· I realised today (Sat. 24 Feb) that we four adults, two in their early 20s, have been settling down to live at a certain level that IMO is not far from sustainable.

· I think this is something positive to talk about on this Positive Futures list, though most US and Canadian readers won't agree after reading my list below.
I distinguish between: necessary (or minimums), desirable, and luxury.

( continued early Sunday morning, before the others get up for daytime:
Note; for various reasons, often someone is awake here most of the 24 hours)

· I have been ensuring that the necessary minimums below, have been always done (or are always available) for most of 10 years now. If there's a cost, the person with the 4-times-higher-than-anyone-else income pays (except for the rates - local govt. land tax - which I pay half of).

~ walls door and windows, to protect from wind and cold, and provide some privacy;

~ a door-closable place to sleep - minimum bed: 2 to 6 boxes, door, 8" stiff sponge mattress (still going well after ~15 years: left in bright sun ~6 times a year), 2 sheets, pillow & case, duvet with cover;

~ clean water, to drink and wash self and clothes (& shower, basin etc.);

~ hot water: 5 litres per person per day (up to 25 l/cap/day, is desirable);

~ clothes washed and dried (outdoors), no less than every 5 days, preferably every second day, in an automatic washing machine; incl. soap, detergent;

~ toilet, either composting or flush typpe;

~ wooden chairs: one per person;

~ lights: compact fluorescent 11 W, one per person + 1 common;

~ minimum food guaranteed: bread (sliced preferred by some), carrots, not-too bitter cabbage, honey or jam, Marmite (see: http://au.oocities.com/davdnz/dsmenu.html ), peanuts (for some) or peanut butter (for others), milk;

~ plate, bowl, mug, tea, knife-fork-spoon;

~ desirable food (provided *ex gratia* by the person with the largest income, i.e. not guaranteed):
fruit in season, potatoes, cheap meat (e.g. ground beef) a couple of weeks each month, vegetable(s) in season, pasta, ginger biscuits every 6-8 weeks;

~ place to cook, ranging from pots, charcoal and stones, to a microwave stove. Facilities for boiling water, e.g. kettle;

~ telephone, including able to be used for e-mail and (desirable) ICQ;

~ radio - a service equivalent to NZ's National Radio, perhaps like PBS;

~ winter spot-heating, for an hour or more on about 25 really cold winter days, and available at a minute's notice right through the winter. (If, with winter clothing this is "insufficient", people shouldn't try to live there.);

~ a location such that (i) you can get to the Public Library by walking no more than 4 hours per day (& InterLibrary loan can be arranged), and (ii) one has views through the windows of the sky and living things like bushes;

~ (desirable): public transport, for getting more easily than by bicycle, to places one regularly visits: shop(s), maybe paid work, meetings, probably friends further away.

~ (I'm still listing the "necessaries"): a sympathetic ear (and hugs when needed). No criticism or negative comments at all, unless asked for;

~ (very desirable, virtually necessary): a sufficiently knowledgable person to talk to so that one can share one's interests ("intelligent conversation" is one description used);

~ (desirable): (i) the ability to hear recorded music (or at least make one's own if able), and (ii) floor-space for a desk and ones things.

      And that's it!

· Note that there's nothing about carpets or fancy furnishings, there's no TV, cushions, central heating, or car. Those are luxuries, IMO. I'm talking about minima here - you're living on so little you need very little income.
· If more is wanted, two questions need to be asked: (1) if there's a cost, is it worth it?, and (2) would you (the group) still be living sustainably?

· People trying to visualise a sustainable future are concerned to point out that it will be enjoyable, satisfying, something to look forward to and work towards. That isn't part of my purpose in listing the minima above.
 The list can easily be the basis for enjoyable, sustainable living, when you add (for example) visits with friends and to local performances, expanding your education, doing a craft or supplying a community service, time spent outdoors or in other wonderful places easily reached, maybe gardening, and so on. Those would be up to the individual.

David.
(David MacClement) davd AT ihug.co.nz
http://au.oocities.com/davdnz/index.html

Here's what another good friend said in mid-2007:

“I believe that everyone in the world - including you and me! - is entitled to:

* enough nutritious food (not including caviar or filet mignon, or lobster
- I cannot remember what lobster even tastess like!),

* basic decent and safe housing (which to me would be about 150 sq.ft per
person)|¹,

* adequate clothing (3 outfits per person would do, or 6 outfits in
climates with different clothing seasons, such as the northern USA),

* basic good medical care, and

* good sanitation - including washing hair|² when it's dirty.

These basic necessities of life are not the problem. They aren't driving
Global Warming. It's all the extras that are the problem.”