The other day, I mentioned to my daughter that I was browsing the Epicure site looking for a particular blend of seasoning. Gerry and I had enjoyed a simple meal from Chef’s Plate the night before and I wanted to replicate it. Buying this blend, I told her, aligned with my chosen word for 2024—simplicity. The two of us often talk about living the simple life, and she reminded me I could probably create the blend myself (and I would have not long ago). She challenged me. Was my choice about simplicity or convenience?
I’ve been thinking about her question since then because we’re the type of people for whom words matter. I wanted to sort it out in my mind. I do things now that I wouldn’t have dreamed of a few years ago. Conversely, don’t do things I used to do. I wondered if the choices I make are more in the name of convenience.
I get regular deliveries of three meals a week from either Chef’s Plate or Hello Fresh. I might not do it forever, but it’s working for us now. On the off days, I make a big pot of something and freeze the leftovers. Other times, Gerry cooks a simple supper. It’s such a treat not to have to decide every day what to cook. We save money this way and make fewer trips to the grocery store, so I put this choice in both the simple and convenient categories.
I order more than a few things online. Dog food. Coffee. Caramel syrup. Vitamins. Clothes. I save money on these purchases by staying out of the stores and giving in to the temptation to make impulse purchases, and I buy at comparable, if not better, prices. I save time by not having to shop. Convenient, absolutely yes. Can I put online shopping in the simple category. I can make a case.
Not long ago, I would have been aghast at these choices. Having filled my larder with all manner of canned and frozen food during the summer, we were well-stocked and I cooked a big meal from scratch almost every night. I made my own seasoning blends, baked bread, kept the freezer stocked with cookies and bran muffins, and was busy every day. I made soap. Saved vegetable scraps and made stock (which I canned). I vermicomposted. Shop local, was the way to go. It still is, and I still do, but I make exceptions in the name of convenience, simplicity, and price. Energy too, which I seem to have less of with each passing year. To be honest, that’s the main reason I lean toward camp convenience more often these days.
Having reached the age of officially qualifying as a senior citizen, I’m okay with convenience. Spending the morning reading instead of shopping is a-ok with me. To me, the lines between simple and convenient blur. I’m okay with that.
I’m with you on the convenience issue. As we age, we want to do things a little different than before. I like shopping on line, eating one meal and a lighter one, having a cleaning service so I have time and energy to do the things I think are important and like to do. So yes…..convenience is good. Have a wonderful day.
Sounds like we are kindreds, Nancy. I stopped having a cleaner when I retired, thinking I could/should do it myself. I started up again when I was recovering from surgery a few years ago and don’t ever plan to stop. Like you, I’d rather use my time and energy for things I enjoy and that are important to me. I think that’s one of the gifts this stage offers us if we’re willing to choose it.
This is a good question to ask, especially as we work on adjusting priorities, or as we seek to make space for a new activity. At least stopping to ask it gives opportunity for evaluation, even if, in the end, we keep doing what we were doing. Or, it might lead to a better choice.
It’s a constant adjustment, isn’t it? Circumstances change as do we and asking ourselves if it’s time for a tweak in priorities seems wise to me. Thanks for stopping by, Judy. xo
I agree Linda. I used to be passionate about growing my own vegetables, and being as self-sufficient as possible.
Whilst I still do things like composting and growing a few herbs, the effort and exhaustion of trying to battle away, growing things in a subtropical climate and spending so much time trying to protect the crops from the ravages of sun and insects, began to make it feel less enjoyable and more of a chore.
I emptied and gifted my raised, corrugated metal garden beds to a local school and I now do things like buying buckets of vegetables at a cheaper price and chopping them up for the freezer.
Also, when we went overseas for a year, we rented a small one bedroom apartment and it really made us both appreciate how little we needed to live and how freeing it was not to have a big house and garden to look after.
Love that you gifted your garden beds to a good cause! We did the same when our homeowner’s association vetoed ours before we moved to where we live now. Supporting local farmers and gardeners by buying their produce to freeze is a great alternative. I do the same.
Interesting your comment about renting a one bedroom apartment for a time. We are looking ahead to down the road and asking ourselves how much room we really need as well. Again, another one of those things where our perceived needs change over time.
We still try and grow most of our vegetables. I cook from scratch most days, and have hobbies that cloth us, or at least me. I really think a simple life is what is simple for everyone and that does not mean the same thing to each of us. Simplicity means doing what makes you happy.
God bless.