Let's shift to a simpler life

Paul Theroux, the US-based travel writer, was on television the other day talking about his new book, the ‘Ghost Train to the Eastern Star.’ This recounts his travels through Eastern Europe, Central Asia, India, China and so on. I look forward to reading the book. But his response to the interviewer intrigued me.

He was asked why and how he chose the countries he visited. Theroux answered that he was attracted to a simpler life that he saw in these countries. Perhaps some of the residents of these countries would strongly object to that characterization, but his comment does strike a chord in me. I mean the simpler life and not necessarily those countries.

Take a look at Bharadwaj’s travels that are recounted in his blog (see link 'Blogabout' in My Blog List alongside). He describes how he walks about most places that he visits. He stays in hostels that have very basic accommodation. He buys provisions in most places and makes a meal in their kitchen. He does not stay in one place long enough to brew the alcohol that he consumes in the local bars, but I suspect he would if he got the chance. He lives off a huge backpack that I saw him pack. It has a few basic necessities, including modern ones that go beyond not just bark and twigs, and include an iPod, a lap top, a cellphone, and a high end camera, and all the accompanying chargers and wires.

Let’s switch channels. The media is full of reports about the current financial crisis. Banks are failing. The stock market does not know whether to fall or rise. I don’t need to read the media reports to get depressed. I only need to open the statement of my retirement funds to know that they have lost over 35% of their value just over the last six months. So leading a simpler life is not going to be one of choice but something that may just as well be forced on me. After all, if one wants the savings to last a long time, one has to live simply. Perhaps I should ask Bharadwaj to leave his backpack to me.

I just turned on the TV as I was writing this. There is a program on titled ‘I want that!’ and the information about the program describes it as the ‘latest, greatest, and most-modern must haves for living and home restoration..’

Clearly, my desire to shift to a simpler life style is not going to be easy.