While I am doing the same exact thing, I think you're running sideways of the point being made here.
The point isn't that minimalism can't help you achieve a particular set of goals, but rather that it isn't superior to anything else.
The implied alternative to minimalism is not egregious prodigality but rather measured enjoyment of life that doesn't strip you bare but doesn't attempt to max out your financial high score.
I'm a minimalist, but I try very very hard not to come off as the aforementioned "sanctimonious anti-consumerist" type. I'm a minimalist because I reallyreally care about my work, and I don't want much.
Well that's just dandy for me, but my values are not other peoples' values, and I can see how other people would prefer to make use of their time in a manner that makes them more immediately happy.
Don't mistake the apparent fiscal conservatism and "safety" of minimalism as somehow being superior or safer than enjoying and consuming things as they are now.
I would in fact argue, that as a minimalism I am taking a very great risk with my life compared to someone who gets out more and has more fun.
I am taking a risk with my time and my life, because if I get hit by a bus tomorrow before I've had the time to amass the money->time necessary to work on the projects I'd like to pursue, I'm going to die screaming in anger at my self.
Someone who's taken a less concentrated approach to being happy with their lives probably isn't going to be nearly as upset as they lay bleeding under that bus that ran them over.
You and I are risk takers of a different kind.
Our values are not their values, and those values are not inferior nor superior to anyones'. It's all case specific.
If you value money more than most other things in life, then of course minimalism will be a "superior" means to the end you seek, but it's not somehow morally superior.
The man that puts aside his career/continued financial growth to spend time with his children, is in my eyes, the greater person than the one who manages to become a CTO by 40 at the expense of said family.
But those are my values and perspective, and they're still not the choices I would make at this point in my life.
I'm sad that a hackerne.ws user would be so myopically acquisitive without understanding the greater implications in terms of risk and how you spend your time.
I'll probably make a proper blog post on this at some point.
The point isn't that minimalism can't help you achieve a particular set of goals, but rather that it isn't superior to anything else.
The implied alternative to minimalism is not egregious prodigality but rather measured enjoyment of life that doesn't strip you bare but doesn't attempt to max out your financial high score.
I'm a minimalist, but I try very very hard not to come off as the aforementioned "sanctimonious anti-consumerist" type. I'm a minimalist because I really really care about my work, and I don't want much.
Well that's just dandy for me, but my values are not other peoples' values, and I can see how other people would prefer to make use of their time in a manner that makes them more immediately happy.
Don't mistake the apparent fiscal conservatism and "safety" of minimalism as somehow being superior or safer than enjoying and consuming things as they are now.
I would in fact argue, that as a minimalism I am taking a very great risk with my life compared to someone who gets out more and has more fun.
I am taking a risk with my time and my life, because if I get hit by a bus tomorrow before I've had the time to amass the money->time necessary to work on the projects I'd like to pursue, I'm going to die screaming in anger at my self.
Someone who's taken a less concentrated approach to being happy with their lives probably isn't going to be nearly as upset as they lay bleeding under that bus that ran them over.
You and I are risk takers of a different kind.
Our values are not their values, and those values are not inferior nor superior to anyones'. It's all case specific.
If you value money more than most other things in life, then of course minimalism will be a "superior" means to the end you seek, but it's not somehow morally superior.
The man that puts aside his career/continued financial growth to spend time with his children, is in my eyes, the greater person than the one who manages to become a CTO by 40 at the expense of said family.
But those are my values and perspective, and they're still not the choices I would make at this point in my life.
I'm sad that a hackerne.ws user would be so myopically acquisitive without understanding the greater implications in terms of risk and how you spend your time.
I'll probably make a proper blog post on this at some point.