smart leads to lifestyle change?

**jwight** · 05-20-2008, 01:27 PM

Nice article on not only the smart but one person's change to a "smarter" lifestyle:

xcrew229x · 05-20-2008, 03:04 PM

Sell the Vette quick John.........

GHammerly · 05-20-2008, 03:17 PM

Nice article, a bit extreme way of thinking for most Americans at the moment but time and economics will influence change.
I am a naturalized US Citizen from Argentina and grew up with a similar outlook.

Gus

MENSA42 · 05-20-2008, 04:58 PM

great story! i can see some of that coming to pass here in the US, but since our towns and suburbs are so spread out, many of their daily routines simply will not work.

we are a completely different society, not better, not worse....different. to say we must change to their values would be like us going into Iraq and telling everyone there that you must change because OUR way of life is better.

while it may work for us, it's NOT for everyone. then again, it doesn't always work for us either.........

**jwight** · 05-20-2008, 05:43 PM

xcrew, the Vette is a keeper - just doesn't get driven as much now the smart is here.

I don't think the article is saying the European system is better, just that this one person found a way to adopt many features into his own life. And living sensibly isn't a European thing, it's just common sense IMHO. No, we can't get by 100% with public transport but we'd sure cut down the number of cars on the road with more light rail available. In the case of the writer, he seems to understand the "less is more" approach, and the smart is just one example of that.

mdfortwoguy · 05-20-2008, 08:14 PM

I completely see where the article is going, and I whole heartedly agree.

I've never been to Europe, but I am chomping at the bit to go.

In the past few years (say, since I was 18/19 and out on my own with college and such), I have developed into much more of a minimalist, have become much more green, and really have adjusted my outlook on the world. I hate to see fuel prices going up as much as the next guy, but if that is what it takes for people to start adopting more environmentally friendly ways of transit (ie... dump the SUVs, rely on public transit in areas where it exists and the manufacturers to realize this and start bringing good small cars here). I make the effort to bus and/or metro to work when I can - but unfortunately with 2 locations I work from and trips to a 3rd and such - it's not as often as I want.

I have a current ongoing argument between me and my parents. I'm looking to get out of renting and buy a place of my own - (and my parents are telling me I am $%^&ing nuts for what I want). I'm not all about square footage... I would love to have an urban/European loft (think something that would be in an IKEA catalog) - maybe 500 sq ft - as long as it has high ceilings. I have a ~875 sq ft apartment now, and it is just overkill. The biggest thing that will suck for me is I also want a garage, and would like to have a yard for a Basset hound... but thats another story.