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mymarkx
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 09/06/2007 : 01:56:29
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I'm 67 and have been thru a few changes. Thought I'd try seeing how they stack up against each other to try out this new forum.
Homeless in New York: I was young then. The economy was better. AIDS didn't exist. I thought it was great meeting lots of different people. Maximum possessions, when I had 'em, a comb and some toilet paper. I didn't like the winters. Didn't eat regularly or well, but I was young so my health didn't suffer.
Big house in Afghanistan: I wan only there a little less than five years. I was going to med school and volunteering in the hospital. I had a Honda 90 trail bike and not much else. I was getting Social Security crazy checks of $65 a month from the states, which was the average annual income there, so I was able to share a lot. I had electricity, but no running water--got it from a well. It was pretty cool. Ate a lot of rice and local bread, not much meat.
Mud hut in Honduras: No running water or electricity. Made kerosene lamps and got water from a well. Still had my crazy checks. Ate meat once a month when I went to the city to get my checks. Mostly lived on rice and beans, bought fresh tortillas from a neighbor, and my health improved.
Live-aboard in San Diego: Great place to live on a mooring. Had a small sailboat, hauled water out in the dinghy, used a headlamp for light at night, usually cooked and ate a stir fry once a day. Bought big sacks of cat and dog food to feed the ducks. Got more exercise than I do now, but was moored near a high-traffic bridge and nuclear carriers, so health declined somewhat.
Now: Living in subsidized senior housing. Got running water, electricity, a stove, refrigerator, bathtub, toilet, and a computer. Lots of books. I cook a little, but mostly eat at the senior center, which isn't all that healthy. Cut off from the natural world pretty much and mostly live online. I don't like living in a fascist country and I'd trade it in a minute for a mud hut in Venezuela, but they won't take people on Social Security because Bush could cut it and the U.S. economy is too shaky.
My conclusion: the more material things I have, the worse off I am.
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Samizacat
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2007 : 11:13:20
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| Nice to hear about you Mymarkx. Interesting life you've led. Im new here. Just checking things out. Take care |
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pcollins
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2007 : 19:45:11
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Yea Mymarkx. I'd like to hear more.
Patrick |
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febart
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2007 : 19:48:34
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Thank you, Mymarkx. Your life story is inspiring.
I'm new here, too. All I can say is something has got to give; I'm embarrassed by all the waste . . . even in my own family. I'm afraid the only culture my children know is one of extreme excess and selfishness. Thanks again.
Frank
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FalconBlanco
Spain
2 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2007 : 15:58:21
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Hi Mymarkx, I read your story. In so far interesting, although it doesn't say much about how you were living, how you were relating to people, what you made out of your life, what your difficulties have been, etc.
Your final conclusion: "My conclusion: the more material things I have, the worse off I am." let me understand why you want as little possessions as possible, but doesn't this also mean that you still depend on material things? Why do you feel not good if you have more than the most necessary? I am interested about it because I don't do much more than picking up things from the bin or also from big companies and I have so much food that I could feed twenty people or more. But we are only a few here and so we make compost and give food to the neighbors animals. But lately there is coming in too much and we have difficulties to deal with it. Maybe I will tell my story later here. Or if you like you can visit my Web site: http://falconblanco.com
Hasta luego...
Ramon |
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Lifestyle comparison
