Simply

I keep hearing about various environmental stunts. No Impact Man, the 100-mile diet, and the Little Brown Dress are some of them. They all fall under what used to be called voluntary simplicity.

I'm not opposed to stunts - they make people think, they're noticeable. If labels and stunts help people feel cool about a simpler lifestyle, great.

I was thinking about the ways Jeff and I live simply. Some of these habits just come from having thrifty mothers, I think, but others we've come to on our own. And there's a often happy convergence between what is sustainable and what is cheap. There are exceptions, but mostly:

We do	We don't
Live below our means and give away about half our income	Like the level of inequality we see in the world
Bus, train, subway, bike, and hoof it	Own a car
Use rags, sponges, cloth napkins	Use paper towels and napkins
Line-dry our laundry	Use the dryer
Travel by bus	Travel by plane
Make wine	Buy alcohol
Use a little meat to flavor other dishes	Use meat as a main dish
Use the library	Buy books or movies
Have a big apartment by Hong Kong standards	Have a big apartment by American standards
Play music and board games	Own a TV
Cook at home	Eat out
Buy bulk staples and cook from scratch	Buy much pre-made food
Use reusable menstrual products (well, only Julia)	Use disposable menstrual products
Shop from thrift stores, Craigslist, yard sales, and freecycle	Buy new clothes, housewares, furniture
Use fans	Use air conditioning
Budget like hell	Impulse buy
Count our blessings

Yes, even when it's cold.