A Simple Life

Simple   n Clear, Easy, Not Complicated/Complex
Life       a Animate Existence, Way of Living

So what is a simple life?

For each of us there will be a different answer, depending on our perception of the world, and none of them right or wrong.
What one person considers a simple life may be an extravagant one for others.  Where some have already achieved their ideal simple life there are others of us still on the journey to where we want to be.
For us personally the simple life is about being less reliant on others for our food and power, not buying into the consumer lifestyle or trying to keep up with the Joneses, reducing our debts and living more frugally, making use of recycled goods and generally living more like our parents and grandparents did with a greater focus on what we do have rather than what we don't have.
American author and poet Henry Thoreau, who lived more than 200 years ago, tried to practice living a simple life by building a cabin in the woods and furnishing it with only a bed, table and a chair.  He lived like this for more that 2 years during which time he recognised the coming of a material age where people would be fixated by possessions. 
Thoreau said " Most of the luxuries and the so called comforts of life are not only dispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind". 
Now for most of us living in a log cabin with only a bed, table and chair is not only impractical but also not desirable either, or maybe for you it is?
For some families living a simple life is not so much a choice but a necessity.  However many people are now choosing to simplify their lives for a range of reasons from clearing debts or living a lifestyle that has a lighter environmental impact to simple choosing to make family and lifestyle a priority.  There is even a term for this type of lifestyle change "downshifting".
If you are someone who is choosing to downshift follow this link http://simplicityinstitute.org/ and complete the survey for the Simplicity Institute. 
We are still a long way from reaching some of our simple life goals but some have already been reached and crossed off the list.  I am sure as the days go by and life takes us in new and unexpected directions more will be added to the list but as they say "The only constant in life is change".

Goals

Switch to Solar Power
Raise Chickens
Build a Vegetable garden
Have a productive vegetable garden most of the year
Plant an Orchard
Harvest fruit from our Orchard
Grow enough vegetables to not have to buy them
Fiona to work from home
Fiona to work less
Fiona not to work
Barter food
Improve my sewing skills
Bake more
Preserve more food
Eat at least 1 meat free meal a week
Have a baby (or 2)
Plant trees on our barren land
Plant natives to attract the wildlife
Establish gardens around the house
Build a pond and dry creek bed
Build a new house