A few months ago I attended a presentation about a pre-paid cremation service. You prepay the amount, carry a card with you, and there's a very good chance the company will last as long as you do or forever.
The cost is low because there is no viewing, no funeral home, no gravesite, no tombstone, and you're burned up into ashes close to where you drop. Then the ashes are send to the person you identify on your paperwork.
Part of the selling is about, not only cost, but the way pre-planning for your own dead body is actually responsible behavior that lessens the scramble for money to even have a funeral and, it could be argued, makes the grief of your loved ones so much more bearable for them.
And it's true your death could happen at any time.
We are especially upset when someone dies unexpectedly in an accident and young.
Having been quoted unaffordable amounts to do things the old fashioned way, I can't help but think that the funeral business has become increasingly greedy and manipulative. No way in hell would I want to spend $25,000 or more to be drained of my blood, made up, put on view, stuck in a casket, and lowered into a cement chamber beneath the earth. I also don't want a burial at sea.
I have never dealt with ashes.
I don't know anyone who wants to deal with my ashes.
So I may go for this deal.
5/19/15
SMALLER AND SMALLER LIVING SPACES AIMED AT SINGLES - HOW SMALL IS TOO SMALL? IS THIS REALLY A WAY TO LIVE SIMPLE.
I really wish economics was not the outstanding factor in so many decisions that we must make, but there is a reality to deal with. The cost of living is ever increasing as is the population, even when a country has near zero population growth by choice, which is the case in France and several other countries.
And people have to live somewhere, not homeless, but in housing.
I've been reading about all the inventive small, even tiny, "houses" or single people dwellings and apartments that are being built. Some of these are about the size of a garage or a shed. The builders say "Well, it's still home ownership." They reason or promote these spaces as for people who are rarely home anyway, meaning they won't get claustrophobia because they'll be at work, at the gym, someone else's house, OUT. They also are promoted as more ecologically correct or part of the SIMPLE LIVING TREND.
The fact is, I think it takes a special person to live in one of these small, even tiny, "houses" or single people dwellings or apartments that are being built. Some of the owners are giving them up because they realized that what they really wanted was to live in more of a cave in the wilderness. They are also on small, even tiny lots, and neighbor noise was an issue. Another issue was having to use the lot as part of the living space, but you're on display and too close to the neighbors who want to stroll on over and talk to you.
I'm one of those people who likes to go into my cave, so that I can think and concentrate, who hates constant noise or interruption (though a big city sometimes has a background "hum" that doesn't bother me). After a day, weekend, or at most a few days of hiding out, I get "cabin-fever" and I have to go out and get out. I don't really want to be isolated, just left alone at times.
Recently I attended a book author's presentation at my local library about living SIMPLE. She kept it simple! She read her chapter titles and gave one example from each. I noticed that many of the things that she categorizes as LIVING SIMPLE were really more about ECOLOGY, RECYCLING, and respecting this earth. I can respect those things and I can see how they can be associated with simple living, because LIVING SIMPLE is about reducing clutter and not having or buying too much stuff, but I also thought that when she said LIVING SIMPLE WOULD SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY, she had not thought her ideas through. (More on that in a later post.)
She did impress me as someone who might enjoy living in one of these small, even tiny "houses," but it turns out that she actually lives in houses in three different states for her work, which requires she sometimes be near New York City, Los Angeles, or the North West. None of these houses are houses she bought. Therefor, her lifestyle relies on being able to stay with others who have bought houses.
C 2015 All Rights Reserved. NMNK - An Intentional Community - Sister
And people have to live somewhere, not homeless, but in housing.
I've been reading about all the inventive small, even tiny, "houses" or single people dwellings and apartments that are being built. Some of these are about the size of a garage or a shed. The builders say "Well, it's still home ownership." They reason or promote these spaces as for people who are rarely home anyway, meaning they won't get claustrophobia because they'll be at work, at the gym, someone else's house, OUT. They also are promoted as more ecologically correct or part of the SIMPLE LIVING TREND.
The fact is, I think it takes a special person to live in one of these small, even tiny, "houses" or single people dwellings or apartments that are being built. Some of the owners are giving them up because they realized that what they really wanted was to live in more of a cave in the wilderness. They are also on small, even tiny lots, and neighbor noise was an issue. Another issue was having to use the lot as part of the living space, but you're on display and too close to the neighbors who want to stroll on over and talk to you.
I'm one of those people who likes to go into my cave, so that I can think and concentrate, who hates constant noise or interruption (though a big city sometimes has a background "hum" that doesn't bother me). After a day, weekend, or at most a few days of hiding out, I get "cabin-fever" and I have to go out and get out. I don't really want to be isolated, just left alone at times.
Recently I attended a book author's presentation at my local library about living SIMPLE. She kept it simple! She read her chapter titles and gave one example from each. I noticed that many of the things that she categorizes as LIVING SIMPLE were really more about ECOLOGY, RECYCLING, and respecting this earth. I can respect those things and I can see how they can be associated with simple living, because LIVING SIMPLE is about reducing clutter and not having or buying too much stuff, but I also thought that when she said LIVING SIMPLE WOULD SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY, she had not thought her ideas through. (More on that in a later post.)
She did impress me as someone who might enjoy living in one of these small, even tiny "houses," but it turns out that she actually lives in houses in three different states for her work, which requires she sometimes be near New York City, Los Angeles, or the North West. None of these houses are houses she bought. Therefor, her lifestyle relies on being able to stay with others who have bought houses.
C 2015 All Rights Reserved. NMNK - An Intentional Community - Sister
5/10/15
NOT BEING A MOTHER (OR PARENT) - IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T NURTURE OR CARE GIVE
Alas, today is MOTHER's DAY, and along with FATHER'S DAY coming up next month, it is a day to celebrate those who PARENT.
Well, if you are here on this earth you probably had a MOTHER and if she was a good mother then sure, you should acknowledge her today - as well as her birthday.
But for NMNK's under pressure to procreate by their own mothers, fathers, families, because these people are traditional, conservative, religious, or simply think that's how life is done, today is just one more day in which a person can be put down for being unconventional, not ready, aging out, or simply not being "lucky" which means fertile.
For those who are faulted for not bearing a child or bringing another soul into this very overpopulated, often starving, world, let me remind you to remind THEM that this does not mean you are not a nurturing person, and that in fact you may be or will be caregiving, in particular caregiving your own parents.
I want to point this out because those hostile to a NMNK lifestyle often find fault with our character, personality, values, more so than our possibly uncooperative bodies.
When I hear about a parent who thinks their children owe them grandchildren it makes me crazy. Some of these grand parents need to figure out something else worthwhile to do with their own retirements.
Well, if you are here on this earth you probably had a MOTHER and if she was a good mother then sure, you should acknowledge her today - as well as her birthday.
But for NMNK's under pressure to procreate by their own mothers, fathers, families, because these people are traditional, conservative, religious, or simply think that's how life is done, today is just one more day in which a person can be put down for being unconventional, not ready, aging out, or simply not being "lucky" which means fertile.
For those who are faulted for not bearing a child or bringing another soul into this very overpopulated, often starving, world, let me remind you to remind THEM that this does not mean you are not a nurturing person, and that in fact you may be or will be caregiving, in particular caregiving your own parents.
I want to point this out because those hostile to a NMNK lifestyle often find fault with our character, personality, values, more so than our possibly uncooperative bodies.
When I hear about a parent who thinks their children owe them grandchildren it makes me crazy. Some of these grand parents need to figure out something else worthwhile to do with their own retirements.
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