Ground Rules

1) Unnecessary possessions/services will be purged.

This is going to be the biggest challenge, at the beginning. I have to define what is "necessary" and what is not. My most current rationalization is that music, being so very important to me, should preclude me from dumping my Napster-To-Go account. I have 8 more days to debate this point with myself. Blockbuster.com, on the other hand, is gone, come May 1. This is also true of other memberships I have.

Books that I own, have read, and don't intend on reading again will first be taken up to my co-workers and offered, gratis. Then, perhaps an e-bay sale for any remainders. This will be true with many of my CD's, as well. But that's a safe purge for me. Most all of my CD's have already been converted to MP3 format. I also have far too many clothing items than any rational person should own. Goodwill will benefit from that particular purge.

2) Only purchases that can be directly attributed to my survival will be justified, (in most cases)

This is where the Napster debate runs into some conflict. What exactly constitutes a "survival purchase"? Necessities like gasoline, insurance, car payment, etc., are required, as I live in North Texas where there is NO mass transit. Sickening, I know. Also, a bicycle, romantic as it might sound, is, in the unpredictable weather of our particular corner of the world, not practical. I would have to rely on others in the instances when the bicycle wasn't a viable option, and that would be contrary to this endeavor.

Food, quite obviously, is a necessity. However, purchases at Quizno's, Whataburger, at the Arena, etc., are not. I will purchase and subsist off of food that I prepare myself. I will, in most every instance, try to prepare foods that are preservative free. I mean, if I'm going to do this, why not do it right, right?

Clothing purchases, toiletries, and the like, will be purchased as needed. Second hand items, (for clothing...not toothbrushes) will be the preferred replacements.

I am toying with the idea, for the first month, of allowing myself a "cheat day" one day a week. The idea is taken from most new workout routines where you have to gradually build your new habit by exposing yourself to your old habits to show how you are growing and to reinforce your distaste for your old habits. If I ultimately do a "cheat day" I will ensure that I have a spending cap.(TBD)

This one is probably going to hurt. But the cell phone is a convenience and not a necessity. I have lived without one before and I can do it again. My contract with AT&T comes up in August. To think that two weeks ago I was really looking into my new phone for my new contract (iphone, Samsungs) and now I'm ready to chuck it all. For those that know me, you know that when I got the phone prior to heading into a post-Katrina New Orleans, I had said that I was not going to re-up my contract.

3) Read at least one book a week.

The genre is not important. I have so many books that I own that I still haven't read, that this should get me well into my 7th or 8th month of this challenge. After that, I can make sure that my library card gets a workout.

4) (or as I call it, the exception to rule 2) Academic/Intellectual purchases will be allowed.

I am committed to this exercise being a spiritual/intellectual journey. I want to grow as a person and to seek to become part of something larger than myself. Perhaps my current conflict of conscience is due to stagnation. Perhaps not. But if I get to May 1, 2009, and I have not grown as a person, then what the hell will I have done this for. For that reason, I will, when possible, seek methods of educating myself that are inexpensive. (Again with the library reference). At other times, more expensive options will be entertained.

5) I will document my journey, daily.

I don't know if I am going to justify keeping a computer and internet and everything else. In fact, more likely than not, I won't. So, I will probably be writing in my journal. A shitload. Perhaps a day a week, I will post my writings, online, using internet access at the local library. No promises on that. My history of posting, while having constant access to the interweb, has been shoddy, at best.

These 5 rules are a good jumping off point. I will add new rules and make amendments to those pre-existing, as necessary. An interesting side note. I have at least one co-worker who is so taken with this idea that he too wants to attempt this. We may or may not have the same motives but I told him that I think it is great that he is interested in giving it a go.

I guess in my next post, I will share what my ultimate goals will be.

Until Next Time,