Learning to Live with Less
travel·@mkkenny13·
0.000 HBDLearning to Live with Less
I grew up comfortable. There was always a roof over my head. The kitchen was always stocked. I never had to worry about hot water or electricity. Living was easy. My childhood was relatively carefree. Friends in the neighborhood to play football with. A house at the end of the cul-de-sac. I wouldn’t consider my lifestyle luxurious, but I was comfortable. I never had to share a room with somebody before I went to college. So living in a dorm was quite the adjustment. Learning to share a confined space with another human being teaches you a lot about personal boundaries and mutual respect. Even more lessons are learned as you continue to add roommates. Simple tasks like delegating who does the dishes, or who has to take out the trash, can become psychological warfare. Not all friends make good roommates, and not all roommates make great friends.  When I was backpacking, many of my nights were spent sleeping in hostels. Hostels are cheap rooms with beds crammed next to one another. Some hostels are nicer than others, but a few of them were subpar at best. My first night at a hostel was spent in Tel-Aviv. I was afraid to use the scratchy comforter, but we were walking distance from the beach. The bathroom was communal, but I had sandals for the shower. The second hostel I stayed at was The Yellow Hostel in Rome. They were more upscale. There was an awesome bar and dance room downstairs. This place was sweet, and definitely comfortable. At The Flying Pig Beach Hostel in Amsterdam, I shared one room with 30 other travelers. Needless to say, you learn how to deal with people snoring, fucking, or talking while you’re trying to sleep (pro-tip: plug in your headphones).  While backpacking, my livelihood included everything I could carry in my two backpacks: a North Face Terra 35L pack and my classic red Jansport. Spending three months living only out of a backpack may seem challenging, but like anything else, you just get used to it. You learn how to separate your dirty clothes from your not as dirty clothes. You appreciate the value of a hot shower and a laundry machine. The simple necessities become luxurious.  Experiencing the impermanence of bouncing around from hostel to hostel in Europe magnified my perception of apartment-style living after returning to university. I cherished my privacy and clean clothes. I valued the continuous and undisrupted connection to WiFi on a regular basis. Living with less taught me to appreciate having more. Don’t get it twisted though. There is nothing wrong with enjoying modern luxuries and living comfortably. However, as time passed, I forgot to appreciate the more. It wasn’t until I moved to Breckenridge before I became reacquainted with less.  I moved with what I could fit into my car. It was like going to college all over again. I donated what I didn’t need. I boxed what I wanted to stow away. I packed the essentials, and I threw away the rest. My room in Colorado is much smaller than I’m used to. I have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom. My space is limited, but I don’t mind. I’ve adjusted. I enjoy my space because it is mine. I’m ready to take it one step further though. My Next Adventure will truly teach me the value of less. I’ll sustain myself with whatever I can fit in my car. It’s similar to my experiences backpacking unaccompanied throughout Europe. I’ll be on the move. Exploring new places and meeting new people. I’ll learn lessons in sustainability and autonomy. I’m learning to live with less so I can appreciate more.