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Chapter Three
Resources for lifestyle simplicity
Walden,
by Henry David Thoreau
The philosophical account
of Thoreau's experiment in anti-materialist living. An American literary
classic for over 150 years.
Your
Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship With Money and Achieving
Financial Independence, by Joe Dominguez, Vicki Robin (Penguin USA,
1999)
A best-selling book that uses
a nine-step process to demonstrate how most people are making a "dying"
instead of a living. Practical pointers for achieving financial independence
by altering your lifestyle.
Voluntary
Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich,
by Duane Elgin (Quill, 1993)
First published in 1981, this
is a popular reference and inspiration for those looking to live a simpler
life. Strongly themed toward environmental sustainability.
The
Simple Living Guide: A Sourcebook for Less Stressful, More Joyful Living
by Janet Luhrs (Broadway Books, 1997)
Luhrs is the founder and publisher
of The Simple Living Journal (and the companion website).
Book contains tips for living fully and well through simplicity.
Less
Is More: The Art of Voluntary Poverty: An Anthology of Ancient and Modern
Voices Raised in Praise of Simplicity, edited by Goldian Vandenbroeck
(Inner Traditions, 1996)
Quotes and essays on the value
of simplicity, from the likes of Socrates, Shakespeare, St. Francis, Benjamin
Franklin, and Mohandas Gandhi — as well as the Bible, the Dhammapada, the
Tao Te Ching, and the Bhagavad Gita.
Dematerializing:
Taming the Power of Possessions, by Jane Hammerslough (Perseus Books,
2001)
An examination of "possession-obsession",
and how it negatively affects our personal growth, creativity and relationships.
Budgeting and money management
The
Pocket Idiot's Guide to Living on a Budget by Peter J. Sander, Jennifer
Basye Sander (Alpha Books, 1999)
A concise guide to planning
and abiding by a day-to-day budget.
The
Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook, by Judy Lawrence(Dearborn Trade, 2000)
Easy-to-use tips for managing your finances and getting the most out of your income.
The
Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift As a Viable Alternative Lifestyle
by Amy Dacyczyn (Random House, 1999)
Nine hundred pages of compiled
tips for frugal living.
The
Dollar Stretcher
An online resource for saving
money in day-to-day life. Weekly columns on thrift and simplicity.
Vagabonding for seniors
Travel
Unlimited: Uncommon Adventures for the Mature Traveler, by Alison Gardner
(Avalon Travel Publishing, 2000)
A worldwide menu of active
travel opportunities for older adventurers. An emphasis on "vacation" travel,
but a good starting point for seniors wanting to know about alternative
travel opportunities, including volunteering and "eco-tourism".
Marco
Polo Magazine
"Dedicated to adventure travelers
over 50." Down-to-earth articles about older travelers making their own
way on the road. $10 for a one-year (four-issue) subscription.
Elderhostel
The world's largest educational
and travel organization for adults 55 and over. Offers 10,000 programs
a year in over 100 countries. A good way for traveling seniors to get a
taste of other cultures before striking off on their own.
State
Department Travel Tips for Older Americans
Posted online, this tipsheet
is a useful primer for older independent travelers. Topics covered include
trip preparation, passport and visas, health, money and valuables, safety
precautions, and shopping.
Vagabonding with children
Lonely
Planet Travel With Children, by Cathy Lanigan, Maureen Wheeler (Lonely
Planet, 2002)
A practical guide to the challenges
and joys of traveling with children, including trip preparation and kid-friendly
destinations.
Gutsy
Mamas: Travel Tips and Wisdom for Mothers on the Road, by Marybeth
Bond (Travelers' Tales, 1997)
Inspirational and informative
advice on staying healthy on the road, traveling to third world countries
(and close to home), and keeping children of all ages entertained and adults
energized.
Your
Child's Health Abroad, by Jane Wilson-Howarth, Matthew Ellis. (Bradt
Publications, 1998)
Accessible and practical health
information for parents traveling with children to far-flung areas of the
world.
One
Year Off: Leaving it All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey With Our
Children, by David Elliot Cohen (Simon & Schuster, 1999)
When David Elliot Cohen turned
40, he quit his job, sold his house and car and left to travel the world
— with his wife and three kids (aged 8, 7, and 2) in tow. A first-hand
account of how vagabonding exotic lands can be a family experience.
Worldhop:
One Family, One Year, One World
Online journals and inspiration
from an Alaska family (ages 49, 48, 14 and 7) who sold and stored their
possessions, quit work and school, and spent a year traveling around the
world.
Family
Travel Forum
Online information on worldwide
destinations for adults and children. Features discussion boards and advice
for all manner of family travel issues.
Traveling
Internationally With Your Kids
Online resources for traveling
overseas with children. Features guidebook recommendations, trip preparation
tips, and activity suggestions.
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