A couple of inspiring stories about minimalism

I watched an interview with a man who lived with his wife and 2 kids in a 1 bedroom apartment. They were doing very well financially, but minimalism was a personal choice for them. As he said, it made him a lot happier to have less stuff and to work a few hours a week less than to have an extra-ordinary amount of money and to be forced to work long hours to get and keep it. They had no car, because they were happy to live in a not-so-big city where everything was close by, and they loved to be able to take a walk outside through the city. The father had an office job, but he worked only 2-3 full days a week. The rest of the time he spent with his kids. The mother worked full time, and as much as I could see in the interview, she was very happy. The kids played in a park outside all day. They had a very small flat, but also a very large balcony, where they had a small living area, a dining area and a small kitchen. They spent a lot of time there in the summer. <br><br>The other story is about an American couple who sold their large house and bought a small apartment in the city. They were both over 60 years old. They had no kids. They said they had no problem with money, they were very rich, but they didn't want to spend their retirement years alone in a large house in the country or near a lake. They wanted to live in the city, they wanted to be able to easily walk to restaurants and cafes, and to go to cultural events and festivals. They wanted to spend their retirement years on a way that maximized their joy and the quality of their lives, and they said that they made the right decision. <br><br>These stories really inspired me, because I live in a very consumerist country and culture, and I have a very consumerist couple group of friends. They are always buying things, and they are often encouraging me to buy new things too. My closest friend is getting a house with her husband, and they are so excited to decorate their new large house with expensive furniture and other expensive stuff. All my friends are excited for them, as they are for each other when the make a new purchase. I don't want to live that way. For me, less is more. A minimalist lifestyle is what I am trying to maintain. I am happy to live in a small flat, I don't want a large house. I have a very small kitchen, but I am happy with it. It's not a problem for me, but my friends find it so small and unpractical. They feel sorry for me because I don't have a large kitchen and a large living area where I could receive guests. I like to go to expensive restaurants, but I am not eager to buy expensive things. I love to travel, but I don't like to shop. I have a few expensive clothes and shoes, but I also wear cheap ones. I love to go to cultural events, especially to operas and concerts. I am happy to spend money on experiences, but I don't like to spend it on material things. I am happy to bring my breakfast and lunch to work, I am happy to walk and use public transportation, I am happy to do my own household chores. I don't want to spend money on things that don't bring me joy, and I don't want to work more and earn more money to buy things that I don't really need. Minimalism for me is about living below my means, about being content with less, and about focusing on what really brings joy and fulfillment to my life.