Desire to acquire
My writing desk
by Christine Kling
When I made the decision a year ago to quit my day job and become a full-time writer, built-in to that decision was the idea that I wanted to embrace a simpler life. I had been reading about the Voluntary Simplicity Movement which is about finding balance and discovering what is truly important in your life. And I'd begun following this long thread on the CruisersForum on Cruising on $500 per Month. I felt weighted down with too many possessions, and I wanted to break myself of the habit of thinking that buying "more stuff" could bring me happiness. It was time to shed that all American desire to acquire.
So, here it is 9 months since I quit my job and said good-bye to that comparatively fat paycheck. I spent far too much of my youth off cruising instead of working, so my pension is mighty thin. But I ride my bicycle to the grocery store, and I'm not tempted to buy more than I can carry in my backpack. I'm doing an excellent job of living inexpensively both while on the boat (except for the current price of diesel) and while I'm in my little one room condo with the boat docked outside. My mortgage, maintenance and slip rent here is just under $500 a month. I couldn't get by on so little if I hadn't found this sweet deal. It is part of why I've been able to retire. But since my renter recently moved out, I'm hanging in the apartment until I can figure out what to do next. For now, this is the cheapest place for me and the boat until I can find another renter or until spring when the Bahamas beckon.
I love living on my boat out on the hook. I don't mind wearing ratty clothes, nor eating simple food. I love riding my bicycle to get around. I'm even okay with putting my boat wish-list on hold for a while. I've never wanted fancy dresses, nor do I have that common female obsession with shoes. The Simplicity Movement is all about living on less and liking it. And I do. Most of the time.
But there is one area where I am seriously feeling the pinch. And that is technology.
On March 7th Apple has announced an event at which they will probably be releasing a new iPad – version number 3! I can't wait to see what features the new model will have. I still have the original iPad. Sigh. My iPhone is so old, I can't even upgrade to the current iOS5. My computer just turned five years old. I'm really feeling the hurt. I don't know what I'll do if my computer gives up on me.
I used to be an early adopter. I always had the latest electronics. I never let a computer get more than three years old before I upgraded.And now I have a serious case of iPad envy.
Lately, I've been working on an article and speech I'm going to be presenting to a couple of yacht clubs in the Annapolis area in mid-March on iPad apps, and I've been trolling the tech blogs again and suffering from tech-lust. There is so much cool stuff out there. A UK company called Digital Yacht makes the most amazing wifi devices that will broadcast your NMEA data from your instruments or your AIS to your iPad. Can you imagine lying in your bunk and checking the real wind speed from your anemometer on your iPad? Or getting an AIS overlay of the surrounding ships on the charts on your iPhone?
I can buy into Voluntary Simplicity in almost all versions, and I believe I am closer each day to finding out what is truly important in my life. But I don't think I'll ever lose my desire to acquire shiny new electronics.
Do they have a 12-step program for that?
Fair winds!
Christine
Author of CIRCLE OF BONES
Available for Kindle
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