Simplicity & the Internet

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks,

 

I am trying to simplify my life and to become more self-sufficient.

I've joined this group in hopes of getting some inspiration and

information.

 

I want to ask a question regarding the Internet. Do you think the

Internet helps or hurts your efforts to simplify your life?

 

I have mixed feelings on this question. On the positive side of the

equation I find the Internet useful in three ways:

 

1- Email is a great way to keep in touch. I live in NC, but most of

my family lives in Georgia, I have a cousin living in Chicago and my

best friend now lives in Colorado. Staying in touch by email is

great, especially since we can also share photos which we can't do

over the phone.

 

2- Buying SOME things over the Internet is cheaper and sometimes more

convenient than buying locally. This is especially true for books,

music and DVDs.

 

3- I love the ability to get detailed driving directions off the Internet.

 

On the negative side:

 

1- There is a lot of junk email, both commercial SPAM and useless

jokes, quotes and so-called " cute " stories sent and/or forwarded by

friends and acquaintances.

 

2- If you are not careful, the Internet can consume a lot of time -

more than you realize.

 

3- There is a lot (and I mean A LOT) of bad, useless, and inaccurate

information circulating on the Internet. Anyone with Internet access

and even minimal computer skills can post information and even create

websites, pretending to be expects, regardless of whether of not they

know what they are talking about.

 

So, Internet good or bad?

 

Tim

[Guest guest]

Hi Tim and welcome. :-)Simplicity means something different for everyone. We all have different "goals" for getting to a place where we feel we have reduced our lifestyle and stress level to the point we are comfortable with.

For me, I like the information I get from the internet. I had cancer last year, and the research I was able to do was invaluable to me. Without the internet, it is practically impossible to talk to other cancer survivors, or other urban homesteaders, or backyard gardeners, etc. etc. etc. So, although i would agree that I spend way too much time on the computer, lol, what I have gained has been well worth the trade off. And like you, my family all live in far off places, and the internet is the best way we keep in touch.

 

I agree about the inaccurate information there can be out there, but if you do enough research, and talk to enough people, you can formulate your own opinions and find what works best for you. Without the ability to do this, we might be subject to even MORE useless information.

 

For someone else, living in a cabin with no electricity or conveniences might be the way they want to achieve simplicity. It's all good. Personally, I love the internet, lol. Sometimes when it gets to be too much, I just take a break from my groups. I'm always happy when I'm ready to get back into them. ;-)

Thanks for bringing up this topic. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this very same thing!Cyndi

 

In a message dated 11/3/2007 2:29:45 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, archelon2008 writes:

 

 

 

 

Hi Folks,I am trying to simplify my life and to become more self-sufficient. I've joined this group in hopes of getting some inspiration andinformation.I want to ask a question regarding the Internet. Do you think theInternet helps or hurts your efforts to simplify your life?I have mixed feelings on this question. On the positive side of theequation I find the Internet useful in three ways:1- Email is a great way to keep in touch. I live in NC, but most ofmy family lives in Georgia, I have a cousin living in Chicago and mybest friend now lives in Colorado. Staying in touch by email isgreat, especially since we can also share photos which we can't doover the phone.2- Buying SOME things over the Internet is cheaper and sometimes moreconvenient than buying locally. This is especially true for books,music and DVDs.3- I love the ability to get detailed driving directions off the Internet.On the negative side:1- There is a lot of junk email, both commercial SPAM and uselessjokes, quotes and so-called "cute" stories sent and/or forwarded byfriends and acquaintances.2- If you are not careful, the Internet can consume a lot of time -more than you realize.3- There is a lot (and I mean A LOT) of bad, useless, and inaccurateinformation circulating on the Internet. Anyone with Internet accessand even minimal computer skills can post information and even createwebsites, pretending to be expects, regardless of whether of not theyknow what they are talking about. So, Internet good or bad?Tim

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Tim and welcome. :-)

 

Simplicity means something different for everyone. We all have different

" goals " for getting to a place where we feel we have reduced our lifestyle

and stress level to the point we are comfortable with.

