Live Well On Less?

Boomers, Go Gingham Style

The beauty of the blogosphere is finding good ideas and making them better.

Sometimes an idea is too good.

Go Gingham is one of them.

If you’ve ever hyperventilated in Nordstroms and wondered why, or felt disturbed after you noticed everything in big-box stores come from China, you need a new style.

Think of it as going off the ‘mass-consumer’ grid, which is something every baby boomer hoarder needs to do.

Triple car garages stacked to the ceiling doesn’t mean you win, it means you should start a new game.

But where to start?

Compare ideas with Sara Tetreault (tay-tro) for your grid list.

Before you say it, I know what you’re thinking, “But Dave, she’s not a boomer.”

Whether she is or not, she passes the test.

• Does more with less? Yes.
• Re-purposes what other’s might re-cycle? Yes.
• Takes an old-school approach to life in an era of automation and technology? Yes.
• Goes hands-on to leave a smaller footprint? Yes.

One look at local history makes frugality feel like a cultural imperative.

Being a good Oregonian means living with the legacy of the Oregon Trail. If you stick around long enough you start to wonder how you’d do on that trip.

You break out a map and make a list.

What was most important about the journey, knowing where to find a pioneer-kit at the price you wanted before leaving, or having a good muleskinner driving the ox team. Visit the Oregon Historical Society to look for an answer.

Either way, you’d want to hear something in a useful tone, something to ease the strain.

From gogingham.com: “When someone says, “I’m throwing this in the trash!” – my ears perk up. I’m not afraid to climb in a dumpster, wield a power tool, or install a toilet. On any day, you’ll find me wearing second-hand clothing and a smile.”

Isn’t this the sort of talk you want from your trail team, from your wagon train leader?

A recent post written by Sara’s husband shows how he got around during a trip to Austin without whipping a card out every time options seem limited. There’s never ‘only one way’ in gogingham style.

He writes about following plan Plan B when Plan A turns into punishment. Plan B includes take-out BBQ and a six pack, always a good choice in Texas. When he complains about a six dollar beer, I feel the pain. This is a good camper.

NW Boomer found Go Gingham through Jackie B. Peterson. When good sense directs you toward more of the same, what do you do?

Go Gingham, of course.