The Travel Chica

Live Simple. Consume Less. Experience More.

5 Things I Have Learned About Living Simpler

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Part of this experience is about living simpler.  What exactly does that mean?  For me, it means consuming less, which directly translates to spending less.  It means living life without so many gadgets and “modern” comforts.  But it is not just about living simpler.  It is about living simpler and still enjoying life just as much, if not more. This aspect of my journey has not been nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, and I believe that my efforts to live simpler have made the experience better. Here are the 5 things I have learned about living simpler.

1.  It is not that difficult to live without specialized tools, but not having them makes you appreciate them more.

A friend I met who is from South America but has lived in many other places, including two years in New York City, once told me that he was invited to a co-worker’s home in NYC.  He was amused by the fact that “Americans have a special tool for everything.  You cannot even open a can without an electrical device.” I think this statement is very telling of our culture.  Think of all the infomercials advertising the latest tool to “make your life simpler.”  Retailers like Bed, Bath, and Beyond thrive on the specialized-tool craze.  But do all of these gadgets actually make our lives any simpler?  Or are they just things for us to spend money on that we may use once a year?

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not judging anyone for buying that fancy vegetable chopper from Pampered Chef.  If you make a lot of salads, it’s probably worth it.  My point here is that we have access to a lot of things and conveniences in the US, which I no longer take for granted.  And the abundance of what we do have available makes it even more important to prioritize where I put my resources.

I still remember the first hostel I encountered where I needed to peel carrots, but there was no vegetable peeler to be found.  I stood in the kitchen for a few moments, staring at the carrots.  Then I realized that I could peel a carrot with a knife.  Not nearly as fast or easy, but it works.  Now I get excited when I find a vegetable peeler in the hostel kitchen. Ah, the little things.

2.  I can live without a cell phone, but I cannot go too long without my computer and an internet connection.

In the US, I had a love-hate relationship with my iPhone.  It brings such convenience, yet comes with the downside of keeping you always connected and available which can be stressful for you and annoying to others.  I hate seeing two people sitting in a restaurant, both of them staring down at their phones and typing away.  When I took my annual 2-week vacations, I never even considered enabling the international plan.  I was happy to turn off the phone and tuck it in my bag for two weeks.  It turns out I was also perfectly happy to extend my cell-phone liberation for a whole 6 months.

What has surprised me a bit is how much I have relied on my computer and having an internet connection.  Photography and my website have been my “work” over the past 6 months, so I have spent a lot of time on the computer.  But I have to admit it is not just about the work.  My computer is my personal journal.  Sure, I could use paper and pen, but it is so much easier and faster to type.  And who wants to lug around notebooks?  I would have probably filled a stack of them by now.

The internet is also my lifeline to keep in touch with family and friends. It is how I securely manage my finances and personal affairs while out of the country.  Email, Skype, and online banking are truly genius inventions.  You access them when you want to be connected and turn them off when you are done.

Technology can make our lives simpler. We are the ones who allow it to over-complicate or interfere with our lives.  It is an individual preference as to how much and which type of technology to use.

3.  Our possessions can weigh us down and prevent us from doing the things we want to do.

When I was preparing to leave for this trip, I was overwhelmed by the task of getting rid of my things.  I thought I lived a fairly minimalist life.  I was not a candidate for the show Hoarders.  I did not like knick-knacks or clutter in my home.  Yet I still had too much stuff.

Even if you do not want to pack up your possessions to go off and explore the world for a few months or years, the money we spend on our possessions impacts how we live our lives.  I remember looking at the bags and bags of things I was dropping off at Goodwill and thinking, “If I hadn’t spent money on this stuff that I really don’t need, I could travel to more places.”

No, I am not going to turn into a miser. We work hard, and I think it is important to treat ourselves to the things we want. (Every one of my monthly massages was worth the money.)  I think the key is being sure of your priorities and not worrying about what other people think your priorities should be. For some people, a priority is having a nice home with a big yard and being able to entertain friends and family frequently.  For others, a priority is enjoying the arts.  Going forward, I know I will make better decisions on how I spend my money based on what is most important to me.

4.  It is nice not to worry about looking great all the time.

I am so happy I am not one of those people carrying around a backpack bigger than me. It was worth sacrificing a fashionable wardrobe for the ease of traveling with a reasonably-sized pack. Once again, it comes down to priorities.  When I was going into an office every day as a consultant, I wanted to look professional and put-together.  When I went out for dinner with friends, I wanted to look at least as nice as the other people in the restaurant.  Okay, maybe I wanted to look better than the others at the restaurant.

When I am backpacking through Latin America, I want to be comfortable and prepared. A limited wardrobe does mean I have had to hand-wash clothes frequently, and I have had to be creative about what to wear when I met with professionals or the few times I have gone to a nice restaurant or club.  But I have learned you can do a lot with a little, and you can still keep it simple.  (Ladies, a pashmina and dangly earrings are miracle accessories.)

