Here are some items from the discussions…

• Tai-Chi (update from Don): Tai-Chi is going to be happening in Grant Park on the lakefront, Wednesday and Friday evenings -- will keep you posted

Several suggestions and possibilities were discussed:

• lunches and get togethers following the simplicity meetings
• the Sierra Club hosts frequent outings, which are open to everyone
• American Youth Hostels offer sailing lessons, rentals, and cruises at very reasonable prices
• Check local ads in newspapers for sailboat skippers looking for crew members. You can sail "free" in exchange for helping crew the boat -- especially during the weekdays…
• On Wednesday nights at Chicago's Montrose and Belmont Harbors, skippers are always looking for crews (it's racing night!)
• April 18th is Ben & Jerry's Day -- they'll be offering free ice cream!

Connecting with other families who are doing a simple life…
Doing what I want to do and make it work with raising my family…
Both topics formed a core for the day's discussions.

Suggestions for connecting with other neighborhood families included posting a note in the local community newspaper or at the supermarket note board. Just keeping in mind the notion of seeking out others seems to set into motion connections that often appear magical (see Frugal Fairy moments below). Also, outwardly making choices that are aligned with your values affords a physical example for others to notice, and provides an opening for them to approach you. The group then made an interesting observation…

While not everyone in the group was raising a family, we realized that be it raising a family or choosing not to automatically buy something, we are all making choices to live a life aligned with our own values, beliefs, and fulfillments. Understanding gained while learning how to raise a family according to what feels right instead of what's expected, are understandings one can then be directly apply to other aspects of simple living.

Perhaps the common question to living simply is asking, "How can I live my life better aligned with my values and beliefs (which feel 'right' to me), instead of just repeating what I see others doing? How can I do that?" It then doesn't matter if your passion is to raise a family, or to be a vegetarian or a better citizen of society/environment -- the lessons and understandings are the same.

Another learning from the discussion was never underestimate the influence you may have on others -- you may literally be the first one in your work/social group to do something different. While you may not perhaps find immediate acceptance, there is probably someone else saying to themselves, "I wish I had done that too…". Also, you don't have to do "everything" at once => make choices one at a time -- one choice made aligned with your values is one more than you had before.

"Frugal Fairy Moments"…
What's a Frugal Fairy Moment? Those times when you were just thinking about something and then it appears to materialize before you like magic. It seems more of those moments happen the further along someone is when choosing to live a life more aligned with their values and beliefs. Some moments…

Deciding to add a sliding shelf to his desk, Mike was in route to the store to BUY the hardware when he came across an entertainment center hauled to the curb for garbage pickup. Yep… right there was exactly what he needed -- the slide hardware and the shelf, both in perfect condition! With a little trimming (the shelf was 1/2" too wide), Mike was done -- and he didn't have to buy anything!

Needing a dresser, another kept that thought in the back of his mind until the Frugal Fairy struck one day as he was driving down his alley and found a great dresser that fit his needs.

Life after reaching financial independence…
Doing the YMOYL Steps…
Four months after reaching the YMOYL Crossover Point (where interest income is greater than level of expenses), Mike said he is seeing life with a new clarity. The passing time has allowed the actuality of Crossover to become a reality. As money concerns (i.e., "Will we have enough?!?" Of course!) move to the back burner, choosing "things to do" become more rooted in values and fulfillment. No longer required to attend staff meetings or to drive though miles of bumper to bumper traffic everyday (in order to pick up a paycheck) brings a freedom of choice not experienced before. It also brings about a real understanding of Joe Dominguez' comment, "The ONLY reason for paid employment is to be paid!"

Other realizations include less time taken up dealing with money (i.e., pay checks took time to "process" and put into the YMOYL Monthly Tabulation). And so much money went to taxes -- knew that before, but is completely apparent now. Hard to believe it was "acceptable" to use up so much life to "gain" what was left over after taxes ($.52 per dollar). Also less time dealing with money equals more time to play guitar!

We closed the space and meeting at 11:45.

(Posted by: Mike Lenich)