Hi Jill. Thanks for the welcome and your interest. First, I think it's lovely that you don't have anything until 5:30 tonight. You are right that it is hard for me to imagine, but it sounds wonderful and you gave me a lovely picture of a leisurely morning enjoying the view of the snowfall. It improved my day just thinking about it. When my husband and I first met, I was becoming interested in simple living. He was just cheap. So it was a pretty good combination. Imagine his luck in finding a woman who had absolutely no interest in an engagement ring. People find each other I guess. Anyway, in the early years of our marriage, my husband was pretty unhappy with his job and pretty unhappy living in a somewhat rundown area of New York City. We began to save so that we would have more options later in life. In a fairly short period of time though, he was offered a job in Vermont at half his NYC salary. It seemed like a risk, but I encouraged him to try it, since freedom to explore different options was a big reason we had been frugal in the first place. He tried it and loved the lifestyle, but again hated the job. He also missed friends and family. So he came back to the NYC area after just 9 months. I had kept my job in NYC just in case. Even though it didn't work out, we were both thrilled to have had the opportunity to give it a go. So we've continued to be frugal and it's paid off in terms of having some flexibility. However, now that we have a family, and we both made progress in our careers, we have a lot of things we didn't have before: a suburban house, two cars, etc. We walk and take PT frequently, but we still rely upon our cars. We are also honestly much happier in our house that has a place outside for us to sit and for our daughter to play, than we were in our cramped walkup. So while there are many possessions in our lives that we enjoy, like the house, there are many that I know we could do without. We try to be careful about controling the excess, but we have a long way to go. I agree with you that health insurance is a big deal. My preference would be for my husband to cut back to part time. We could live on less, and the benefits would be enormous. As it is now, he uses almost all his vacation time so that I can work. I also work a lot of weekends, because he's home. Our family time is pretty tight. However, I don't think we can afford to give up company-subsidized health care. I'm interested in hearing that others have cut back, and how they've cut back, on work hours, possessions, etc. I want to know how it's paid off for them. I guess I want ideas, inspiration, and support. It's difficult being a family that's looking for more balance. It seems like so many people are working so hard to fill their lives with things, and there is very little support for anyone who wants to work less and live on less, an option that I think would benefit individuals, families, and the planet. But people seem to look down upon it. --- In LessIsMore@yahoogroups.com, "Jill Buussiere" wrote: > Welcome, Laura! I am glad to meet you. I would be interested in learning > what ideas you were able to implement successfully to become more > financially healthy. > > I hear you about being able to balance your life. I found that important > when my children were young too. I still do - but in a way different way. > > On this list we discuss the particulars of living lightly, such as recipes > with low earth impact, and we also discuss policies that would make a saner > world. What comes to mind from reading your post is Universal Health Care. > Wouldn't it be great if our lives were not driven by the pursuit of health > care, which many nations consider a right? > > This morning there is a beautiful and light snow falling. All have gone off > to work/school, and I don't have anything I have to go to until 5:30 > tonight! This might be hard to imagine when your children are young:^) It > is very nice! > > What are you especially interested in exploring with us? > > Jill > From: "Laura Farrell" X-Originating-IP: 141.150.48.186 Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:24:22 -0000 Subject: [LessIsMore] Re: I'm new We live right outside NYC. It's a 30 minute commuter train ride. We both grew up in Queens, NY. That's interesting that people talk about the best type of place to live simply. I think that the NYC area is a bit difficult and I don't think there's a lot of support for simplicity here. It doesn't seem to me that it's because we're in a big city though. Vermont (including, and maybe even particularly, their "big city" Burlington) seemed a very supportive place to practice voluntary simplicity. And, although I've never lived there, the Pacific Northwest also seems like a supportive place, including big cities like San Francisco and Seattle. Like I say, I've never lived there; it's just my impression. One thing that is good about NYC and the suburb that I live in, is that it is very walkable and you can get almost anywhere on PT. In terms of city life v. suburban life (I know little about country life) we ordered take out and went out to eat a lot more when we lived in the city, and we cook for ourselves more now. Our apartment kitchen was dismal, supermarkets are expensive, and our eating area was very small. Now our kitchen is a pleasure and in the warmer weather we can sit outside and eat. In that way, suburban life has simplified things for us. And I definitely don't miss the constant hussle and crowded conditions of the city. That didn't feel very simple or peaceful to me. But most of the NYC residents I knew, and still know, live without any cars with no problem. That's pretty rare, I think. --- In LessIsMore@yahoogroups.com, "Fitzsimmmons, Diane" wrote: > Hi, Laura: > > Do you live in a suburban area of New York City? We have long missed > our former Big Apple participant, who is now pursuing a singing career. > Being a long-time girl of the Midwest, I enjoy hearing how simple living > plays out differently in major urban centers.