirts of town. I live in a subdivision, but just down the street the ranchland begins, and its backing onto the Knutsford ranches.

Best of both, city water, city sewer, garbage pickup and firemen handy which reduces our house insurance, all of which is simpler for me.

BUT I'm within walking distance of a marvellous park, backing on ranchland, with a pond, wild birds and lovely fresh air. I can drive to little hidden lakes, the farmers market is downtown every weekend in the growing season, with fresh organic cheap local produce, and if I wanted to I could find a supplier of farm eggs and milk.

I have my own veggie garden, and a sour cherry tree, and if I want I can plant peaches, pears, plums as well as apples, sweet cherries and apricots. All of those do well in my area, which can't be said about every backyard and it's a distinct advantage.

When I go shopping it's once every 2 weeks pretty much, so I don't need the car that often. For that, and for my Tuesday morning ladies bible study that I teach.

I tell you not having a car simplifies my life tremendously, but I can do that because of a good bus system, safe taxis if needed and friends who I can count on in a pinch none of which I've used.

Call my form of simple living, suburban simplicity.

**Jayne** · 09-01-2004, 04:02 PM

I kinda feel like simplicity is more a state of mind than anything....I think you can live a simple life anywhere, its all in the choices you make.....
I think you could live in Manhatten and still live as simply as someone in a very small town....people need to stop trying to compete with what the neighbors have and do their own thing....
IMHO

**forestdale** · 09-01-2004, 04:21 PM

Jayne, I agree with you 100%. For me simple living is more about an attitude to life than the location. I am trying to reduce waste, cook from scratch, shop less, make what I need, recycle, grow my own food and not go into debt, and I think that I could do that in the heart of Sydney or where I live, on the edge of a rural town.

**canadian gardener** · 09-01-2004, 05:02 PM

Parts of simpler living are easier depending on the area. My sister loves being out in the bush. She has her own water system and that water tastes marvellous. She and bil have a big septic system, they deal with their own garbage doing a dump run every couple of weeks. Burning and composting or feeding to the chickens (and pigs when they have them) takes care of a lot of stuff.

I can't raise pigs or chickens here, but it really is a state of mind and attitude about living.