What Is the Dude Thinking?

Ok, so I'm going to tell it just like it is.

I met this guy, and we had lunch. He was a nice guy, older, polite. We had previously exchanged some messenging stuff and he asked me out on a date. So I went.

Well, somehow our lives are just millions of dollars different. I am the frugal female survivalist. Minimalist, a cook, author, writer, artist, wanderer.

He is rich, retired, rich, owning tons of stuff. Has an airplane, a big home, a motor home. Whatever. Now, normally it wouldn't have bothered me so much except I ended up hearing about all the mega bucks his daughter, his son, his family was making, etc. Money and software and whatever. O.K.

After awhile, we ended up walking around at a park. Why does the conversation keep reverting to material possessions? Currently, I am looking for a job. I'm a lowly cook at this point. I just hope to make a decent living. And after awhile it just began to eat on me, this conversation of wealth, until I couldn't take it any longer.

So, you blew it guy. Its not interesting to keep hearing about someones mega bucks when they're hunting an hourly wage. I don't care about your daughter's salary, blah blah blah.

Now, I've got a grip, have rested and relaxed and realize I am the wealthy one. I have such a great bunch of friends, family and health, and survival skills that will keep me knee deep in many adventures to come.

So, dude, I just gotta ask you, what were you thinking?

Frugal to a Fault

Before we go any further, an admission is in order.

Hi I am Carol, and I am Frugal to a Fault.

Frugal is just another word for nothing left to spend.
Not that I am broke. Its just the pennies I save turn into dollars saved, which means less time needed to work and earn them.

It means more time to play and explore life.

By taking the simplest, least troublesome approach I save myself headaches. Frugal minimalism is the opposite of Living Large. It leaves a minimal carbon footprint. It promotes the skills our forefathers carved this nation with.
With this frame of mind, I am free from the pressures of society to compete in materialism.

So, I'll use things like empty soda bottles instead of Nalgenes. The soda bottle comes free with the purchase of soda and weighs a scant 1 ounce. The Nalgene comes in bright colors, costs about 10 bucks, and weighs 4 ounces.

I wrap a couple yards of electrical tape around the soda bottle. This serves two purposes. It is an easy way to carry tape, and it marks the bottle as your chosen water bottle.