The reduce, reuse, recycle social experiment is going well at home. Gerard and I haven’t gone completely buy free. We committed to not buying anything new for one year. There is a certain amount of freedom in opting out of consumerism. Sometimes even grocery shopping for the food necessities for our home cooked meals from scratch is taxing having to walk through aisles and aisles of wastefully packaged (why does my broccoli need to be hermetically sealed?) and processed foods. I am being conscious more and more of how mindlessly I have picked up this and that and certainly needed none of it. Research from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Cornell University shows in fact, the impact of a new material thing only lasts about nine months. There seems to be great value in taking stock in the things I have that continue to bring me joy year after year. There are improvements I have made in the house that are aesthetically pleasing– my wood burning stove, a bank of storage chests across from my bed that hold my books, a set of white wicker chairs. When I open my eyes in the morning and see these possessions there is tan aesthetic pleasure that instantly runs through me like an electric charge. I am becoming more conscious of the purchases we have made that bring me joy and pleasure and I want to stay dialed into that feeling when our year is up.

I have promised myself that this week’s task is to plow through more of the stuff in the basement that is stored. Stored for what…. for my kids to go through when I am gone? I have already learned that they were not at all interested in their baby clothes, the cutest and best, I saved for them to don their own children in. I will pack up what is down there save for one or two outfits for a time capsule plastic storage bin I will create for each of them. The rest will go to a neighborhood clothing center that gives the clothing out for free. I will unpack my teaching books and supplies and shelve them down there. If in a year I have not used them for any reference, or if I haven’t started tutoring or subbing I will donate those also. With the empty boxes I will organize the painting, tiling and plumbing supplies. Currently, said supplies are just haphazardly tossed onto the shelves and I have no idea what is where. It’s making me realize how often I was running to Home Depot for something because I think I need it and if we do already have it, I don’t know where to find it. I am excited to see open space emerge. More floor space hopefully will create more workout space!

I do love to travel. Traveling hasn’t proved to be as freeing as I might have hoped given the freedom of flying free. As a recipient of airline retiree benefits, I am hopping on planes, yes, for free. I am not buying right? Regardless, I am fraught with guilt. I am certainly a far cry from any real reduction in my carbon footprint. And to ease the guilt of contributing to carbon emissions I rationalize that I am filling an empty seat of a plane that is departing with or without me. I am not purchasing a ticket to require that flight to go to its destination. Interesting tricks the mind plays. I could take a train. In fact, I love the idea of a road trip without me at the wheel. However, I am not a beneficiary of rail employee benefits. The footnoted reason for starting this experiment is the flow of money is not in our bank accounts at the present moment. Free airline travel means I can get to Minneapolis in 24 minutes instead of two and a half hours, which takes nearly a full tank of gas round trip at $3.13 a gallon!

It doesn’t get any easier once I arrive at my destination. I feel obliged to spell out my self-imposed rules and I think family and friends are finding me silly for participating in this restriction. “Oh no, you can go out to eat. You are on vacation.” I realize that my arrival is at least a break from my hosts’ daily routines and at most a vacation for themselves. My arrival allows for them to visit to a new dinner spot or a boutique that just opened. I am more and more released from the desire of having to spend. Sometimes it is just hard to let others foot the bill when they say they want to treat me. I am extremely grateful for the hospitality of those who say, “Come and stay with us.” I am muddling through how to pull my own weight or how to give back for opening their homes and giving their time. Even if I come bearing gifts of arts and crafts, folks really don’t understand that I can’t spend the money going to restaurants and theaters currently. I can offer to buy the groceries and cook meals. Concocting delectable entrees is starting to be my newfound passion that I am willing to share. But what is it inside me that feels morally responsible for participating in their entertainment? What is driving my guilt for not “going out” and disappointing my hosts? I realize that spending IS entertainment. I am surprised how often people don’t know what is offered in their community for free.

Four weeks into this and I am finding unexpected benefits. I am enjoying my environment around me. I am understanding more if what is truly important to me. I am appreciating more of what is already in my life. I am simplifying my life and enjoying my free time more. More and bigger of everything... houses, cars, the newest and best toys don't just eat away at our own bank accounts but also the finite resources of our precious planet earth.

Not Buying It!

Ok.. so Not Buying It is the title of a book that I am going to read on my trip to Naples, Florida. I saw a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about a couple who decided to go a year without shopping. I also knew about other folks who made a Compact to "go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er). To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)". I had been contemplating this experiment for many months now. It's a new year so a good time to make this "resolution".

Much has happened this past year in my life and I am bound and determined to make the other experiment~early retirement~ work also. This whole past year has been about simplifying life so we can enjoy it more. My quest has been to answer the following:
•What truly matters to me?
•How is my life too complex and cluttered?
•What do I want in my home life that I don't now have?
•How can I live more simply and meaningfully?

Some travel definitely matters to me... not so much to Gerard. I think I can find a happy medium for visiting friends and exploring and being home and living life with Gerard and the animals. One of the enormous benefits that has come my way is flying Delta airlines for free and without my income, I can get almost anywhere in the world, but don't have the dollars once I get there. I am intending that my experiment will lead me to stashing away travel money.

We had no debt, but some unexpected things happened with the house and Chaz needed our help and a wee bit of debt crept back in. So over the next year, I expect to become debt free again. I expect build back our emergency fund and have discretionary money without going back to work full-time or even part-time for that matter. I love being retired. I love, love, love it. I want to feel the financial abundance that comes with my abundance of time.

This past year, I learned when enough was enough. I jumped off the treadmill. I am now spending time doing the things I love and this coming year I can learn how to feel more in control of my life and take better care of the planet.
We agreed to work on the details of our compact. I expect it to evolve as we realize how we can become ever more efficient. This is where we are starting: We are committing to buying nothing new for one year. We do need to buy a privacy fence so that is our exception; however, we are open to trying to find one used or salvage as long we can make it work with the house. Our allowances are socks, underwear and running shoes for new purchases. So glad this past fall, Gerard got his skis and we both got snowshoes. We are set to keep ourselves active through this long northern winter.

As we look at reducing spending, I feel I have a good start. I am making most foods from scratch and gave up buying packaged foods earlier this summer. I was a regular at the farmer's market. I started making bread and maybe I can learn how to do some vegetables in containers on the deck. My neighbor and I are going to buy chickens this spring (she use to raise them) for fresh eggs. I found a market that has cage free eggs for $2.50 for now. I was impressed. I have been making my own doggie meat loafs for Sitka. Gerard still has a lot of cleaning supplies from before I met him (he use to buy in bulk even as one guy!) I don't think we will need to buy anything in that department for more than a year! When we do need to replenish, I will explore more natural way of cleaning that will work for us. I make my own soap. I create drift wood hangings and make jewelry and I am going to to commit to using what I find in nature first before buying any supplies.

We just gave up our blockbuster account. We can't give up our cable as we are in a contract and we do vacation rental out of our home also... an amenity vacationers expect. I am relieved I can still get my HGTV fix and now watch OWN. I only fill my gas tank about once a month! We have changed cell phone companies and reduced our bill 63%! I am unplugging almost everything when we go to bed at night, no ghost usage of electricity here. I am a book addict, no new books this year; however, I am now using the library regularly. I am going to try and start my annuals from seeds which means I will explore where I can get those and buy dirt without going to Home Depot for bags of the stuff.

As I type this, I am feeling lighter, less encumbered. With the challenge so will come the joy. I am more present to what I already have and my environment all around me. Simplicity opens me up spiritually. I am beginning to live from the center of my soul.

Wine still tops my necessity list. I am off to look for a local winery in the Duluth, Minnesota area. Wish me luck.