How much is enough?

According to the Census Bureau, the median income for American families in 2009 was just under $50,000, while some reports from last year slash that figure to $26,000. The poverty level is considered to be just over $22,000. And how much would it take for people to feel financially secure? A recent Gallup poll put the magic number at $150,000–as an annual salary, with a net worth of $1 million.

I've been seeing a lot of TV segments on how the median–that is to say, actual people with lives and needs and dreams–are struggling to get by on very little money. In the midst of many crushingly sad stories came one refreshingly different one, about a family of three who are living on about $20,000 a year. And not just living; they're living well.

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Michael Fleming and Jennifer Wurst live in rural Maine with their toddler son. Michael is an artist who makes beautiful furnishings and art out of driftwood he collects at a nearby beach. Jennifer is a stay-at-home mom who manages Michael's business and takes care of their son and their home. And let's talk about that home: Jennifer has a flair for decor that redefines shabby chic. Check out these photos…

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And where did most of their stuff come from? The town dump. Not in its current state, either; Michael and Jennifer salvage, clean, refurbish, and reuse what they find.

Their way of life isn't for everyone–they never go out to eat, don't get haircuts or go to movies or get new clothes (or new anything). Nor would most of us be able to live that way. The family relies on Maine's state-provided health insurance; rent for their home is just $600 a month; and they clearly have, as my friend Carolina put it, "mad survival skills."

What I like about their story, though, is that they may not have much and they may want more, but they're happy. Their focus is on family and living a creative life that also has a positive effect on the environment. A quick walk around my neighborhood–not a wealthy one, I assure you–always reveals something waiting for garbage pickup that is in perfectly good condition. My grandparents didn't throw away clothes that might otherwise just need mending, or furniture that would be like new with a nice set of slipcovers. But try getting electronics fixed, and you'll be told it's cheaper to just buy new. There goes another huge TV into a landfill…

One of the many lessons I learned from my family while writing Cherries in Winter was to use what I had, from food (Americans throw away 253 pounds of food a year!), to clothes, to anything else that was just gently worn and could be salvaged. I like to feed my bank account, not landfills.

I also learned, like Michael and Jennifer, that it's not always necessary to have the trappings of wealth if it's going to cost you your life. Believe me, I like my stuff, but I value the time I have with my husband and my family far more.

So, my friends, what do you think–how much is enough? And do you feel like you're just getting by, or living well?

xx,

S