Thomas W.P. Slatin

A lot of people talk about living life to the fullest.  Above everything else, I’ve always seen this ideal as being paramount.  I want to experience as much as I can, to know everything, and to see everything that can be seen.  I want to go to all the interesting and unique places I can before they’re gone forever.

Unfortunately, living a lifestyle like this takes money.  Lots of money.  Much more money than I have at this moment (I have pockets full of lint).  And although I’d love to work at a 9 to 5 job, these jobs tend to get mundane, boring, and repetitive.  I wish someone would pay me to be the free spirit that I am, or at least pay me for my creativity.  I write, photograph, and create very interesting and informative websites.  But the sad truth is that a capitalist society rarely supports the arts or creativity.  Instead, such a society is more interested in more superficial possessions and expensive goods.  I admit that I like nice things, but I don’t need to rely on nice things for my survival or happiness.  All I really need in my life are Angie, my pets, my computer, my camera, a place to stay, food, warm clothes, and a notebook.

I’m happy living in a really small house because it doesn’t require an excessive amount of maintenance, or money to keep it heated.  Living on a shoestring and having only a small handful of luxuries is perfectly fine with me.  It’s not about getting what you want, but loving what you’ve got.

It’s the little things in my life that are most important to me.  The little things like a rainy day, sunshine, and anything else that comes to me without the need for human intervention.  In fact, I recently took a bath in a stream in the middle of the woods by myself in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  Although the water was cold, it was the most refreshing bath I’d ever taken, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  In lack of a better description, it was nothing short of beautiful.

I’m a little crazy, I know.