Is Minimalism a Form of Alternative Living?

Of course, this isn't an "'end all, be all statement". I don't want to write this to simply point out the negative aspects of the future we currently live in. I'd also like to talk about the benefits that living provides. There are 8 billion people on this planet and a lot of different ways to exist.

Where we are

We are currently in an age of mass consumerism. A period of mass advertisements. An era of budding abundance. An age where our desires are sometimes shaped by the success, joys, and property of others. This can leads to people living their lives with the idea that they need certain things to be happy. Some people find happiness through the emulation of others. Yet, sometimes they do fall into the trap of what others want them to think, own, and be. (Imagine the futuristic utopia of the humans in WALL-E)

To me, one of the biggest issues of our current times and the way a lot of people live is waste. People tend to waste a lot of resources in our modern times. An example of this is when one becomes wealthy, one tends to buy larger houses, more cars, and expensive jewellery. Oftentimes, this space and items go unused and exists to be a part of someone's wealth. The accumulation of material objects builds as one believes yachts and watches complete their collection of status symbols.

Another issue is living within the image of someone else. Sometimes people don't live their life according to their own desires. People allow their identities and desires to be dictated by social media and influencers. Again, if someone finds true happiness in this, good for them. But for most, it leads to a feeling of inadequacy. This happens a lot with regards to personal image issues where one might feel inadequate when seeing someone successful be able to live a certain way. This leads to living in a manner that isn't going to bring one true happiness. Clothes, makeup, trips, body image, cars, etc. When someone chases after these things because one wants to be like someone else, that's an issue.

Despite all of this, the future is bright! We are at a time of abundance in our choices. We have more control over our futures than ever before. People are leaving jobs they don't enjoy, moving to countries that treat them better and doing things against the grain of normality. People are seeing that the way things were isn't always the best. People are living in non-traditional ways. (Even movements to resist long-standing government rules.)

Owning stuff

Sure, having things feels nice. Having "stuff" can make people happy. It's possible to run without shoes, but it's much more comfortable to run with them on.

Having less is more. It sometimes means fewer expectations, choices, and distractions. Having less allows one to focus more on what they want, and less on the things one might not actually want.

We have accumulated too many things. Too many things which we don't use, and will never use. Clothing, toys, electronics, gear, yada yada yada. I'm not immune to this. I've been there, I've done that. I've wanted to fill a house to make it feel complete, only to sell all of it later.

Doing this sometimes means one won't be bored, or won't feel inadequate. This is at the cost of being wasteful and owning/ doing things not because one wants to, but because they feel like it's what's required for them to be successful or happy.

Again, I'd like to emphasize that "stuff" doesn't only mean material objects. It can also relate to the followers you have online, the events you go to and even vacations. People often do things because it seems popular or trending. When someone doesn't do things that they find inspiration in, they might not feel so great doing them.

Minimalism and alternative living

Living minimally

This doesn't always mean having fewer items. It really means being more intentional with what one does and owns. Living in the modern day can be done smartly, without falling into the negative traps of overconsumption. To me, living minimally means less impact, less thinking about things that don't bring me success, and more free time spent on what I enjoy. It can also mean less responsibility, in a relative sense. While I may not have a basement that can flood, my vehicle could break down and cause me to need to pivot my plans and existence for the rest of the year.

Living in your vehicle

Van life or life on the road inherently brings you to a point of owning fewer items. It puts you in a place where you focus more on what you want to be doing. Despite my ideals of being minimal in intention, I also revel in the ease of all the modern offerings of today. At times, I remember having so many items piled up in my living room waiting to be put into my van. When, in reality, all I needed were the keys, money, a sleeping bag and a mattress.

There is a plethora of ways you can exist this way. Ranging from using your van as a glorified tent to living in a van that costs as much as a condo. When you commit to living like this full-time, you really take advantage and use all of the space and resources you have (Unless you simply modify and add parts to the van you'll never actually use).

To me, living this way has been incredibly liberating. It really cuts back on what I own and what I do. Having less space for useless and unused items makes me more intentional with the items I add. Needing to spend money, find a space to park, and deal with water and waste makes me incredibly intentional with the places I go.

Full time travelling

Perpetual travel allows you to have fewer items. You simply don't have the space to exist with all the items you might have in your home. Sure, you may leave a whole home with items behind, but you're able to be more in the moment with the absolute most critical items you'd need.

Living this way, to me, means more happiness in what I'm doing. Mind you, I've followed some influencers' suggestions on places to go, but I have understood my limitations on living the way they have. I have found happiness in immersing myself in other cultures and living closer to the way the locals do. It makes me feel like I'm wasting less, contributing less to the big box stores and restaurants that can sometimes be bad for the environment. It also allows me to sometimes live with fewer amenities, and sometimes allows me to partake in making the most of the space I'm using.

Tiny homes

I want to mention this as it's been a minor interest of mine for some years. I like the idea of having less space, that actually gets used more. I've lived in small spaces, rented fully equipped tiny homes, and lived for months in my own version of a tiny home on wheels.

This type of living is great for the maximal minimalist. It allows you to have a home, sometimes with spare bedrooms to host, and allows you to build it with what is important to you. You often don't have space for a grand dining room, a sitting room, a theatre, and a games room. So you chose what's most important to you and incorporate that into your home.

To me, living this way provides me with a smart way to set down my roots. While I haven't lived this way extensively, I enjoy the concept of having a similar idea to a van, but being larger. It would afford me the comforts of a house (permanent location, things that might not need to be converted to be used, plumbing, toilet, etc.). While living this way adds a lot of value, it cuts back on the things that wouldn't bring me joy like the dead space that often comes with a full home. It would restrict what I own. And because it's likely to be a custom build, I can make conscious choices about the build, location, and what I choose to put in it.

Learnings

There are many ways to define minimalism beyond its dictionary definition. Ultimately, it comes down to what it means to you. Whether it be fewer items, fewer choices, less impact, or fewer responsibilities.

It's becoming more apparent that I need less and less to exist. I don't need a lot of items in my van or my backpack. I don't need fancy accommodations or room service. I don't need a home with many rooms and luxury additions.

What I do need (or rather, want) is a rewarding life where I get to satiate my desires for novel sights. I want to be unburdened by material stuff thus affording me the flexibility to be where I want to be. I want to be distracted less by what others want me to desire, and chase after what it is that truly adds value to my life.