Affluenza: Fact-Heavy Book Carries a Lightweight Message

[Ryan Jordan]

Companion forum thread to:

Affluenza: Fact-Heavy Book Carries a Lightweight Message

[Dale Wambaugh]

TMS= Too Much ummm STUFF.

I've seen it in so many ways. My wife and I were talking about the mortgage crisis and home much homes have gone up. We grew up in the 1960's and I remember by parents buying a 1200 square-foot-per-floor split level tract house for $19,000 in 1966. That was a four bedroom two, bath house (after we finished the basement).

I live in the city rather than the suburbs now, and many of the houses around me were built in the late 1940's, to take advantage of the housing opportunities provided by the GI Bill for WWII veterans. Most of those houses were quite small by today's standards— 850 or 900 square feet on the main floor, 2 bedrooms and one bath. A big one might be 3 bedrooms and 1 and 1/2 bath. The kitchen, dining room, living room, etc were all smaller too. Those houses were built with 60amp electrical services too– the minimum today is 200 amps and 400 amps is not at all unusual. Electric dryers tipped the scale to be sure, but when you look at those post-war houses, they have very few outlets– it wasn't a priority.

I think that is a good paradigm for the changes in the last half of the 20th Century in the US. We have more cars, several televisions, a couple computers, microwaves, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Our cars are a good example of the same. My first car was a 1961 Chevrolet Impala. 283 V-8, 2 speed automatic transmission, manual windows, AM radio– pushbutton tuning was a big deal, no air conditioning. It did have power steering. It was $300 in 1971 with about 50,000 miles on it and it had a fresh set of Sears radials– quite a new type of tire then.

Years ago I started a thread on my BBS about simple living and being able to get by with the basics. I came up with the idea of giving everyone a box that was a one meter cube and all your personal possessions had to go in that box. The other forum members said it was impossible. I don't think so and I'm working towards it– cleaning out my closets and paring down my "stuff." I'm going to get a washing machine box and start there.

There is a photo of the total worldly possessions of Mohandas Gandhi when he died.

It says it all: one of the most respected men on the planet and he left behind a couple pairs of sandals, a book, his glasses, a couple bowls, a cotton spinner, and three ceramic monkeys.

I've run through this exercise several times over the years and it is exactly like making an ultralight gear list. You are getting down the the essentials for sustaining yourself. It is very enlightening to sit down and say, "how many pairs of socks do I need?"

There are many books and Web sites on the concept. Search on "simple living".

I think I've brought it up here before. You might think this is anti-materialism, but I call it hyper-materialism, particularly when we talk abut ultralight hiking. Performance with light weight is the issue. We want only the essentials, and those must be the best in terms of weight and performance– keeping the heat in, the rain and hot sun out, covering as many uses as possible and so on. We can take the same principles to everyday life in picking transportation, communication gear, entertainment, and so on.

[Pamela Wyant]

I find myself wanting to cut back on the stuff I own too. I thought it was my age, but maybe it is just the modern world that overwhelms us from every corner. The mail we get is horrendous, important (need to save) paperwork overflows file cabinets, inboxes are full of e-mail. And that doesn't include anything we purchase!

I have found myself purchasing less and less stuff, especially this last year.

Well, that is EXCEPT backpacking stuff.
Truth be told, I have also cut back on that, because I've finally come to the point I only purchase the good stuff that I really want. I've come to the point I can bring myself to pay $60 for the good wool shirt I want instead of buying 4 synthetics that I'm not really satisfied with for $15 each because they are cheap. I'll get a ton more wear out of that one good wool shirt than all four of the others, and it takes up less space!

Come to think of it, maybe that is part of the reason many of us are always buying stuff – we don't buy what we really want because there is always something cheaper that semi-fills the need. Then, since we aren't totally satisfied, we buy again, and again…

Pam

[Brian UL]

21) He who understands the limits of life knows that things which remove pain arising from need are easy to obtain, and furnish a complete and optimal life. Thus he no longer needs things that are troublesome to attain.
15) Natural wealth is both limited and easily obtained, but vanity is insatiable.

– Epicurus (331-270 B.C.)

from the Principal Doctrines
http://www.epicurus.info/etexts/PD.html
one of my all time favorites!

[Joshua Mitchell]

"Come to think of it, maybe that is part of the reason many of us are always buying stuff – we don't buy what we really want because there is always something cheaper that semi-fills the need. Then, since we aren't totally satisfied, we buy again, and again…"

I've seen similar comments on many 'simplify your life' articles. I tend to agree, by attempting to save money we actually spend more. Frugality / Simplicity =/= Cheap Living. It's about a mindset not about buying the cheapest possible.

Anyhow, this sounds like a very interesting book. It's going on my toread list, and I'll probably have my wife read it after I do.

[Kevin Shannon]

If you truly want to simplify your life, you first must get rid of your money. How many people out there remember what their life was like as a poor college student? I do, and I miss that simplicity.

