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Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

andrewhy.de

41–50 of 197 posts

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#44

Most Buddhist monks could easily get under the "15 things" limit-- the standard list of possessions is: three robes, an alms bowl, a cloth belt, a needle and thread, a razor for shaving the head, and a water filter.

Also, they have all other things provided for them without actually owning them.

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#45
If you happen to be interested in more "minimalist porn", I too made a list of the things I was living with at one point last year.

http://raviudeshi.com/2011/02/75-things

With hindsight, I can say it's not at all about the number, but more the mentality. I don't know about this guy, but so long as you find a hostel/apartment/friend with some basic cooking utensils and Internet, it's not too hard to keep your costs very low.

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#46

There is also the hipster version of this: http://theburninghouse.com/ "If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It's a conflict between what's practical, valuable and sentimental."

If our home was burning the only things I'd be bothered about getting to safety would by my wife and son, then our cats.

Nothing else matters in that context.

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#47
post #43

Amazing how offended some people seem to be by him omitting a few thing - who really cares

> Amazing how offended some people seem to be by him omitting a few thing - who really cares

If I promise to give you 50 bucks for some software you wrote and then I only give you 10, you wouldn't be offended or complain, right?

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#48
post #17
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mr. Hyde [...] is currently homeless I don’t have a permanent address Alex Hillman let me crash on his couch So basically: Homeless man has few possessions.

...and is lucky that he know people who do have houses, and houses big enough (with couches) who let him stay.

...and TVs for him to watch, food for him to eat, coffee makers for him to use...

Years ago I was pretty minimalist. I didn't want to own anything that I couldn't walk away from. So in my apartment I had a bed, a computer, a small TV, a surfboard, and a couple of plastic deck chairs to sit on.

Today I have quite a few more things in my house but my attitude towards what I own is still the same. That I think is what is important.

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#49

If you happen to be interested in more "minimalist porn", I too made a list of the things I was living with at one point last year. http://raviudeshi.com/2011/02/75-things With hindsight, I can say it's not at all about the number, but more the mentality. I don't know about this guy, but so long as you find a hostel/apartment/friend with some basic cooking utensils and Internet, it's not too hard to keep your costs v…

> but so long as you find a hostel/apartment/friend with some basic cooking utensils and Internet, it's not too hard to keep your costs very low.

Sorry to be nitpicking here, that "minimalism porn" thing is a completely new curiosity for me, but technically you just shift ownership and costs (by mooching) but you still take advantage of those things or services - which really isn't all that minimalistic at all.

Re: Extreme Minimalism: this guy owns just 15 things

#50

If you happen to be interested in more "minimalist porn", I too made a list of the things I was living with at one point last year. http://raviudeshi.com/2011/02/75-things With hindsight, I can say it's not at all about the number, but more the mentality. I don't know about this guy, but so long as you find a hostel/apartment/friend with some basic cooking utensils and Internet, it's not too hard to keep your costs v…

I'm glad to see you have deodorant, toothbrush, soap et al. That was my biggest issue with the guy in the article.
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