Minimalist Transportation Options

Transportation is one of the most difficult issues for many minimalists to reconcile themselves with. Every type transportation has its pros and cons, but I have found it hard to find a site, or even an article, that had a comprehensive list of transportation options and how they apply to different styles of minimalism. Overall, minimalism requires much in the way of preplanning, and transportation is no different. If you plan to change your methods of transportation, you have to plan for these changes. For instance, plan on having time on the train to get a blog finished - bring your laptop and enjoy your extra time! Anyway, here is part one of a list I hope you will all find helpful when making your decisions about minimalist transportation.

Mass Transit - It's cheap, helps lower your carbon emissions, and you don't have to drive. I am fortunate enough to live in the Portland-Metro area, which has an amazing public transportation model that is being implemented elsewhere around the world. Seriously, you can get almost anywhere because that's how the trains and bus routes were laid out. 
                  However, not everyone has access to such great mass transit. But, before you discount this option, could you? What if you moved within biking distance of the train? Think creatively, and you'll be amazed at what you can do with limited funds and some passion.

Biking - I hear all sorts of arguments against the bike commuter lifestyle, but I have to put most of them to rest. First of all, biking is not as dangerous as you think it is, and I don't care where you live. This is especially true if you actually know all the bike laws, maintain visibility, and are considerate of the other modes of transportation. Share the road doesn't just mean cars need to yield to bikes and pedestrians; it means we all need to share the road and be considerate of the people around us so everyone has a safe trip to wherever they are headed. 

Another argument I hear regularly is, "I have kids. How could I possibly be a bike commuter?" Honestly, it's not even an argument. It's an excuse. Having children is no excuse not be a bike commuter. I have a trailer for my daughter, and she goes everywhere with me. I bought it earlier this year, and it has been fantastic. She thinks "going bye-bye" in the trailer is tons of fun, because she gets to have the wind in her face, see all the sights, and play and eat snacks. How is a kid not going to enjoy that? 

I don't want to hear about bad weather, either. Once again, I live in Portland. The amount of rain we receive is somewhat obscene, so you learn to live with it. I recommend either full bike gear, which dries quickly, or Nike Dri-fit clothing. The stuff seriously takes 5 minutes to dry out. The only weather you shouldn't be able to handle on a bike is heavy snow, and should you really be out and about in loads of snow anyway? For those of you who live in perennial winter weather, I'll be honest, I haven't been there so I don't even know what its like. Use your judgement, be safe, and do whatever is safest and most efficient. 

 If you are at all interested in bike commuting, you have to read Tammy Strobel's Simply Car-free: How to Pedal Toward Financial Freedom and a Healthier Life. Author of the RowdyKittens blog and my fellow Portlander, Tammy totally gets it when it comes to living car-free.

Until next time, happy commuting!


       

Why I Write This Blog

How on earth did I ever end up with a blog about minimalist living? That thought had occurred to me a few days ago, and I felt it deserved to be fully answered, if I was to claim to be any sort of authority on the minimalist lifestyle. 

It started a year ago, wandering a Barnes and Noble for inspiration, when I discovered Maya Frost's The New Global Student. It is both a story of her family's escape from suburbia and a how-to guide for becoming a globally educated student in our rather rigid education system that doesn't like things out of the norm. Though I was already in college and most of the book didn't apply to me, I found her story incredibly inspiring. She is even from a little tiny town right next to the one I grew in, and it was a sign for me. There is nothing I'd love more than to travel as my passions shift, and hopefully, I'll begin my own journey this year. At any rate, this book was the starting point. I knew there was a way to embrace my dream of traveling the world without having to wait until I retired, but I hadn't found the answer yet.

Life has been busy happening the past year while I blast through college at a rapid rate, but the thoughts of living simply and self-improvement have only multiplied. In January, I began my 101 in 1001 list, which has led me to complete 15 goals already, and I have 35 more in progress. I finally bought a car in January, only to turn around and sell it 3 weeks later and commit my traveling life to being a bike commuter. I have explored time management systems, wondering if answers laid therein, and then I discovered Zen to Done, which has rocked my world. 

