Part Three

Less is More

Have you ever thought that you could live with less? Material things require time, energy, and money. Assets require maintenance, updating, storing, securing, and some recharging. I have found that even when they are out of sight in a storage facility they are still not totally out of mind. If I was to ask myself; do I have something; I know I would quickly be able to answer yes or no, and if yes, then ponder on the condition or had I got rid of it. I am sure you would be in a similar situation, except when you are living amongst your things, you will be getting reminders on a daily basis, as to what you own, and what condition it is in. You would probable recall when you got it and how much you paid for it, or if it was a gift and from whom. Even when you get rid of things you can still recall, I used to have one of those and then rattle of some associated memories.

Property, land and buildings, it seems almost inbreed that you ought to get your hands on a house and pay it off. After all, you do need a place to live. Then you will be set for life. Will you be happy? My history was no different. I bought my first house when I was twenty and it was paid off by the age of twenty three. Admittedly it only cost $16,000 for a five bedroom flat right next to the University of Otago. How times have changed. Over time I was very much into property. At one stage owning three properties and was even the secretary of the New Zealand Property Investors Association. About nine years ago I resolved to be free of property. I did miss out on the property boom, but I always felt free to move where ever I wanted, even overseas at the drop of a hat.

Last year I was seven weeks on the road in a caravan and when I got back I reflected on the rent, power and phone bills. They were all up-to-date, but what a waste of money. Sure, I always had a place I could call home and go back to, but at what cost. Was it a luxury? Earlier this year I knew I was going up north but was unsure of how long. I remembered last years experience and challenged myself, that if I could get everything into storage over the remaining three days. I would give notice on the flat and cut the cord, living mobile with no fixed abode. That was achieved and now I am totally mobile.

My home is a car and caravan. It could have been a mobile home, but I already had a caravan. I also have a Post Office box for mail. A mobile phone and an email address for contact with others. Everything else is in storage.

At the time of this article it has been five weeks. Over that time I have been adapting to the lifestyle. Now that my life is functioning on the road, I am culling material things. Less is more has become the mantra. Everything I own is coming under scrutiny. The washing machine and the fridge/freezer have already been sold on TradeMe. I know there are some sentimental things that need to be kept to be passed down at a later time. There will also be a lot that I will be keeping on first flush as I know I have an emotional attachment which is too strong for me to deal with at this stage. However; the items which I do get rid off will create space and help me focus on what really counts.

As I have become more mobile, I have become more community oriented. Not sure why even though it is happening. May be if one looks at a washing machine. There are launderettes and motor camps with laundry facilities. Both situations are a sharing of facilities. I don’t need to own one. There was a time I lived in a one room apartment in London for two years. The sofa had to be made into a bed to make room. The lounge was the bedroom. Incidentally, that cost NZ$375 per week, twenty years ago. There were five hundred flats in the same building. Using a Laundromat was the norm. Space was the issue in London. Space, weight, power are issues when you are mobile. If more people were mobile there would be fewer washing machines required in the community. This ultimately would have an impact on the environment. The washing machine is obvious but there are many parallels with other material things.

If we became more mobile, would we become less materialistic? Is mobility and materialism negatively correlated? Now there is a debating topic. You can still get a half million dollar bus. Materialism still exists but what would be the impact on the environment if more people were mobile than today. New Zealand can handle a few but not a lot. We already have tourists and some mobile citizens. Is it desirable to have more? In time, I will analyse my own experience to explore the answer to such a question. Meanwhile, I know I will be sleeping in the caravan tonight but I am not sure where that will be.

Simon

LIBRARY NEWS

We have new shelves in the library brought by money from the Environment Society and the Organic Group. The modular way they are set out will make it easier for you to access the books in our library, with each section given clear labelling. As well as lending books we also have excellent reference books that you are most welcome to come and browse through. My personal favourite is the 1001 easy ways for Earth-wise living. If you want to make a big difference in your life this is the book. On page 18 there is compelling information on how to make your home energy efficient. This is of concern to all of us as energy costs are just going to keep rising. There are also some hot link websites for you to access for further help. We have been gifted a complete set of the NZ gardener- we will browse through and photocopy the gems of information that are still relevant today. Other magazines we get donated regularly are the latest Healthy Options, Organic NZ, Harvest (Biodynamics) and Nourishing Traditions. Don’t forget, our library is an excellent resource just waiting to be used. If you have membership with the South Coast Environment Centre these books and magazines can be borrowed for up to a month. What an opportunity!

NEW LOCAL ORGANIC CERITIFICATION SYSTEM

15 people attended the introductory talk late autumn to introduce ‘Organic Farm New Zealand’ – an new local certification for NZ markets. The standard is equivalent to Bio Gro however it includes a detailed chemical residue test before a property is accepted. Every three years it also does fertility tests to ensure the lands fertility is being maintained or improved. The cost of $350 dollars a year is much cheaper because it is assessed by a local (provincial) auditor with on-going peer support and review. The standard is only recognised in NZ but is suitable for any size property than is not intending to export. In a few weeks time Andy Barrett and Bob Burton from Otago Organic Growers will be coming down to hold an on-site workshop working through the certification application with a local grower as a demonstration. This grower needs both plants and live stock on their property, so contact us if you would like to be our demo farm. Anyone interested in attending this workshop should register their interest with the South Coast Environment Centre and we will arrange this as soon as possible.