Possum Living

[flexagon]

Jesus, now here's some extreme frugality (full text of Possum Living by Dolly Freed behind the link).

It's about, basically, getting by (easily) without a job. We live this way for a very simple reason: It is easier to learn to do without some of the things that money can buy than to earn the money to buy them. This is definitely true for, say, a yacht. I'm not so sure about some of the things these people go without, and not excited about raising rabbits for meat in the basement either. I also note that it takes time to get set up in a house that you own free and clear. Nonetheless, two people living on $1440/year in 1978 while maintaining an essentially middle-class facade is no uninteresting feat, and the section on growing one's own herbs sounds tempting.

I'm glad the author admits (at the end of Chapter 4) that possum living may not be for everyone. She closes with some very good sense: If you can't go the whole route, at least go part way. If you can't become a non-consumer, aim to be a mini-consumer. Okay? Okay. Even though my reasons are basically that I want the security of savings, and Dolly pretty much eschews thoughts of security.

I suppose this is also the wrong time to say how much I'm jonesing to get another $85 facial at Candela.

Comments

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

I just skimmed it, but it is an interesting feat. Not one I'm interested in - I'd rather work and be able to travel and have security (the whole security is against christianity thing sold me there :P), for me and my family.

I definitely agree that being conscientious about consuming is important, not getting caught up in the whole rat race game for its own sake.

[flexagon]

I wouldn't want it either. I want security. And work keeps my brain awake anyway. Much as I hate to admit it, I belong in this workaholic age... not that I'm choosing the perfectly average lifestyle, but I don't mind the system much.

The other thing that bothers me slightly is that it didn't seem truly sustainable--houses need more maintenance than they seemed to be doing, among other things.

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it seems like they're willing to assume a lot of risk in return for being lazy. They phrase it as not a lot of risk, but I wasn't convinced of their arguments to that end. They really are assuming they'll never get sick or injured (no doctors) and that they'll be able to take care of each other adequately forever. To me, being lazy is not that important, whereas avoiding risk is. Ah well, differences in priorities.