This was such a fresh, motivating, and liberating read. Great stuff, Scott. I've been stepping into a similar realization. I want to spend my days coaching, writing, making art, and being in nature. I need little more than a laptop and some art supplies to do that. There is so little I need to be happy and that is one of the most liberating realizations of all.
The illusion that freedom is on the other side of accumulation has been baked into so many of our decisions,career paths, mortgages, even relationships. I’ve met people with eight-figure net worths who still feel trapped because their lifestyle inflation locked them into constant earning.
But I think there’s a flip side that deserves more attention too. While simplifying is powerful, the ability to choose simplicity is still a form of privilege. Not everyone can opt out. Some people are already living with “little,” but it’s not liberating,it’s exhausting, because they have no margin, no safety net.
What you describe feels like freedom with agency. And maybe the deeper challenge isn’t just to need less, but to redesign systems so more people have that kind of choice. Otherwise, minimalism becomes another kind of luxury,just quieter, and off-grid.
For almost 15 years, I travelled through Western Europe in a converted minivan, always close to the Atlantic Ocean. From the Shetland Islands to Tavira in southern Portugal, I know the coast and the hinterland very well. I've rarely had to pay for an overnight stay. You quickly strike up conversations with friendly, helpful people who have a soft spot for this lifestyle; all the others stay away. I've now been living self-sufficiently in a small cottage with a large garden in Brittany for almost five years. For me, this is the logical continuation of my travel phase.
Aah. I'm getting rid of lots of stuff too, just for a different reason. It is liberating, My husband and I once entertained doing that, but so many things intervened. It Just wasn't meant to be. I'm OK with that.
I spent six years camping/living in first a truck, then a mini cargo van, in mostly remote Wilderness. I was then forced back into "civilidevastation." My plan is to work for five years, then go back out there for good.
I agree with everything that you’ve said here. I used to think fancy cars and possessions mattered but they don’t. We come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing - it’s all about the experience.
Thanks Scott, Congratulations on choosing to live a deliberate life with less (yet more) It sounds idealic but how do you manage to keep purpose in your beyond just existing, generate the small income you need and to maintain friendships and community?
This was such a fresh, motivating, and liberating read. Great stuff, Scott. I've been stepping into a similar realization. I want to spend my days coaching, writing, making art, and being in nature. I need little more than a laptop and some art supplies to do that. There is so little I need to be happy and that is one of the most liberating realizations of all.
Yes!! Forget the ‘deferred life plan’ -live NOW!
Deferred life plan....I hadn't heard that one before, but it's soooo good! I'm going to try to remember that one!
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The illusion that freedom is on the other side of accumulation has been baked into so many of our decisions,career paths, mortgages, even relationships. I’ve met people with eight-figure net worths who still feel trapped because their lifestyle inflation locked them into constant earning.
But I think there’s a flip side that deserves more attention too. While simplifying is powerful, the ability to choose simplicity is still a form of privilege. Not everyone can opt out. Some people are already living with “little,” but it’s not liberating,it’s exhausting, because they have no margin, no safety net.
What you describe feels like freedom with agency. And maybe the deeper challenge isn’t just to need less, but to redesign systems so more people have that kind of choice. Otherwise, minimalism becomes another kind of luxury,just quieter, and off-grid.
Thank you for this perspective.
Blanca, yes privilege has a lot to do with choices. Thank you for reminding us. I like what you said.
For almost 15 years, I travelled through Western Europe in a converted minivan, always close to the Atlantic Ocean. From the Shetland Islands to Tavira in southern Portugal, I know the coast and the hinterland very well. I've rarely had to pay for an overnight stay. You quickly strike up conversations with friendly, helpful people who have a soft spot for this lifestyle; all the others stay away. I've now been living self-sufficiently in a small cottage with a large garden in Brittany for almost five years. For me, this is the logical continuation of my travel phase.
So cool - thanks for sharing your story.
Scott, see the botlike messages with another spelling of your name on here.
Aah. I'm getting rid of lots of stuff too, just for a different reason. It is liberating, My husband and I once entertained doing that, but so many things intervened. It Just wasn't meant to be. I'm OK with that.
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I spent six years camping/living in first a truck, then a mini cargo van, in mostly remote Wilderness. I was then forced back into "civilidevastation." My plan is to work for five years, then go back out there for good.
congratulations on your life, and your book.
Freedom isn’t about how much money you have.
It’s about how little you need. 👏 This 100%
P. S. Fellow truck camper here. Love the go anywhere aspect of them.
Yesss… I wrote down that quote! So true!
This is great, I just wrote something very similar, check it out if you’d like!
https://open.substack.com/pub/alexdelagarde/p/do-i-really-need-to-get-rich?r=v4j0g&utm_medium=ios
Thank you, this was exactly what I needed today!!
Glad it found you!
I agree with everything that you’ve said here. I used to think fancy cars and possessions mattered but they don’t. We come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing - it’s all about the experience.
EVERY FUCKING WORD OF THIS! MY CELLS ARE BUZZING! THIS IS IT !
Agreed!!! 💯💯🎯🎯
Thanks Scott, Congratulations on choosing to live a deliberate life with less (yet more) It sounds idealic but how do you manage to keep purpose in your beyond just existing, generate the small income you need and to maintain friendships and community?
I write books and make friends all over the world. Check them out at scottstillmanblog.com
True freedom is RV travel and getting to engage it sooner than later. More people need to restack this...
The simple life has so much to offer! Thank you for sharing your story. It's great for people to see another way of living...another perspective.
And you don’t rip up the land, water, and air in the process. You’re actually part of nature.