Compact Challenge

Recently I've stumbled upon this blog: Walk Slowly, Live Wildy. It's been very inspirational on many levels. Aside from her lovely pics, she's also created a Compact Pledge, and has been journaling about it and how they sold their home, moved to a 1-bedroom apartment, and have been living more consciously to pay off their debt. The Compact has on some level been resonating with me. There's even a blog here entirely about it, with contact information to groups you can join.

It reminded me a lot of the book written by Judith Levine Not Buying It My Year Without Shopping, which, I've been very curious to read, but haven't yet. (It's on my list of books to get at the library, when I actually get to the library. Don't ask.)

Now, I know that if I decided to Compact, that I could. I obviously haven't, but I've been playing around with the entire idea. Hey, I also occasionally check in and read The Simple Living NetWork Newsletter. It's also gotten me thinking about several things.

One of the things on my mind has been whether or not we should stay in the house we are in now, or keep trying to move. Right now, we've got a mortgage less then most apartments around here. Living here, we are able to save more money then we've ever had, and we've paid off my school loans.

Our reasons for moving are mostly that we would like more land for Pook to play about on, neighbors that are a bit further away, and a bigger home so that we can expand on our family. But are these valid reasons? If we really wanted too, we could easily add another room and bathroom in the basement. Thus solving the more room issue.

As for the acreage, there's a park right down the road that I discovered. The Post Office can be walked to as well. And, we are blessed with friends who live on farms and acreage. I would still love for Pook to be able to be free to run around on her own land, but we can make do if need be.

Do we really need all the things we've been buying? Come Christmas time, we tend to go a wee bit crazy in that we buy a lot of things. And we tend to go overboard with gifts. This year, I've done better on the gift thing. I think I mentioned www.heifer.org before and the baking. I'm finding much more satisfaction in homemade gifts.

I've also noticed, that I've a unique knack for validating things I want. From books, to hand towels, if I want it, I can find a reason. So, I've decided to make a list of what else I would want for the house, and decide - do I really need it? Can I do without it? Why do I want it in the first place?

And then too, I have come to realize how blessed we are to live in a society and place where you can get virtually anything you want via internet and the like. And then I wonder - but are we responsible with our consumerism? Do we need to be?

In any case, I'm still pondering on this. It's clearly touched something in me. How about you?