dave lackey
Veteran
Oh my, yes, in a chaotic world. I am reminded of the quote from a time long ago:
Paraphrased from memory;
“Life is simple. But humans insist on making it complicated.”
This topic could be discussed for millennia.😮 But in my real world, searching for the simple life is a journey, an adventure. A quest for our own happiness, in balance.
Over the past decade or so, somewhat unaware of the source of many of our stresses in life, our life in the suburbs has evolved in ways that apparently have been forgotten. Analog vs. digital? In some ways… yes.
Having been isolated thoughout the pandemic, we relied on our online presence for buying everything from food and clothing to communications. It is still a sensible way of life when things are in balance. However…We humans are dependent on in-person human connections. Virtual meetings and FaceTime are poor substitutes and are harmful to a degree.
Other problems with being housebound are also socially related. Family members and friends passed away and we lost them forever without spending quality time with them. We lost so many things, like the simple pleasures in life. Some of these we have re-acquired are:
1. Daily walks
2. Listening to vinyl records and local radio.
3. Picnics
4. Gardening
5. Restoring older possessions for use including our cars. (More on that later!)
6. Fly fishing
7. Family visits
8. Turning off the TV and ubiquitous screens on our electronic devices
9. Acoustic guitar
10. Reading books
11. Film photography and developing
12. Learning a different language
13. Writing letters, notes and journals
14. Fountain pens
15. Manual typewriters
And the list goes on… including watching the sunrise every morning.
Stresses have been reduced by balancing our needs and dependency on high tech and electronics with simple things. But it can be frustrating as modern life seems to be trending toward extremes everywhere.
Example: is it even possible to buy a new car or a simple pickup truck with little more than 4 wheels, a manual transmission, air conditioning, and a radio? It is after all a transportation mode, not a life pod imprisonment chamber … not for me anyway.
I don’t need or want internet connections or all the current “bells and whistles” in a car! I certainly don’t want to pay for it! It is impossible to buy just a simple car. So, I maintain our current vehicles in pristine condition and I have no plans for replacing them. I’m good with that!
Like the simple and everlasting Leica M2 I currently use, I am not planning to continue participating in planned obsolescence or complicating my life unless it is necessary. There is a place for everything in life. But for me, I don’t need “everything”! 😂
How about you?😇
Paraphrased from memory;
“Life is simple. But humans insist on making it complicated.”
This topic could be discussed for millennia.😮 But in my real world, searching for the simple life is a journey, an adventure. A quest for our own happiness, in balance.
Over the past decade or so, somewhat unaware of the source of many of our stresses in life, our life in the suburbs has evolved in ways that apparently have been forgotten. Analog vs. digital? In some ways… yes.
Having been isolated thoughout the pandemic, we relied on our online presence for buying everything from food and clothing to communications. It is still a sensible way of life when things are in balance. However…We humans are dependent on in-person human connections. Virtual meetings and FaceTime are poor substitutes and are harmful to a degree.
Other problems with being housebound are also socially related. Family members and friends passed away and we lost them forever without spending quality time with them. We lost so many things, like the simple pleasures in life. Some of these we have re-acquired are:
1. Daily walks
2. Listening to vinyl records and local radio.
3. Picnics
4. Gardening
5. Restoring older possessions for use including our cars. (More on that later!)
6. Fly fishing
7. Family visits
8. Turning off the TV and ubiquitous screens on our electronic devices
9. Acoustic guitar
10. Reading books
11. Film photography and developing
12. Learning a different language
13. Writing letters, notes and journals
14. Fountain pens
15. Manual typewriters
And the list goes on… including watching the sunrise every morning.
Stresses have been reduced by balancing our needs and dependency on high tech and electronics with simple things. But it can be frustrating as modern life seems to be trending toward extremes everywhere.
Example: is it even possible to buy a new car or a simple pickup truck with little more than 4 wheels, a manual transmission, air conditioning, and a radio? It is after all a transportation mode, not a life pod imprisonment chamber … not for me anyway.
I don’t need or want internet connections or all the current “bells and whistles” in a car! I certainly don’t want to pay for it! It is impossible to buy just a simple car. So, I maintain our current vehicles in pristine condition and I have no plans for replacing them. I’m good with that!
Like the simple and everlasting Leica M2 I currently use, I am not planning to continue participating in planned obsolescence or complicating my life unless it is necessary. There is a place for everything in life. But for me, I don’t need “everything”! 😂
How about you?😇
