Comments on: Becoming an expat will help you become less materialistic, like it or not

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:03:54 +0000

Antoinette: I also lived on ST. Croix during Hugo, Christiansted. I lost everything I owned except what I threw in a bag to retreat to Puerto Rica with and then Florida. I haven’t been back, friends told us there was no use because EVERYTHING was gone. I used to collect all kinds of stuff.
I am currently living in the states trying to decide on Southeast Asia or Roatan, Honduras or Dominican Republic (hurricanes again?) I have learned to not just travel but LIVE light. I haven’t watched TV in 3 years, mostly to not waste time. I can get by with a laptop and a few clothes. I do have thousands of photos, which thanks to technology I keep in cloud storage. I have gained and lost so many things through the years, at 45 I am starting to realize that it’s not the guy with the most toys that wins, it’s the guy with the most experiences and good memories. I am sure one of these days when I find my perfect island spot I will acquire a few small luxuries and decorations, but nothing that I couldn’t leave behind without missing too much.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:47:07 +0000

In reply to Sage Kenwoom. Sage, thanks for the comment and the stories. It reminded me that I left the US a few years ago with an iPhone, but for various reasons I haven't installed a SIM card to use it as a phone. It's actually really nice in many ways to not be bogged down with sending and receiving silly text messages and making pointless phone calls while walking around. People can contact me easily, just not every minute of every day. "Stuff" is overrated. -Tom

By: Sage Kenwoom

Sage Kenwoom — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:00:02 +0000

Excellant article about “stuff” people don’t really need. If someone had told me I’d live withhout a phone for 3 years it would have sound incredulious. Yet I did and was before everyone had cell phones.
You adjust and make do. I learned to be “company ready” because with no phones people came to your door.
Went without TV. Is when I realized how much company a running TV had been and how it dictated my going to the bathroom during commercials!
Learned how the “stuff and things” are not important. People, sharing, friendship and most of all love and helping others; things money can’t buy or sold that is intangible matters the most.
Less is best. The basics of shelter, food, and clothing being met was not taken for granted. Anything more was extra. And ask myself is this worth my time dusting? Time is precious too. We all have only so much time; use it wisely.
Antoinette, I’m sorry for all you went through and the many losses, but sounds like you’re bouncing back beautifully. So hope you pat yourself on the back and hug your children everyday. I’m fairly sure you do. A traumatizing event, yet you are very blessed because how you see things now is better than before.

Whether through moving across town, or far away, or it comes to your door, less is not only best, it is more!

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:47:18 +0000

In reply to Antoinette. Antoinette, Sorry to hear about the hurricane, but I agree that it can be very liberating to no longer feel responsible for rooms full of furniture and gadgets and whatnot. This is certainly a good thing. -Tom

By: Antoinette

Antoinette — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:39:46 +0000

MY two children and I went through Hurricaine Hugo on the small island of St. Croix. We lost everything. I have never looked at material possessions the same way. Even living in Jamaica where many people never had a camera they had no pictures. Their memories are their pictures are in their head- how smart!

By: Colin from Hither and Yon

Colin from Hither and Yon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:15:54 +0000

Too true! Great advice for anyone setting off to see the world. I went through this 20 years ago, its very common (blame our ‘culture’! 🙂

By: Liv

Liv — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:22:31 +0000

I wrote a very similar article myself about six months ago – so I agree, it is definitely true!