 

For me, I like the information I get from the internet. I had cancer last

year, and the research I was able to do was invaluable to me. Without the

internet, it is practically impossible to talk to other cancer survivors, or

other urban homesteaders, or backyard gardeners, etc. etc. etc. So, although

i would agree that I spend way too much time on the computer, lol, what I

have gained has been well worth the trade off. And like you, my family all

live in far off places, and the internet is the best way we keep in

touch......

 

Thanks for bringing up this topic. I've spent a lot of time thinking about

this very same thing!

Cyndi

*****************

I think all of us spend alot of time thinking about balancing everything in

our lives and how to achieve simplicity.

Personally, I think I'd be in a mental hospital if I didn't have access to

the internet and to people who are likeminded.

I live in a very small town and have few if any friends here, having not

grown up here. Little towns are notorious for not being accepting of new

people or people with 'different' ideas outside of their narrow views.

So the internet has been invaluable to me to find connection with others.

 

I've been actively trying to simplify this past year. It's been two steps

forward, one step back for the most part. As for stress levels, I have 3

kids at home(including 2 teens EEK!)so I doubt my stress level will be

getting to a level I want til they move out.lolol

We are in the midst of some much delayed home renovation too which is taking

AGES to complete so that's not helping the stress here.

 

Right now I am working on getting the reno to a point where we can live with

the condition of the house, so I can deal with the approaching holidays.

Working on simplifying the Holidays is my big thing presently.

I have not started back selling on eBay yet, since taking the summer off and

I am torn. I enjoy having more time for other things in life since I am not

selling, but I find my stress level is going up, b/c I still have so much to

get rid of on eBay AND I do miss the money it brings in. Having more cash

helps keep stress lower. But if I do start selling now, there will be more

stress having to find the time for that job. It's all a balancing act

dealing with that.

 

Last year's holidays were alot better, but I am trying to scale down even

more this year. I find shopping, crowds & malls stressful, so I hope not to

even step foot into a store to buy gifts this year. For the few things I

need to buy, internet shopping can be so much saner.lol 2 of my kids have

become unbearable to buy gifts for......1 changes their mind ever couple of

days and the other sees no end to the money that they envision mom & dad

have to spend on THEM. Since none of them believe in Santa anymore, I

foresee 'santa' just doling out a little cash this year at my house along

with some stocking stuffers. The mind changer will love that, as they enjoy

the actual act of choosing their own stuff, so money is like the gift that

keeps on giving. The money pitt child will not be too thrilled though as

the cash envelope will no doubt not be fat enough for them. I have already

threatened to take their 'santa' funds and purchase gifts for less fortunate

children, besides the usual charitable activities I engage in during the

Holidays. Maybe they will wake up some day and realize how well they have

it......but I'm not betting on that happening in this decade.lolol

 

Does anyone have any ideas or things they are going to try to help simplify

their holidays this year?

 

sluggy

[Guest guest]

If my kids were younger, it would be very hard to scale back. As it is, they are happy with money for gifts. I like to get them one small gift in addition, so they have something to open up on Christmas morning. There should be SOME surprises left in life, lol. Last year, Kail and I just set aside some money for a small trip to Palm Springs last spring. That was our "present." This year we'd like to do the same thing, maybe stay in Palm Springs a few days longer this time. I have to have time in Palm Springs to visit plant nurseries and see the Meerkats! LOL.

