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["Lynn Wigglesworth" <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>]

>Like many things in life good things too have a purchase price, and a
cost.
>Some folks can use their assets, and savings to purchase such a
lifestyle; others with less assets have to work so much >harder, make
untold sacrifices etc. to live simply on a small homestead.

Hi Frank; I think this is where we would disagree. If living simply
involves 'untold sacrifices', it isn't the lifestyle for that person.
Simplicity ISN'T for everyone. Many people consider physical labor to be
an unreasonable burden; why sweat if you can hire some one to do it for
you? Why walk if you can drive (my neighbor in the McMansion drives to his
mailbox). Not having the latest 'whatever' is deprevation to them. These
people aren't suited to homesteading.

I've given up/gone without many, many things, but it's always been my
choice, and I don't regret any of it. Like Scott Nearing, I weigh what
those things (a cell phone, a new truck, an ecohouse, etc) would truly
cost me (not just in money, but in terms of what I would have to do to
earn the money) and the freedom I've gained is far more valuable to me
than the luxuries I've given up. Like the Nearings, I would like to work
only until I have enough money to meet my needs, then stop; I have no need
for more cash than that. I have a good education (an MLS from a good
school); I could move to a civilized place and get a job in a heartbeat,
but I CHOOSE not to. I don't want the things that affluence buys if it
means working a stressful job or living a yuppie lifestyle (been there,
done that)...I don't want any job or lifestyle that involves wearing nice
clothing :-).

Lynn Wigglesworth
Peasant Farmer
Tioga County, PA