Comments on: A Week of Divesting: an introduction http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/ Education, Technology, Productivity. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:47:03 +0000 hourly 1 By: johncuthell http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-3378 johncuthell Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:48:25 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-3378 Doug, your posts, and the comments, are really interesting and have made me re-think a lot of assumptions about possessions and 'stuff'. I can't say that I've come to any definite conclusions, but electricchalk's observations about states of mind certainly ring true.<br><br>The 'analogue time' concept is well worth pursuing. Doug, your posts, and the comments, are really interesting and have made me re-think a lot of assumptions about possessions and 'stuff'. I can't say that I've come to any definite conclusions, but electricchalk's observations about states of mind certainly ring true.

The 'analogue time' concept is well worth pursuing.

]]> By: johncuthell http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-3096 johncuthell Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:48:25 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-3096 Doug, your posts, and the comments, are really interesting and have made me re-think a lot of assumptions about possessions and 'stuff'. I can't say that I've come to any definite conclusions, but electricchalk's observations about states of mind certainly ring true.<br><br>The 'analogue time' concept is well worth pursuing. Doug, your posts, and the comments, are really interesting and have made me re-think a lot of assumptions about possessions and 'stuff'. I can't say that I've come to any definite conclusions, but electricchalk's observations about states of mind certainly ring true.

The 'analogue time' concept is well worth pursuing.

]]> By: johncuthell http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2740 johncuthell Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:48:25 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2740 Doug, your posts, and the comments, are really interesting and have made me re-think a lot of assumptions about possessions and 'stuff'. I can't say that I've come to any definite conclusions, but electricchalk's observations about states of mind certainly ring true.<br><br>The 'analogue time' concept is well worth pursuing. Doug, your posts, and the comments, are really interesting and have made me re-think a lot of assumptions about possessions and 'stuff'. I can't say that I've come to any definite conclusions, but electricchalk's observations about states of mind certainly ring true.

The 'analogue time' concept is well worth pursuing.

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2736 Doug Belshaw Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:28:49 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2736 It's important to consciously build this into our routines, isn't it? That's something I'll be discussing in my post 'Analogue Time' later this week. :-) It's important to consciously build this into our routines, isn't it? That's something I'll be discussing in my post 'Analogue Time' later this week. :-)

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2735 Doug Belshaw Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:25:12 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2735 Again, this isn't financially motivated on my part, but your story is interesting. You believe whatever you're exposed to most, I suppose - unless you've got a reason to kick agains the tide... Again, this isn't financially motivated on my part, but your story is interesting. You believe whatever you're exposed to most, I suppose – unless you've got a reason to kick agains the tide…

]]> By: jonsim29 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2733 jonsim29 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:37:11 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2733 I agree with your sentimant and from time to time... clear out my ipod, my podcasts, my reader, my emails... this works well for me... my de-clutter come to my life via my allotment and having 'electronic device free' time with my kids... love it. I agree with your sentimant and from time to time… clear out my ipod, my podcasts, my reader, my emails… this works well for me… my de-clutter come to my life via my allotment and having 'electronic device free' time with my kids… love it.

]]> By: electricchalk http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2731 electricchalk Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:07:02 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2731 Had a interesting realisation on the way to work this morning along similar lines to your thoughts but in the other direction. <br><br>For the last few years we have been up against it with 2 kids in nursery, a big mortgage and other necessary outgoings meaning we have been breaking even every month but dreading an emergency that would really cause us problems. <br><br>Over this time, I've been getting used to the idea of having no cash and assessing what things are really necessary - I've had no new gadgets, very little social spending and to all intents and purposes stopped buying music (for me, very significant!). <br><br>Unsurprisingly the world has not caved in. We are not in penury and are as happy as a family as we have ever been. <br><br>This week, however, my daughter starts school which means we now have extra money each month not having to pay for child care. This morning I actually caught myself looking at other people's cars and getting a thrill out of thinking I might be able to afford that or that an iPhone might be a possibility. <br><br>It's alarmed me how quickly one state of mind has changed to another. Had a interesting realisation on the way to work this morning along similar lines to your thoughts but in the other direction.

For the last few years we have been up against it with 2 kids in nursery, a big mortgage and other necessary outgoings meaning we have been breaking even every month but dreading an emergency that would really cause us problems.

Over this time, I've been getting used to the idea of having no cash and assessing what things are really necessary – I've had no new gadgets, very little social spending and to all intents and purposes stopped buying music (for me, very significant!).

Unsurprisingly the world has not caved in. We are not in penury and are as happy as a family as we have ever been.

This week, however, my daughter starts school which means we now have extra money each month not having to pay for child care. This morning I actually caught myself looking at other people's cars and getting a thrill out of thinking I might be able to afford that or that an iPhone might be a possibility.

It's alarmed me how quickly one state of mind has changed to another.

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2729 Doug Belshaw Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:39:28 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2729 John, thanks for the comment, but I'm not entirely sure I equate my desire to 'divest' myself of unncecessary things with wanting to 'live in the moment'. <br><br>What I *am* interested in this experiment is getting rid of unncessary things so I can concentrate on what's important in life. I think that's a slightly different focus that what you mention. It's a pragmatic focus on productivity rather than a philosophical stance. :-) John, thanks for the comment, but I'm not entirely sure I equate my desire to 'divest' myself of unncecessary things with wanting to 'live in the moment'.

What I *am* interested in this experiment is getting rid of unncessary things so I can concentrate on what's important in life. I think that's a slightly different focus that what you mention. It's a pragmatic focus on productivity rather than a philosophical stance. :-)

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2728 Doug Belshaw Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:33:31 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2728 "...consumerism without the track record" - that's an interesting and challenging thought! I realise that 'simplifying' usually goes hand-in-hand with 'paying less' and 'living more frugally' but that's not what I mean by 'divesting'.<br><br>I'm more interested in having quality stuff that makes my life easier. Not hoards of stuff around just to remind me of events I can remember anyway! Perhaps when I grow more senile... ;-) “…consumerism without the track record” – that's an interesting and challenging thought! I realise that 'simplifying' usually goes hand-in-hand with 'paying less' and 'living more frugally' but that's not what I mean by 'divesting'.

I'm more interested in having quality stuff that makes my life easier. Not hoards of stuff around just to remind me of events I can remember anyway! Perhaps when I grow more senile… ;-)

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2009/08/31/a-week-of-divesting-an-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 Doug Belshaw Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:30:38 +0000 http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/?p=2900#comment-2727 Thanks Dave, would appreciate your input and reflections! :-) Thanks Dave, would appreciate your input and reflections! :-)

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