 

Cyndi

 

 

In a message dated 11/4/2007 10:39:01 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, arcure writes:

Last year's holidays were alot better, but I am trying to scale down even more this year. I find shopping, crowds & malls stressful, so I hope not to even step foot into a store to buy gifts this year. For the few things I need to buy, internet shopping can be so much saner.lol 2 of my kids have become unbearable to buy gifts for......1 changes their mind ever couple of days and the other sees no end to the money that they envision mom & dad have to spend on THEM. Since none of them believe in Santa anymore, I foresee 'santa' just doling out a little cash this year at my house along with some stocking stuffers. The mind changer will love that, as they enjoy the actual act of choosing their own stuff, so money is like the gift that keeps on giving. The money pitt child will not be too thrilled though as the cash envelope will no doubt not be fat enough for them. I have already threatened to take their 'santa' funds and purchase gifts for less fortunate children, besides the usual charitable activities I engage in during the Holidays. Maybe they will wake up some day and realize how well they have it......but I'm not betting on that happening in this decade.lololDoes anyone have any ideas or things they are going to try to help simplify their holidays this year?sluggy

 

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[Guest guest]

Tim,I have to cast my vote for Internet - GOOD!As you mentioned, email makes keeping in touch easier and less costly than USPS. I also like the convenience -- I get messages when I have the time and inclination to hear from my friends, rather than being interrupted in the middle of a chore by the ringing phone.And like you, I often buy things via internet for less than I'd pay locally or that I wouldn't even be able to find in my small town. I save time, gas, and frustration (negotiating the holiday shopping mob is not one of my talents), and I also save in other ways. For example, if I have to drive to the nearest city to find one particular item, I'll manage to hit several stores in the city, buy things I could have done without, spend gas, and of course, eat out while I'm there.<G>But my favorite part of the internet and the part that has contributed so much to my life is the connection to others (like the folks on this group) who think

as I do and who have so much to share. I'm always picking up great ideas from this group and others.DevDevora Sage, one of the Earthy Women

[Guest guest]

When I joined Eckankar, I stopped celebrating Christmas but my family still

does. I give my

mom cash and my dad has told us not to get him anything. My husband buys

presents for

our 2 daughters plus they get some cash. He gets gift cards for his relatives. I

don't have

anyone to buy gifts for. I buy gifts for myself throughout the year! I don't do

any baking or

send any cards.

 

my preference for Thanksgiving is to spend it at home with my husband and 2

kids. They

prefer to spend it with relatives so the 3 of them go to visit my in-laws and I

stay home

alone. what a stress-free day for me! I am thankful for that.

 

RealSimple , " Sluggy " <arcure wrote:

> Last year's holidays were alot better, but I am trying to scale down even

> more this year. I find shopping, crowds & malls stressful, so I hope not to

> even step foot into a store to buy gifts this year. For the few things I

> need to buy, internet shopping can be so much saner.lol 2 of my kids have

> become unbearable to buy gifts for......1 changes their mind ever couple of

> days and the other sees no end to the money that they envision mom & dad

> have to spend on THEM. Since none of them believe in Santa anymore, I

> foresee 'santa' just doling out a little cash this year at my house along

> with some stocking stuffers. The mind changer will love that, as they enjoy

> the actual act of choosing their own stuff, so money is like the gift that

> keeps on giving. The money pitt child will not be too thrilled though as

> the cash envelope will no doubt not be fat enough for them. I have already

> threatened to take their 'santa' funds and purchase gifts for less fortunate

> children, besides the usual charitable activities I engage in during the

> Holidays. Maybe they will wake up some day and realize how well they have

> it......but I'm not betting on that happening in this decade.lolol

>

> Does anyone have any ideas or things they are going to try to help simplify

> their holidays this year?

>

> sluggy

>

[Guest guest]

Spending Thanksgiving with my Inlaws is far more stressful than any Christmas could ever be, lol. Fortunately, they are all on the east coast, and we don't travel there for Thanksgiving. I am happy to be just by ourselves out here in CA.

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 11/5/2007 10:15:13 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, zgraff writes:

my preference for Thanksgiving is to spend it at home with my husband and 2 kids. They prefer to spend it with relatives so the 3 of them go to visit my in-laws and I stay home alone. what a stress-free day for me! I am thankful for that

 

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