Where has the time gone? Are we really in the last week of February? Spring is right around the corner! Soon we will be turning the clocks forward, soon it will be March Madness, changes will be aplenty in the coming weeks. Most of these changes will be more than welcome by me. For example the weather will begin to warm, flowers will begin to bloom, green will return, and pollen, like I said most of these changes will be welcome by me.
Personally I have been pretty busy with work, studying, and doing NC State Basketball games. I have also been preparing for my next step in life. I have been determined to live a more simple lifestyle. Yesterday I had the opportunity to take the first step in this endeavor of mine. I met with a real estate agent to discuss what tracks of land are available in the Raleigh area that will allow me to build the type of home I so desire. Now I know that desires are alternative and far from the norm. However in order for me to accomplish my goals sometimes you have to go outside of the box.
My vision for what I want to accomplish sounds simple; however, since my ideas are not considered normal per say it is going to take extensive planning and carefully thought out decisions. All I want is a small unique loft. I want to build a nice sustainable home that is made with sustainable materials. I don’t want it to be large in square footage. I want it to have livable features that helps not only me but the environment. For example a gray water system to water plants, a simple cost effective design feature that not many new homes employ. I want a nice area for a vegetable garden as well as an area for chickens.
As far as energy, I would like to supplement my energy needs with solar power. The sun is a great resource and one that should be utilized. Solar panels have become much more cost effective as technology in that industry has increased. Other features that I am considering is an open floor plan, maximum use of windows to allow for natural light, also to help use the sun and its solar energy to help heat the home in the winter, as well as positioned to cut down on the effects of the sun during the summer. For more information look into passive solar homes.
As I think about my main motivation to live more simply stems from my desire to live on my own terms. I do not want to be over reliant on others to provide for myself. I really want to go back in time. I am well aware that it will be a lot of work at times; however, I think that it will be well worth it. As the decades have passed housed have increased in square footage, but family sizes have decreased with time. It just doesn’t make sense to invest in a huge house. I much rather have a nice small house that allows me to have more disposable income to experience all that the world has to offer. To give me the opportunity to retire early if I so desire.
All of this brings me back to the title, “Living Simply makes Loving Simple.” Now I know this sounds like a super hippie saying; however, if you really think about this quote it is quiet complex yet simple. The way I interpret this quote is as we clear our schedules, as we have less stuff to worry about, as we put down the constant race for more, as we stop to ponder, as we look to help others, our life becomes much more than a 9-5. We learn to love those in our lives more fully. We learn to be happy with what we have. We don’t take advantage of people. We listen to people more. We listen to ourselves more. We allow ourselves more time to do things that matter.
I am going to challenge myself to live to this standard. As I look to the future I am excited. We should all be excited for the future. As one of my favorite books states, ” You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You are on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go….Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting…So get on your way!”
Nunc Coepi 