Want to live a Minimalist lifestyle...any tips?

Kormiku..... I'm jealous! That must be awesome! Especially the tofu!
I hope to lead a minimalist lifestyle when I have finished school or maybe a bit after that, I might go north get a job as a fruit picker (Doesn't seem very minimalist, but I'll be taking baby steps ) and I'll go from there. Good luck Danny Boy!

 

this sounds like my sort of deal realy but I cant exactly do this in england so im gonna emmigrate but maybe they wont let me in =[

 

Dang, Fruit Picker? Ever read Grapes of Wrath?

I pursued that whole minimalism thing but have found that a certain amount of stuff is good to be comfortable (like that computer of yours, going to the library to get online sucks).

 

This thread has put into my head the idea of going to Thailand and living as simply as possible. i would love to go there and actually work. not paid mind you but volunteer and not volunteer with an organization cuz ive done that and didnt get much out of it and neither did the community. but i would love to tour around asia. I've read that the thai people are very friendly. the ghanians were friendly too. but mustering up the courage is going to be difficult. the last post here was over a month ago but i had to reply and get this out there.

 

boy you folks are giving me a panic attack just reading this. Have you ever lived like that? I have done a little bit but you're basically talking about being a homeless person which totally sucks ass. Maybe try just throwing away stuff you don't need, like don't even go thru it, if you don't use it you don't need it, that helps a lot and your place stays neater, but middle road here people. We have people living in tent cities on the county property but who knows how long that'll last (st petersburg Fl) lol

 

Oh but what I wanted to post was yes the grocery stores do throw away a lot. I worked at a health food store in Sarasota fl and I ate so good off our refuse, avacodoes, portabella mushrooms etc, all the fresh deli food. We had big cans out back that we'd give to the whatcha call it ringling zoo or whatever it was for the animals. Ironically the other employees didn't eat it, they'd go to burger king for lunch. there seems to be a worker caste in this country, like if you work entry level jobs you're usually kind of low brow unfortunately, unless you've got a trust fund and live in boulder or somewhere like that.

 

In the winter I work at a ski resort. I try to save as much money as possible so I can hike during the summer. I love backpacking. I've hiked the Appalachian Trail, the California section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and about half of the Continental Divide Trail. My first experience was hiking the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango back in '97, and I've been lucky enough to have trekked across the state Colorado several times. I'm hooked on the experience of traveling and hiking new places, and meeting new people.

I guess you would call me a minimalist since 1, I try to keep my basic possessions to a minimum, less to deal with every summer, and 2, in order to save money, I sold my car and haven't driven since 1997. Also, again to save money, I've squatted (camped) in the National Forest so as not to pay rent. I use facilities at the local fitness center for showers and such... Anyway, folks should consider long distance backpacking as a minimalist approach.

www.appalachiantrail.org
www.cdtsociety.org
www.cdtrail.org
www.coloradotrail.org
www.pcta.org
www.trailforums.com

 

Another cool "minimalist" experience I've had was living for a few months off the land, in a valley in Hawaii. I won't name this valley, it's illegal to squat there, and the locals probably wouldn't want a bunch of "Drainbows" showing up and harsching their gig. But if you figure it out, be sure to bring ample supplies of chocolate, coffee, and rolling tobacco. Preferably the American Spirit "Organic Blend". Oh yeah, and bring cheese or other toppings for the "Mystic Pizza." Donate some "supplies" to the locals and ask to be shown around. You will be rewarded with an experience as close as can be had, I believe, to the Garden of Eden. Strong statement, I know. But there I found dozens of types of edible tropical fruit (grown by local "outlaws" in small orchards), and an abundance of food to be taken from the ocean and the rivers coming down out of the valley. A man can live there easily harvesting his food from Mother Nature. The natural beauty there is incredible. The people that you find there, the "outlaws" are unique and wonderful. The people in the valley know Babylon, and no one wants to return there ever. They have escaped into this perfect Eden, with all its hidden gardens and beautiful secrets.

Maybe some of you know what I mean?

 

there is a difference between voluntary homelessness and unvoluntary ........one can be hell ...one can be heaven ....one can be a prison ...one can give you the ability to travel the world

its all choices ......its all a state of mind

 

don't know if you allready been gone but maybe some prehistoric techniques can be usefull sometimes
http://www.woodsmoke.uk.com/p/v/Resources/Links/Primitive+Technology
http://www.nativetech.org/

 

dude hike the appalachian trail. I did it last year and it was by far the best experience of my life. I just hiked from town to town all the way up the east coast with only what I had in my backpack.
You can spend very little money if you do things right. Most hostels have a "hiker box" that other hikers drop extra food in and dumpster diving is another good option. Also, people love giving food and rides to hikers. You'll get to meet so many awsome people and probably a few lifelong friends if you stay with any long enough.