LIVE SIMPLE – Men Who Jump the Picket Fence

Reading an article ‘Men Who Jump the Picket Fence’ reminds me of this year’s resolution ‘to live simple’. It tells the stories of few couples that live the American Dream: having great jobs, owe spacious homes in prominent areas. But finally, realizing that in reality owing these spacious homes are not as easy as it seems. Money not necessary solves everything as one needs time and interest to maintain these spacious homes. One couple has to keep a spreadsheet to list down all the things that need to get fix. Another has his neighbour mowing his lawn as the neighbour can’t stand the sight of the grass in his garden (actually I wish my neighbour would do that for me :-))



Over here in Asian countries, most mature parents too are now down sizing their homes. When kids were young, spacious homes are good to give space to everyone. But once the kids grown, graduated and leave to live their own lives, parents are left with empty rooms, silence filling the home that once housed the sound of little running feet and laughter.

This brings me back to my childhood. I remember how I envied families that lived in big spacious homes whilst am living in a ‘village’ house that’s made of half bricks and half wood. And when I finally have a decent nice terrace house, I next start admiring the semi-dees, the bungalows and start thinking when would it be next that I move into one of these spacious houses with their lovely Balinese gardens and little ‘feng shui’ fountains. Now as I read this article, it brings back memories of what some friends have confided before, ‘that they wish to have smaller houses’. Of course at that time, I was just thinking my friends certainly don’t appreciate what they have.

Being married young, I have the advantage of kids leaving to seek their own fortunes earlier then most of my friends. So now, I too realized that I don’t need spacious home anymore. Even now with four of us at home, it’s extremely quiet as each of us are busy with our own activities. As I matured, I learnt that there are more things in life that are more important then owing material things: big car, spacious home, branded goods, luxury 5-star holidays, etc. What matters most to me now is time - I treasure time: leisure time, stress less time, travel time, book time, carefree time, time just for myself. I look forward to the time when I don’t need a maid, when I can just keep the house clean with just an hour of household chore, with no 2nd floor.

That’s why this year’s resolution and my life’s resolution from now on is "to live simple".

It’s an interesting article, copy and paste to read more.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/garden/07men.html?emc=eta1