I’m reading this and thinking how much I’m a European at heart trapped in an American person’s body. My literal dream is to live in a one bedroom with a balcony that’s within walking distance of a bustling downtown. The single-family home in the suburbs is not for me. Keep on writing about this, because it’s so inspiring.
I know that feeling well! That's exactly how we felt telling friends and family back in the U.S. how much we loved the lifestyle over here. I hope the U.S. does a better job of urbanizing so there are more options for you to live that dream without having to uproot your life.
I loved this quote “In choosing less, we’ve ended up with far more” so much that I wrote it down next to my computer screen so that I can remember it when the days of choosing less feel difficult.
It could not be more well said! Thank you for writing this because now I don't have to. I can just restack it!
Whenever I try to bring this subject up with people, they're just like "yeah, that sounds great, but..."; they seem very hopeless. I get it, because I feel like where I live, (Georgia) all the big companies and rich people have all the power.
I feel powerless even against my grandpa. He lives in rural South Carolina which is becoming more suburban, since they are building cookie-cutter hell neighborhoods by the masses. What he does is he buys cheap land, and builds the cheapest house with the cheapest plan.
I hate it, because it shows that he cares more about making money than leaving a beautiful permanent structure. My grandparents just excuse it with wanting to make money to leave for us.
I'm definitely grateful, but I hate to see a shit house built for someone who will actually will live there just so I can have more money.
And I'm not trying to say this in a self-congratulatory way, to be honest, I also am passionate about ugly architecture cause I'm the one who doesn't want to look at that eyesore. It's not fully about whoever is going to live there, because the person who buys that house will probably be very grateful to have it.
People over here care more about advancing themselves and don't really get involved in local government. My mom doesn't want to go to the annual HOA meetings of my neighborhood. I don't know who does. We have a pretty small neighborhood yet we don't have a relationship with anyone but our next door neighbor. We see people walking on the road, the same people we've been seeing for years, and we don't even know their names.
People my age just think I'm weird for being chronically on Substack, and most adults in my life don't even know what it is. They only know about corporate-controlled media, and the closest thing someone like my mom has to Substack is Youtube reporting.
I just don't know how to get people to actually care. They don't seem to GET IT, I think because it's all they've ever known and they haven't traveled enough to actually experience anything better.
Help! I want to enact change but I don't know where to start.
You’re already part of the change — by acknowledging where your privilege lies and where you’d like to live more in accordance your values. Start small. Your neighbors , family, small circle of friends. Your network is probably quite deep already — breaking the ice is the best way to eventually leverage it!
Our house in rural thailand is made of mud and consists of only three rooms! It feels so good to know we don't have more than we need, and that the simple way in which we live is not hurting our planet. Additionally, because our home is made of mud, it's even being used by other animals as a home too! In stepping away from the consumer culture in America, we are learning how to live more closely with earth, literally! It has been incredible (and yes, challenging), especially for our daughter, who is being raised in a world of natural sensations, not "stuff". Her toys are seeds and bugs and rivers and coconuts and she plays wildly with village children all doing the same, freely and safely. America would say we are all poor. I don't think so. What has all that money gotten us? War and more war? Less trees? My definition of wealth has changed drastically since moving here. America is overwhelmed and anxious for a reason. It's time to level DOWN.
Incredibly well said, Gregory! Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective and own experience moving away from America's individualistic and consumerist culture.
I don't know if it's rude to reference another substack author here, but Chris Arnaude from Walking the World said something so similar in his last substack post - that Europe preferences shared spaces over individual (US, Australia), and how much that gives a greater sense of community to everyone, a shared sense of life. So worthwhile, and you are so lucky to have found this.
Moving to italy into a tiny space compared to our US house (which wasn't even that large by US standards--2000sq ft townhome w no yard) has showed me how much unnecessary "stuff" i had. It reminds me of living in NYC where my apt was a place to sleep and eat but most of what you do is, like you noted, in 'shared spaces' which is so much more fulfilling.
