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Being Spartan is not about being poor

November 4, 2014 by Marlan at Rv52 Leave a Comment

(this is an excerpt from my book: The Spartan RV)

Before going into some of the really amazing things that being Spartan-like can do for you, I just feel compelled to deal head-on with the idea that I’m espousing a philosophy of “poor”, of lack, or doing without.

No. It isn’t that at all.

Being Spartan-like is about having things in your life that you use, that have function, and bring you lots of joy, either from its use OR from some deep meaning associated with the thing. Having an potentially extremely expensive, high quality kitchen knife that is razor sharp that you use every day to prepare meals would be an example of a very good purchase consistent with Spartan-like RV living. Even if the knife was ridiculously expensive, if you get massive utility out of it, then it is a GREAT thing to have.

Having possessions that only consume(d) your money, time, and mental energy is to be avoided, particularly when those objects have no real daily value to you. Or worse, you bought them to show off! Egads, aren’t you better than that?

Owning an RV that is spending its days in storage would be very UN-Spartan-like. No utility, tied-up money, depreciating asset. Not Spartan-like at all.

Spartan-like is about having what you need. It is about having little emotional attachments to things that are simply “things” that you use.

But it is not about going without.

If going to Starbucks every day brings you huge joy, then by all means do it. If having a Steinway when an electric studio piano would do is important to you (and you play often), then by all means do it. But don’t just have “things” for the sake of having them.

If you have things, use them doggone-it.

In fact, having things and not using them is a TERRIBLE steward of the earths resources. Consumption for consumptions sake is ugly.

Stop it.

You can be Spartan-like if you have lots of money.

You can be Spartan-like if you have very little money.

It is about attitude, not altitude.

Filed Under: RV Lifestyle, The Spartan RV Book Tagged With: "The Spartan RV Book", Book

About Marlan at Rv52

Marlan blogs about living in an RV. Small space. Not a problem. Its all in your mind. Click on my author link to find out more about what RV52.com is all about.

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