Simplicity and Thoreau

I'm reading Thoreau's Walden, and it imparts some incredibly good and detailed advice, mostly revolving around simplicity and thrift. People today make their lives complex with cars, boats, houses, and all sorts of complex gadgets and services that always cost more than they originally seem. Thoreau stripped his life down to the bare essentials to gain some very deep insights.

He basically tried to keep himself free of land ownership and material things, and only consumed the basics that he could mostly build or raise himself. He didn't even want to raise a cow or pig, didn't want to be tied to the responsibility of it, so, from what I can gather, he was mostly a vegetarian.

He was sort of the original naturalist, being "green" before environmentalism became cool.

Here's what Wikipedia says about his writing: His literary style interweaves close natural observation, personal experience, pointed rhetoric, symbolic meanings, and historical lore; while displaying a poetic sensibility, philosophical austerity, and "Yankee" love of practical detail. He was also deeply interested in the idea of survival in the face of hostile elements, historical change, and natural decay; at the same time imploring one to abandon waste and illusion in order to discover life's true essential needs.

It is amazing how he can write about a theme over and over again, pounding in the tenets, but alway saying something slightly different and wise.

When he went into the woods he squatted on Ralph Waldo Emerson's land (with permission), and built his cabin from the used boards of another man's house which was disassembled once his land rental expired. He bought used windows cheaply, but he bought new nails. He did all the work himself and then he had shelter. And then he planted for food, and kept only the most essential clothing, and, of course, books.

One could take some lessons from Thoreau.

I sometimes have that fantasy of going off into the woods or mountains somewhere, with just some books and time, a lot of pure time, and to be able to read and write all day, to ponder and test ideas, while carrying on only the most basic activities required to maintain vigor and health. Maybe a hike to collect firewood or berries, a swim in an icy stream, or climbing a tree to admire the view.

Thoreau said he was so deep in the woods that the birds were different. He noticed their warbles and harmonies were richer and more joyous than those of village birds.

Maybe at some point in one's life a person should go deep into the woods, at least the woods of their mind, to hear those birds they never took the time to hear before.