I commend you for trying to show your fellow Americans that „more“ of anything does not necessarily equal happiness or personal fulfillment.. I wonder though how you are planning to spend your Summer without air conditioning (I presume).. I live in Vienna (lots of cafés, open air markets and communal living spaces), but since I‘m retired I am spending more time scrolling various channels than I used to during ever increasing heatwaves due to climate change.. my favorite season used to be Summer, hélas now I usually long for autumn by August.. I look forward to reading how you are finding it.. good luck! anna
Thanks for reading, Anna! It will indeed be our first summer without AC. I usually don’t sleep well when I’m hot so hoping it won’t be too difficult of an adjustment. Will share updates!
Yes, this! Sure appliances are smaller and I have to get groceries more often but that made me walk to the grocery store more (exercise, fresh air!). Less space meant I only bought what I needed and taught me that I don't need all this *stuff*. Green spaces felt more accessible in Europe. I hiked up Arthur's Seat every week. I didn't have to drive to get nature; it was already there.
I was reading this and going: this is exactly what I used to tell people about living in NYC. You live in a box (and pay a pretty penny for it), but you have everything outside your front door. People also used to always say they could never live in NYC because of the noise and I just never heard it. Actually, that's not true. I've actually heard plenty. I recall when one of my neighbors was planning her wedding and her mom had vastly different ideas and they would go at it over the phone. And I always wanted to chime in, except that would have been awkward. I always liked the idea that my neighbors could also hear me and we were like weird friends that wouldn't recognize each other on the street. Plus, if a murderer came in, at least someone would hear my last words. And this comment got dark really fast. Sorry.
Haha no, I know exactly what you mean! I weirdly feel much safer in an apartment in the city. Back when we lived in a house, the noise was less common, but when we did hear something, it was much more startling. Felt like we were on our own little island, fending for ourselves. Noise occasionally wakes me up now, but I'm only annoyed, never worried.
Oh yeah, I could never live in the middle of nowhere. Or like, the suburbs. Because you're right. The noise, is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. Yeah, no.
I’m reading this and thinking how much I’m a European at heart trapped in an American person’s body. My literal dream is to live in a one bedroom with a balcony that’s within walking distance of a bustling downtown. The single-family home in the suburbs is not for me. Keep on writing about this, because it’s so inspiring.
I know that feeling well! That's exactly how we felt telling friends and family back in the U.S. how much we loved the lifestyle over here. I hope the U.S. does a better job of urbanizing so there are more options for you to live that dream without having to uproot your life.
I loved this quote “In choosing less, we’ve ended up with far more” so much that I wrote it down next to my computer screen so that I can remember it when the days of choosing less feel difficult.
Thanks for sharing your shared spaces with us!
Aw thanks so much, Kaylee! So glad it resonated with you. That made my day.
It could not be more well said! Thank you for writing this because now I don't have to. I can just restack it!
Whenever I try to bring this subject up with people, they're just like "yeah, that sounds great, but..."; they seem very hopeless. I get it, because I feel like where I live, (Georgia) all the big companies and rich people have all the power.
I feel powerless even against my grandpa. He lives in rural South Carolina which is becoming more suburban, since they are building cookie-cutter hell neighborhoods by the masses. What he does is he buys cheap land, and builds the cheapest house with the cheapest plan.
I hate it, because it shows that he cares more about making money than leaving a beautiful permanent structure. My grandparents just excuse it with wanting to make money to leave for us.
I'm definitely grateful, but I hate to see a shit house built for someone who will actually will live there just so I can have more money.
And I'm not trying to say this in a self-congratulatory way, to be honest, I also am passionate about ugly architecture cause I'm the one who doesn't want to look at that eyesore. It's not fully about whoever is going to live there, because the person who buys that house will probably be very grateful to have it.
People over here care more about advancing themselves and don't really get involved in local government. My mom doesn't want to go to the annual HOA meetings of my neighborhood. I don't know who does. We have a pretty small neighborhood yet we don't have a relationship with anyone but our next door neighbor. We see people walking on the road, the same people we've been seeing for years, and we don't even know their names.
People my age just think I'm weird for being chronically on Substack, and most adults in my life don't even know what it is. They only know about corporate-controlled media, and the closest thing someone like my mom has to Substack is Youtube reporting.
I just don't know how to get people to actually care. They don't seem to GET IT, I think because it's all they've ever known and they haven't traveled enough to actually experience anything better.
Help! I want to enact change but I don't know where to start.