[Steve .]

If you truly want to simplify your life, you first must get rid of your money. How many people out there remember what their life was like as a poor college student? I do, and I miss that simplicity.

For any of you that want to get rid of your money keep me in mind. If you are serious PM me and I'll send you my mailing address – personal checks and cash welcome :?)

[Dale Wambaugh]

Kevin wrote: "If you truly want to simplify your life, you first must get rid of your money. How many people out there remember what their life was like as a poor college student? I do, and I miss that simplicity."

The simple part was good, but I was really poor and that sucked. Eating well was a challenge and no medical/dental insurance was a BAD thing. I do remember being able to move in less than one pickup load and that was great. Now I've been living in the same house for 21 years and it's getting scary. Time for a garage sale!

As some others mentioned simple is not equal to cheap. Being too poor to buy cheap is a concept that many poor people have grasped.

Thoreau's chapter Economy in his book Walden says it all and he saw this all coming in what– 1847? You can download it at Gutenberg Press in text format for free. Thoreau was an early ultralighter :)

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

"How many people out there remember what their life was like as a poor college student? I do, and I miss that simplicity."

I don't miss it one bit. Yeah, I lived in a nasty old apartment in an old moldy damp Victorian house. I worked for minimum wage. I ate a horrid diet – I was to poor to afford good food. I had no health insurance or even a Dr. The E room was where you went when you got sick in winter. One winter we turned off the frig becuase we had no heat and the house was colder than the frig. I'd fall asleep in college classes that winter becuase it was warm. I slept in a sleeping bag on foam mattress – I had given my bed to a friend who had gotten pregnant and felt she needed it.

Yeah, I don't think so. Simplicity can be sooooo overrated.

[t.darrah]

My father passed away not long ago after living a life based on the principal that "he who dies with the most toys wins". He left behind five Harley Davidsons, a couple Honda Gold Wings, a Corvette and other toys to numerous to list. He had fun, died relatively young (by todays standards) and left all of his toys behind.

Any BPL member that had an opportunity to look at my gear closet would surely say "like father like son".

Maybe I need a GAA group, Gear Affluenza Anonymous, but in place of the standard twelve step program I would want to yo-yo the process and make it twenty four steps. More is always better right?

I remember an argument I had with my father when I was younger. I recall arguing that I would rather be poor and happy than rich and unhappy. His reply was he'd rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy.

[George Matthews]

While in the wilderness at night, I do my best reflecting on my excesses when I'm cozy in my cocoon pajamas under my luxurious quilt under my silnylon roof propped up by carbon fiber sticks secured by titanium stakes. Then rising with the glorious sun, I am one with nature burning twigs in my bushbuddy to boil water in my titanium pot. Ah, the light, "simple" life is good.

Based on the book review, the ugly Americans just won't stop acting like humans. Imagine if countries like India and China acted like humans. Or maybe they do. No wonder oil ain't cheap no more not to mention food prices, etc. The real problem, in my opinion, is more than an American issue, it is global. The real problem is not about simplification, it is about understanding sustainability. Like the mortgage melt down, so will become all unsustainable human behavior. A new book on an old subject only adds to the number of books. I will follow the idea of the book from the review: I will not buy it, and instead I will stick with Thoreau's Walden paperless free download from Project Gutenberg…

"When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. I lived there two years and two months. At present I am a sojourner in civilized life again."

I'm not an anti-simple-life person, but know that what humans really need to do won't be done because we're humans. It's just the way we are. I for one will enjoy as much as I can while it lasts, but also will do what I can to live simplier and lighter.

[Nia Schmald]

Well there has been quite a response to this article but I have to wonder why is Backpackinglight doing book and web reviews that have nothing to do with backpacking or even directly with being outdoors.

Just because the reviewer found a way to use the term "go lighter" does not IMO make this a suitable topic for BPL. If someone was to post this review in the forums it would belong in Chaff as its not on topic.

Don't get me wrong. I think this is a fine topic of discussion. I just don't see why I'm paying BPL for this.

[Matthew Robinson]

this book looks like a real good read, id really like to read some of the facts.

ive been going light after college. i loved computers (still do but not fanatic) and really wanted to get into network security. a job which would require me to be indoors. i ended up dropping out of my college after having TOO much fun. looking back it might have been bad for the body but good for the soul. i got a job doing yard maint. and found a deep appreciation for plants, which bloomed into a love for the outdoors. ive been doing some sort of landscape work ever since.

in contrast my girlfriend was going to school to be an xray tech, she graduated and hated all her jobs and would come home miserable while id be chipper as ever. i dont think i could ever work indoors for too long (unless i worked in a gear shop!).

