A lesson in simplicity

This article discusses the lives of a few students at UCSD, who live in their vehicles ... by choice. You may ask yourself why? Or if you're like me, you may find it intriguing.

I'm always looking for ways to simplify, not that I want to go to the extremes that these people have, but rather ways to make day to day life easier. Many people like to surround themselves with things, mostly material goods, but when I look around I see clutter. I also see options, which can be good, but they can also distract you from more important things.

In fact, there are times when I look around at what I have and I wonder. Why? A TV, a computer, a cell phone, plenty of clothes, and on and on... The part that saddens me is that with all I have, I know that I have less and desire less than your ordinary American. I see how disposable our society, how careless we are. I see people buy unnecessary stuff, then realize they don't want it and throw it out. It bothers me. I keep most of my stuff for so long that I get separation anxiety when it wears out and needs to be thrown out. I am meticulous about sorting garbage and recycling, I reuse bags for my lunches that I bring to work, I bring bags back to the grocery store so they can be recycled, I turn off the water when I shave and brush my teeth. I do my part. Could I do more? Sure.

So this is why it is intriguing and refreshing to see these people live in their cars by choice. I don't think I would go to those extremes, but can you imagine how simple life would be? The less you have, the less there is to keep track of, and the more each thing that you do have means to you. Everyone should take a look at their lives and consider what the stuff they have actually means to them.