You’re already part of the change — by acknowledging where your privilege lies and where you’d like to live more in accordance your values. Start small. Your neighbors , family, small circle of friends. Your network is probably quite deep already — breaking the ice is the best way to eventually leverage it!
Our house in rural thailand is made of mud and consists of only three rooms! It feels so good to know we don't have more than we need, and that the simple way in which we live is not hurting our planet. Additionally, because our home is made of mud, it's even being used by other animals as a home too! In stepping away from the consumer culture in America, we are learning how to live more closely with earth, literally! It has been incredible (and yes, challenging), especially for our daughter, who is being raised in a world of natural sensations, not "stuff". Her toys are seeds and bugs and rivers and coconuts and she plays wildly with village children all doing the same, freely and safely. America would say we are all poor. I don't think so. What has all that money gotten us? War and more war? Less trees? My definition of wealth has changed drastically since moving here. America is overwhelmed and anxious for a reason. It's time to level DOWN.
Incredibly well said, Gregory! Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective and own experience moving away from America's individualistic and consumerist culture.
I don't know if it's rude to reference another substack author here, but Chris Arnaude from Walking the World said something so similar in his last substack post - that Europe preferences shared spaces over individual (US, Australia), and how much that gives a greater sense of community to everyone, a shared sense of life. So worthwhile, and you are so lucky to have found this.
Of course not! Thanks for sharing, Deb. Going to look up Chris's work now.
Moving to italy into a tiny space compared to our US house (which wasn't even that large by US standards--2000sq ft townhome w no yard) has showed me how much unnecessary "stuff" i had. It reminds me of living in NYC where my apt was a place to sleep and eat but most of what you do is, like you noted, in 'shared spaces' which is so much more fulfilling.
Well said, Kirsten! Give me experiences, good food, and community over more possessions any day.
I commend you for trying to show your fellow Americans that „more“ of anything does not necessarily equal happiness or personal fulfillment.. I wonder though how you are planning to spend your Summer without air conditioning (I presume).. I live in Vienna (lots of cafés, open air markets and communal living spaces), but since I‘m retired I am spending more time scrolling various channels than I used to during ever increasing heatwaves due to climate change.. my favorite season used to be Summer, hélas now I usually long for autumn by August.. I look forward to reading how you are finding it.. good luck! anna
Thanks for reading, Anna! It will indeed be our first summer without AC. I usually don’t sleep well when I’m hot so hoping it won’t be too difficult of an adjustment. Will share updates!
Yes, this! Sure appliances are smaller and I have to get groceries more often but that made me walk to the grocery store more (exercise, fresh air!). Less space meant I only bought what I needed and taught me that I don't need all this *stuff*. Green spaces felt more accessible in Europe. I hiked up Arthur's Seat every week. I didn't have to drive to get nature; it was already there.
Well said, Nicole! Any progress on your potential move to Ireland?
Been looking at employment options. Either something over there or something remote here but the job market is abysmal.
Yeah, finding work is the toughest part. Hasn’t been smooth-sailing for us either, but we’re starting to find more clients. Good luck on your search!
This really resonates - well said
Thanks so much for reading, Alison! So glad it resonated with you.
I was reading this and going: this is exactly what I used to tell people about living in NYC. You live in a box (and pay a pretty penny for it), but you have everything outside your front door. People also used to always say they could never live in NYC because of the noise and I just never heard it. Actually, that's not true. I've actually heard plenty. I recall when one of my neighbors was planning her wedding and her mom had vastly different ideas and they would go at it over the phone. And I always wanted to chime in, except that would have been awkward. I always liked the idea that my neighbors could also hear me and we were like weird friends that wouldn't recognize each other on the street. Plus, if a murderer came in, at least someone would hear my last words. And this comment got dark really fast. Sorry.
Haha no, I know exactly what you mean! I weirdly feel much safer in an apartment in the city. Back when we lived in a house, the noise was less common, but when we did hear something, it was much more startling. Felt like we were on our own little island, fending for ourselves. Noise occasionally wakes me up now, but I'm only annoyed, never worried.
Oh yeah, I could never live in the middle of nowhere. Or like, the suburbs. Because you're right. The noise, is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. Yeah, no.
It would be easier to buy you a coffee or two by using PayPal.
There's a platform called Kofi - look it up; it's for digital creators; that's exactly what it's for.