Roberto, Kristine, Julie, Lynn Marie, Jenni, Bob, Jill, Dave, Ross, Linda, Micky, Bob, Lenny, Ann, Vicki, Bob, Pam, Woodie and Mike, welcomed Nancy, Nick, Mary, Ross, Pat, and Susan to their first meeting. Kathy Summers from I-Go (Chicago car sharing program) and Rich (ABC-7 News) also joined us.

Linda opened the space with a brief round of introductions and an explanation of an upcoming ABC-7 TV news story about Chicago area folks who have made a voluntary decision to turn away from the rat race and lead simpler lives.

Linda and Mike were interviewed by ABC-7 reporter Alan Krashesky on November 5th. To complete the story, Mr. Krashesky requested filming some of the discussion at the monthly VS meeting. While never having invited reporters to meetings before, Linda and Mike thought it important to "put a face on simplicity" -- to show that folks who seek a simpler life look no different than others throughout our city. Linda and Mike asked for volunteers to allow filming of one of the discussion topics. Anyone the least bit uncomfortable could easily opt to attend one of the other two topics. Turned out everyone volunteered to participate, allowing the cameraman to capture three open and heartful discussions (a big thank you to everyone, from Linda and Mike). The story is scheduled to air on the 10:00pm news, Sunday, November 25, Chicago-Channel 7.

The group then began posting topics, creating an agenda for the meeting:

• I-Go => Chicago Car Sharing program getting underway (Mike & Kathy Summers)
• Are the post 9-11 security measures bringing back the "Police State"? ~~~ and ~~~
  Afghanistan: A vengeful or compassionate response (Bob & Ross)
• Your Money Or Your Life... "transforming your relationship with money" => the real gem. What gets in the way [of achieving transformation] (Linda)
• Frugal Christmas -- Is it possible? ( )
• What are some cuts that can be made in major expenses? (Nancy)
• How do you maintain your friends while trying to live a simple life? (Bob)

Following, is a brief recap of the six discussions:

I-Go Chicago...
Starting up soon in the Edgewater and Hyde Park areas, Chicago based I-Go is a membership/pay per use car sharing (NOT ride sharing) program. Sponsorship is from the not for profit group Center For Neighborhood Technology, with funding through city grants. Plans are to have cars (new Honda Civics) located in the community, within a 5-10 minute walk from members' residences. Fees are: one time $100 membership + $20 monthly (to handle billing, etc.) + $4.50/hour of use + $.50/mile. An average 3 hour, 20 mile trip would cost $23.50. Insurance AND gas are covered by I-Go. The insurance has a $1000 deductible -- in the event of an accident, I-Go pays 1/2 of the deductible ($500) and the member pays the other half. Using car sharing programs as models from other cities, Kathy Summers said I-Go estimates a member's yearly total costs to be approximately $1400 (based on 5, 20 mile, 3-hour trips per month). As interest in other areas increases, I-Go plans to expand. If you are interested in the program, Kathy recommends going to their web site (www.i-go-cars.com) to complete a survey. You can also call them at 773-278-4800 x227.

Post 9-11 Security/Police State/Afghanistan...
The attending simplicity folks thought the President is over simplifying international politics => "you're either with us or you're against us." Chasing a few terrorists will cause a million innocent lives lost. Aren't our policies pushing much of the world away from us and creating new terrorists? Ross' email abut the Green Party activist who was denied access to flying because of political profiling became the basis for discussion on the police state. The main media are self-censored and many folks are going to other sources for their news such as NRP and/or the BBC news. Other alternate news sources included www.indymedia.com and www.accuracy.com. As a means of combating the affects of anthrax, Ross discussed using a healthy diet to strengthen your immune system.

"Transforming your relationship with money" => What gets in the way...
Linda relayed her and Mike's experiences with being FI for almost two years now. The real gem of Your Money Or Your Life (YMOYL) is being able to completely transform your relationship with money. At some point along the way of following YMOYL's 9 steps, decisions about purchases change focus from "Can I afford it?" to, "Do I really need it?". "Frugal Fairy Moments" (what happens when you ask for something and it suddenly appears seemingly out of nowhere) and delaying purchases (to enhance and clarify the answer to, "Do I really need it?") were methods mentioned during continued discussion on needs verses wants. What keeps us from making and completing this transformation?

Is a Frugal Christmas possible...
Ideas from the discussion included:

• Stop just exchanging cash
• Give "experiences" instead of "things"
• The Fulfillment Curve (Your Money Or Your Life) applies to kids and presents => after a couple of present the rest don't mean much
• Be persistent with asking for no gifts, eventually people realize you are serious
• Ask/give consumable presents like restaurant certificates, car washes, food, ...
• TV advertising major source of kids "wants" but the stuff is never as good as the ad
• Try explaining the environmental consequences of buying lots of stuff, that it will just end up in a landfill, etc. Kids are responsive to environmental concerns.
• For coworkers and friends, could use second had stuff to put together a "Christmas grab bag" of gifts

Cuts in major expenses...
A realization emerged that it isn't the major expenses that get you -- it's in a lot of the little things we do everyday. Discussion included how to save money by being more energy efficient. Tips on drying clothes, dinning out, housing and health insurance were also mentioned. Looking at your own spending patterns is an excellent way of keeping more of your hard earned dollars.

Maintaining friends while trying to live a simple life...
Sometimes friends are only your friends while you are spending money. When you stop spending money, they seem to stop coming by/including you. Friendships ebb and flow, and people will come and go anyway. Sooner or later you begin to cultivate new friends and relationships, and form new bonds that are strongest when based on honesty -- especially with the levels of honesty reached when living a simple (more conscious) life. Discussion included hosting pot luck dinners as a means of inexpensive and highly conversational opportunities for creating and expanding friendship. Some folks aren't good making a dinner, so instead of hosting a pot luck, they offer other forms of "reciprocation" such as invites for boating/walks along the beach. "Overbooking" was mentioned -- that's when a friend/relative overbooks engagements so they can cancel the less desirable ones on date day. Hum... what does one get in this situation -- when they get "bumped"? Do they get vouchers for dinner, or a flight anywhere in the continental USA??