Comments on: Simple Living: Who Are The Relevant Voices Today?

By: What You May Have Missed During Summer Vacation | So Much More Life

What You May Have Missed During Summer Vacation | So Much More Life — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:32:16 +0000

[...] Simple Living: Who Are The Relevant Voices Today? August 21, 2012 [...]

By: Mike | Homeless On Wheels

Mike | Homeless On Wheels — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 01:30:50 +0000

I’m still around, for whatever that’s worth. Apparently way out of the loop if I’m just discovering this post after it has been up almost a month. It is nice to see you writing again, and judging by the number of comments on this post, it looks like maybe the “summer slump” has ended, at least for you.

I’m not sure I’m a full member of this (or any specific) blogging community, since I tend to cover a rather broad range of topics: RVing, tiny homes, simplicity, frugality, as well as the occasional post or three on politics and lifestyle choices. I sometimes wonder what tribe I really belong to since I’m involved in so many.

By: Robert Wall

Robert Wall — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:19:01 +0000

Thanks John!

By: Robert Wall

Robert Wall — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:18:24 +0000

By the way, I like the wordplay in your name. “Domestic Kate”. Fun stuff.

By: Robert Wall

Robert Wall — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:17:14 +0000

By the way, the thing about Leo is that I’m not sure he was ever really intending to be a purely minimalism/simple living blogger. I think his blog was really intended to be about what the URL would imply (zen habits ), and minimalism was kind of a side project.

Minimalism is what most people know him for, but I don’t think it was his goal starting out.

By: Gip Plaster

Gip Plaster — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:03:52 +0000

You’re welcome, Kathy. I’m glad you’re enjoying this blog. I can’t imagine maintaining much of a list of simple living blogs as fast as they are coming and going these days.

I don’t think you can get rich from a simple living blog without being a sellout — and I don’t want to be one of those.
Gip

By: Gip Plaster

Gip Plaster — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:01:48 +0000

No delusions of grandeur here, Robert, but I’m glad you have them. Maybe the delusions are what make your blog more relevant than mine — or the podcast.

I see people dividing into two camps: big overgrown lifestyles and simple ones. There are fewer people in the middle I think.
Gip

By: Gip Plaster

Gip Plaster — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:59:12 +0000

That’s a very good idea, actually, Robert. I’m glad to see you here. I might just use that tagline. It’s about time for a new one!
Gip

By: John Grebe

John Grebe — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:45:49 +0000

I know I’ve been following your blog and podcast and find it quite insightful.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:30:45 +0000

Thanks for posting this intriguing question and drawing us all in. I found your blog a short time ago when I went looking for minimalist/simple living blogs and was surprised that so many of the links for recommended blogs in that category were no long active or even “live.” While I don’t specifically blog about simple living–my blog smartliving365.com covers the topic from several different perspectives, so I was interested in reading what others were doing. (FYI–SMART stands for sustainable/meaningful/artful/responsible & thankful)

In answer to your question I believe after reading several dozen sites that my two cents on the subject are:
#1 Every blogger is passionate for a while until they realize that it takes a lot of work, time and commitment to keep a blog going over the long haul.
#2 Lots of bloggers learned that they weren’t an overnight success and will never make buckets of money from their passion (be it minimalism or whatever) so they stop doing it. I’m not saying you can’t make some money…but if you are doing it for the money then you’ll likely burn out.
#3 Many of the bloggers ran out of fresh things to say. Another comment above said exactly this…I actually did an environmental website for three years and just found the topic too dry and limiting for me. That’s why I came up with something like SMART Living 365–it is a much more holistic and well-rounded approach to living a happy simple life (IMHO).
#4 I do think much of the minimalism idea is becoming a “fad” of sorts–more from necessity to a true life style change and when anyone who was attracted to it as a “fad” gets bored, they move on to the next best thing. I’ve always felt that the path of simple living requires some depth and I even wrote a blog about it asking: “Are you really a minimalist?–five questions to find out.” I got more comments from that one blog than any other I’ve written–and not all of it was nice. Some people didn’t like the fact that I was even asking questions!!!

Anyway, I think your blog is great and I also believe that there is plenty of room for everyone’s perspective on this important topic. Maybe more bloggers would stay in the field if we all worked together more? Thanks for asking the question and helping me throw out a few ideas…. Kathy