Everything I read and everything happening in my life has snowballed into this sense of self-discovery I've never known before. Having a kid at 20 doesn't give you much time to learn who you really are, but I think I'm starting to find out. This soul searching has led me to realize the reason I could never determine what my values were was because I simply didn't have traditional values. I figured out my commitments and tore them down to just the ones that make me happy. 

Writing makes me happy. It relaxes me, and I get to make a contribution to the world in my own little way. I've only had this up a week, and I already am gaining a following of readers - which, by the way, you guys are awesome for being so supportive. Allowing myself to reflect on the decisions I make daily and the way I choose to live makes me constantly aware of the struggles and triumphs of living the minimalist lifestyle. I'm always looking for my next blog idea all over the place, and many of those places make me step back and think. More than anything, since I started this blog, I find myself asking why people look so unhappy, and I think I know parts of the answer. Simplifying lifestyles and ending consumerism are passions of mine, and this is how I spread awareness that are alternatives.

So, I suppose that is why I write here. I spread awareness, make myself happy, and I try to help others discover their own happiness. If I'm an authority, it's through personal experience, being well-read, and offering alternatives. 

What is an alternative decision you have made before? How did people view it? Do have any regrets about it?

        

Minimalism and Kids: 5 Rules to Make it Happen

This is Evie! My daughter. :)

        When I told my mom I was pregnant, she started planning immediately for all of the things we had to get for the coming bundle of joy. The baby needed so many things, after all! Oh, and I had to get my license so I could get a car; no one could have a baby without a car! Then, I told her I wasn't planning on getting a car. I would do the same thing I always had and take mass transit and ride my bike, because it was the responsible decision. She still thinks I'm insane.

       The most difficult part of staying true to minimalist ideas for me with my daughter isn't even my daughter, who is 21 months. It is everyone who cares about her and thinks showing love means giving gifts. Coming from a family where giving something usually constitutes some sort of personal sacrifice, it can be awful trying to tell these well-meaning family members my daughter has enough things already. 

       Cruising around other minimalist blogs, I have noticed a common misconception. Many people claim it is impossible to have children and be a minimalist. I have to disagree. Keeping a minimalist home with children is entirely possible, albeit there is more thought involved. Preplanning is a required skill for a minimalist lifestyle, and I've noticed it comes in pretty handy once you have children, too.

       How do you combat these potential problems? Plan for worst case scenarios and be ready to say no. If you aren't firm with those around you, they aren't going to respect your decision to step outside the norm, and later in life, neither will your kids.

1. Tell people you are a minimalist. This can be a somewhat abrupt information session, where you let them know after you begin the 100 Thing Challenge and give up your car, but it is going to easier on people afraid of change - most of us - if it seems more gradual. Making the decision to become a minimalist is a huge personal experience, so allow them to see what you are doing. Tell them about the changes you are making in your life, about how you are making plans to follow your dreams, and how happy this makes you.

2. Set down ground rules for friends and family. When you explain to others that you don't want to receive gifts, for you or your children, they probably won't understand. If it is really a problem, ask those troublesome family members if they'd like to plan an outing for the kids instead. (Coming next week, a list of ideas for outings! Until then, check out Frugal fun for kids!)

3. Prioritize experiences. If the choice is a toy at $X, or fall soccer for $400, show them where you stand by paying for a great experience for them, even if it costs a little more. Over time, the experience will be worth more, if you account for the joy of discovering a new passion and gaining an appreciation for physical activity. Speaking of passion and outings, how about the ultimate in experiences?

4. Travel with your kids. No, I don't mean take them with you on your vacation to Cancun; take them to a developing country. Let them see first hand what other people go through on a daily basis to survive. Get them involved in volunteer activities while you are there, and watch your child's world grow. There is no child anywhere who wouldn't be absolutely changed by this sort of experience, so get to it! Trips to places like Buenos Aires and Bangkok can yield huge cultural experiences for a great price, and there are lots of opportunities for volunteer work.

5. Say no. This is the hardest one of all, because you're going to make some people unhappy. When telling people no, remember how much happier you are going to be afterwards, when you don't feel torn about what to do with an expensive gift. 

This is a huge topic worth lots of discussion and exploration, so plan on seeing more on minimalism with kids in the future!