ive always been a firm believer that with money doesnt always come happiness. ive never owned furniture, ive owned a car once but gave it away because it was too expensive. im trying to sit here and pinpoint exactly what makes me not need things but its hard to do. i suppose mostly its because i never had enough money to buy lots of things and gradually adjusted to it. when your monthly income is 1600/mo and rent+bills+food = 1400/mo you really dont have money to go buying any old thing and learn to appreciate what you do have.

currently my girlfriend and i are driving across the country and back, then to alaska. our house is a honda element (hers/ours?). ive had to cut down ALL my clothes and stuff to the bare minimum, and so has she. all i have now is my gear and my guitar. this is probably the least amount of stuff ive ever had and im still chipper as ever.

i guess i dont really have a point but i thought id share my thoughts/experiences.

also, a sweedish friend of mine said he had to spend 2 weeks in the wilderness as part of his military training that he said all sweedish men must go through (i havent done any research). but anyways he said it opened his eyes to a world with less stuff. aloha!

[Greg Vaillancourt]

My subscription to this website when it expires.

[Sven Klingemann]

I thought that you had just renewed based on a great article??
I guess one can't have it all …

[Darin Banner]

I'm curious; what about this article has you so upset?

[Peter Fogel]

This is truly a universal principal. It applies equally as well to one's backpack as it does to one's life experiences. I find it to be a most appropriate topic here. Do not become discouraged by the comments of any individual. Remember: One man's junk may very well be another man's treasure. We each find our own way through Life. Take only as little as you need and leave the rest for others that may follow.

Peter

[Russell Swanson]

Quoting Nia:
"Well there has been quite a response to this article but I have to wonder why is Backpackinglight doing book and web reviews that have nothing to do with backpacking or even directly with being outdoors."

I, for one, asked for more of this type of content…how the principals of lightweight hiking might apply to other areas of life in general. I'm sure I wasn't the only one or this article wouldn't be here. So you might as well blame me. I'm glad this website is moving in some small way towards more of a whole concept as opposed to strictly an 'online toolbox' for backpackers.

Personally, I'd try to look at it as a bonus. Or, maybe an expansion of a concept beyond the presentation to which you are normally accustomed to receiving those messages. I think these ideas (that are discussed in Affluenza) are as much about hope and enlightenment that do require positive thinking to realize them.

Besides, how many articles can you read about alcohol stoves or the water permeability of eVent fabric? Isn't there room for anything else?

[Greg Mihalik]

And I thank Ryan for 1) starting the thread, and 2) starting it in Editors Roundtable.

When I come into BPL I typically hit "Last 50 Posts" to see what's up, or by going directly to a Gear Forum I can skip the Chaff, Philosophy, and non-gear discussions.

Suggestion:

I find that BPL forums are head and shoulder above the rest in terms quality and content, and most importantly, is populated with a courteous and informed membership willing to help each other.

My experience here is less than 6 months. But during that time I have noticed two glaring issues. First, threading is non-existent. Second, there appears to be no active moderators maintaining the “rules of the road”.

When threads run amuck (as I am doing here) it results in wasted time and then general frustration. Until the threading issue is resolved, moderators could do a lot to keep us on the straight and narrow. When the subject digresses move it to Chaff or Philosophy. Once threading becomes real their workloads will diminish, but they still need to keep an eye on things. By stepping in, they remind us of the general rules of conduct as well as maintain some sense of order.

[Nia Schmald]

Qouting Russell:
"I'm glad this website is moving in some small way towards more of a whole concept as opposed to strictly an 'online toolbox' for backpackers."

When I pay for information I expect the source of that info to be in expert in the subject. The staff at BPL has the credentials to claim expertise in light weight backpacking.

The site had real value to me because the staff actually was out using and refining the information they wrote about.

I'm not aware of the BPL staff expertise in living the "whole concept". No offense intended here. I don't even no what the "whole thing" is. :)

But in the absence of expertise, the info provided in this review is no different than a random blog espousing their opinions. And there are numerous blogs which have reviewed the Affluenza book. So what is the BPL value add here?

[David Bengoechea]

You don't have to read the article or buy the book if you're not interested. But what about the BPL'ers who enjoyed the article? Anyone? Bueller?

[David Chenault]

Has it not occured to anyone that a symptom of "affluenza" might be spending huge amounts of money on "simple" outdoor gear? If you want to be light in the sense of impact on the earth better head to the surplus store and goodwill.

[Don Selesky]

I vow to follow this philosophy by no longer buying anything from the BPL Gear Shop. :-)

[t.darrah]

Instead of spending my goverment issued stimulus check on yet more gear (helping all the little gear companies like Mchale, ULA, MLD, Tarptent and such)I will instead put it into my retirement account. Heaven forbid that I feed my sickness called affluenza or do my part to stimulate the slowing economy.

I will have to wait for the book to be available at the local library so that I can read it without having to support the author with buying still more stuff.

[Brian Doble]

Jeesh, how many pairs of shoes does a man need?

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