In September 2009, I took a solo trip to the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I was supposed to go with a friend but he was unable to go. I decided to keep my date with the little cabin on the shores of Mirror Lake in the heart of the Porkies. I wasn't really thinking about Thoreau or Walden at the time but looking back at the trip, I remember how simple things got.
- Fetching water for drinking and cooking
- Making a meal using the same pan every day
- Quietly eating while looking out over the lake
- Eating every meal out of the same bowl or plate
- Cleaning up
- Getting up when it was light
- Going to bed when was dark
- Taking short day hikes away from the cabin and back
Trying to find this or create this in day-to-day life is challenging. But I'm convinced that it is possible. Last year, I moved to Pittsburgh PA for a job opportunity and we (my wife and I) have seized this opportunity to try and live more simply. We went from a 1200 sq foot single family home to a 760 sq foot townhouse that is part of a coop. We have donated, sold, or given away more than 50% of our furniture. We had enough books to fill 4 large bookcases. 90% of them have been donated to the library. We had a large china cabinet filled with dishes and now we are down to just a few things that we love which can fit on one shelf in the kitchen.
With each step all I can say is that I feel better and more free now that I'm free of all that "stuff." My mind keeps coming back to that trip each time I take a step forward which tells me that I'm are on the right track. If what I'm doing (or not doing) reminds me of that simple rhythm I experienced, then I know I'm closer to creating that simple life.
