Is This Dude a Monk or a Minimalist?
Once again, the folks over at Fair Companies bring us more provocative profiles of people at the vanguard of minimal, small space living. In terms of minimalism, Peter Lawrence takes the prize–not that he would store that prize anywhere in his spare digs.
The former Hewlett Packard manager, having lived a very simple life for many years, saved enough dough to retire at 40. He now inhabits a decent-sized California apartment with hardly any possessions: a sleeping bag; a camping chair; a small wardrobe; a folding chair and desk; a computer; a projector he projects on the ceiling; some toiletries and not much else.
Peter devotes his time to his inner life and has written a book entitled The Happy Minimalist. He lends pearls from his way of life in the video. He has a particular emphasis on the value of time over money of which he says:
You can lose all of your money and one day, and subsequently make it back. I know of no one who has been able to recover lost time.
Peter appears to be a happy character and his pared-down life seems to contribute to that. Obviously his way of life carries a lot of wisdom for anyone.
What we wonder is how his philosophy would co-exist with more conventional institutions like marriage, children, a full-time job? Is his ascetic style of living the exclusive domain of single dudes without 9-5 jobs–sorta like a secular monk? Or does our consumer culture mistakenly program us to believe this degree of simplicity is out of reach for the average person?
What do you think? Watch the video and let us know in our comment section.
The post originally appeared on this site on September 11, 2012