Living Sustainably by Staying Put

In my post for the first edition of the APLS Carnival, I am charged with writing about what I do to live sustainably.  Instead of my usual environmental diatribe, I decided to share some thoughts about where I live and the lifestyle that it helps me maintain. 

I live right in the heart of Minneapolis in a wonderful neighborhood full of kids and parks and unique small businesses to frequent.  But this cozy little neighborhood has seen its share of ups & downs over the years.  When my husband and I bought our house 18 years ago (!!), our real estate guy told us this neighborhood was 'dicey' and 'on the other side of the tracks' - but we took the risk and bought a pretty nice house that we could never had afforded anywhere else.

There was a time, after we both finished graduate school and finally had full time jobs that I daydreamed about moving to a 'better' neighborhood and a bigger house with a few more ammenities that I was jonesing for.  In retrospect, I'm so very glad we never followed through on that pipe-dream.   Because living where we do has made it easier to sustain the kind of life we want to live.  One that is community minded and environmentally focused.  One that we can afford.  One that we love! 

Admittedly, it's partly the 'keeping up with the Jones' effect that I'm talking about.  I know myself well enough that if I lived in a neighborhood where everyone was hiring a home decorator, I probably would want one as well.  If I lived in a place where people drove top-of-the-line cars and wore designer clothes, I would be ever so slightly tempted to do the same.  But it's primarily because we're surrounded by like-minded people here.  Lots of people in our neighborhood shop at the co-op, compost their food scraps and ride their bikes to work.  Just like us.

In a nutshell, I think we are less tempted to consume and more likely to be satisfied with life in our little urban enclave.  Here are a few examples: 

• instead of hiring a caterer for a party, we enjoy making delicious homemade food for our neighbors and friends.
• instead of spending money on cable TV and fancy electronics, we save up for a memorable vacation with family and friends.
• instead of joining a pool, we take advantage of the many lovely beaches in our town.
• instead of heading to the mall for entertainment, we take a family bike ride.
• instead of buying a brand spankin' new car, we appreciate our 'previously loved' one. 
• instead of taking out a loan for 'the big remodel', we update our home slowly but surely...and pay in cash.
• instead of bringing our son to a ball game, my husband takes him to volunteer at a food shelf.
• instead of a trip to the spa...well, a girl's gotta do something fun every now and then!

We've grown to love our neighborhood and all the diversity it brings to our lives.  By living here we are helping to sustain our community and our city.  We are living a lifestyle that is based less on consumption and more on experiences...and that is something we want to sustain.  We are also helping to sustain the earth by consuming less conspicuously and more thoughtfully.  And that's how we built a sustainable life by staying put! 

(Please be assured that I'm not trying to say that you can't build a sustainable life in the suburbs...or anywhere for that matter.  Not at all.  This is simply my perspective on how it worked out for little old me!) 

Comments

[Alana @ Gray Matters]

Well said. It's very easy to get caught up with what the Jones' are doing - sounds like you've got great perspective!

[Sara]

I'm investigating the "staycation" for my next big vacation not just to preserve the planet but also my budget and my sanity! ;)

[Mindful Momma]

Alana - yes, I don't like to admit that I care about 'the jones' but sometimes jealousy just sneaks its way in.

Sara - I agree that a 'staycation' can be a good way to live sustainably - for many reasons!

[Jan Steinman]

In some places, "jonesing" can be a good thing.

We work hard at "keeping down with the Joneses" in our island community. We boast about how little we drive, how much food we get from our gardens, our great thrift-store or yard-sale buys, how little we leave the island. We have monthly discussion circles where we share what we've done in the past month to reduce our energy usage.

You can do this, too! First, find a few like-minded people who might be interested in regular "keeping down with the Joneses" potlucks or meetings. Then once you get established, invite others. Then call it a "movement," and get published on a blog... :-)

[joyce]

I really like this post. We've kind of had the same experience, living in the same house for 24 years, where we are so close to our workplaces and the bus routes, the kid's schools, etc. We don't really have to drive much, and the "Joneses" around us are such nice, easy to live with folks. I like a "medium" neighborhood, with a good racial mix, so the kids learn how to live with all kinds of people. Never wanted to move out to the vinyl villages with the little stick trees.

[greeen sheeep]

I agree. If you spend all your time trying to keep up with the Joneses, what are you really focusing on? What matters to the Joneses or what matters to you? Trust in your own values and ideals. Save your sanity and bank account in the process.

[Green Bean]

Great point! We often long to live some where else - some where with more space for trees, veggies and some chickens. We live in an urban suburb (which means it's pretty high density). As much as I'd like more space, it is very sustainable to live here. We're close to neighbors, town, transit. Here, people don't care if I rip up my front yard for veggies. If my squash sprawls into the street. There is definitely something to be said for blooming where you are planted. Thanks for the reminder.