Keeping this mindset has been a little more challenging since I arrived in Buenos Aires. This is a modern, trendy city, and everyone makes it a point to look great, especially the women.  I have to remind myself that my wardrobe is perfectly fine.  I did buy a couple of shirts to replace the ones that were worn down from travel, but I bought cheap and simple.  These are shirts I will wear when I go hiking in Patagonia and take my next 12-hour bus ride. And I still have that pashmina.  Oh, and I “splurged” and spent $5 on a pair of earrings for those nights out at the tango club  :-)

Puerto Vallarta
Reunited with friends at all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta 6 weeks into the trip. This backpacker cleans up nice.

Hiking in El Salvador a few weeks later... and still looking good.

Comments

  1. I think you hit the nail on the head.

    “Being sure of your priorities and not worrying what others think your priorities should be” mindset alone is probably worth the investment you made on ur sabatical. Few people, especially me, seem to be able to live that way. However, my brief acquantice with you leaves me with the distinct impression you have this fundamental “to thy own self be true” in your DNA!

    Keep living the truth!

  2. i get tired of peeling carrots so sometimes i don’t! try it! :)

    AND i’ve been thinking that you look great in every picture!

  3. I was so delighted to find a carrot peeler in Casa Kiwi! I totally relate to all for of your insights. btw, I would not eat unpeeled carrots in most of Latin America. At home where I am surrounded by organic farms is another story.
    Philip recently posted..Psychedelic Bulls Go Bathing

  5. Stephanie,
    Have you thought about doing a post about technology? I’m curious about the availablity of cars, cell phones, jobs etc. Your post about the internet got me to thinking how readily available all this would be. Love the posts.

    • That’s a good idea. Didn’t do a ton of research on all of these topics in most countries I’ve passed through but can definitely give basic info. And I’ve got loads to share about Buenos Aires :-)

  7. Good to see that you are doing well. Agreed, half the crap in this house we just don’t need. This years yard sale is going to be huge. Still following you. Have fun and be safe. Spend an evening watching a S American sunset for me, as it has been, and continues to be monsoon season in Ohio;)

    • Great to hear from you guys! If it makes you feel better, seasons are opposite here, so it’s freezing and heading into winter. We had monsoons last week, and for some reason, I still haven’t bought an umbrella.

  9. I wonder about the whole fashion aspect when I get home. I too have been traveling light and w/out a single nicer looking outfit. I couldn’t look good in a club if I tried (no pashmina or dangly earrings 😉 ) When I get home, I don’t want to go out and buy 15 outfits just so people don’t see me in the same thing twice. We’ll see how that goes.

    Also, I’ve been loving that I hardly see anyone I know while traveling. I don’t wear makeup most of the time. I think I’ve worn it max 5 times in 7 months.
    Wendy recently posted..Buenos Aires- Recoleta and Russians

  10. The blog looks great and interesting. It displays a realistic image of how we should choose travel destinations from among a number of tourist spots. One of friends had gone to Chaing Mai in Thailand, from where he had been taken to Karen Hill Tribe Lodge. He had stayed there for a month and experienced wilderness safari on elephants being Asian Elephant Safari (http://www.asianelephantsafari.com/), which was quite amazing.
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  11. These tips are so true! I LOVED being cell phone-free. But, would NEVER part with my internet for a long period of time. As for the clothing/beauty … yeah … I brought with me one of those tiny little flat irons. I used it once. Scarves were my accessories. And a pair of flat black shoes, that by the end of the trip, had seen way better days.
    DTravelsRound recently posted..10 ways to kick Travel Fatigue’s ass

  12. so true! I always try to remember that one of the happiest times in my life was when we sold a bunch of stuff, put almost all the rest of it in storage and moved to Europe living in tiny places in Holland and France. Keeping on moving place to place helps.. we’ve now lived in same place for 10 years, and could do very well with a nice purging. Pashima and earrings — love.
    Margo recently posted..Discovering Italy’s Piedmont

    • It drives me crazy when people are on vacation and cannot detach from their phones. I tell them if they just give it up for a week, they’ll be past the withdrawal symptoms and realize how wonderful it is.
      The Travel Chica recently posted..First Week in Ohio

  16. My friends literally have to tear my phone or computer away from me at the cottage and camping. It’s such a good feeling once you get over that initial feeling of “BUT I NEED IT”… it will still be there at the end of the weekend. Emails can wait.
    Hogga recently posted..The L’s Are For

  19. Great article! I have to admit that part of what I love about travel is getting away from so much of what I am accustomed to in my own culture -from the focus on appearance, to an endless offering of conveniences ranging from espresso shops on every corner to perpetual free wifi. Travel allows me to gain awareness as to my own expectations as well as often forcing me to live in circumstance which can initially feel challenging but to which I usually adjust fairly quickly – which tells me a lot about how little I really need! As to iPhones, I couldn’t agree more! So convenient, useful and amazing for staying connected, though it is nonetheless wonderful to disconnect on occasion and truly get away!

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