Minimalist life in Vancouver Westend

My minimalist view

Importance of choosing

I am in my 30’s, I have been very happily married to my husband for about 15 years. We do not have children by choice. We do not own any vehicle by choice.

We bought a 600 sqf one bedroom apartment in 2010. We chose this condo for its location, the view and the size by choice.

I grew up in Japan until age 15, and that was long enough to realize that recent (back then) culture is wack and unintelligent. For example in Japan, to eat a snack you make more garbage than the food you ate, over packaging, over consuming, over manufacturing and the convenience over everything attitude was not my cup of tea. Not to mention obvious sexism and ageism.

May I also add, that my grandma was a hardcore Buddhist. Meaning she went to recite “Namu Amida Butsu” in her neighbor’s house at 4pm, every weekday with her friends. (Although if I ask about a thing about Buddhism, she’d say I don’t know lol) Not much critical thinking was involved with her religious activities. She just grew up with the environment and kept the tradition going. She was my caretaker while my mom was working (which is all day everyday), so her stoic zen thinking was also mine. I saw her be happy with nothing. She never complained. She was free from desires. (Although in my opinion, she was a servant as widow wife to the house she married into)
My mom and my aunt on the other hand, was not practicing Buddhism and all they care was (and still is) is how other’s would perceive their life.

So I left Japan when I was 16. I had a part-time job after school for a year and I raised enough for 1 year of Canadian tuition on my own, and convinced my parents that I had to go. I said bye bye to my family and became a student abroad, in Canada. I came with one suit-case.

Through high school to collage, I had to move about 10 times. When I find cheaper option for my living situations, I moved.

I got married when I was 21. People say it’s too young especially folks in academia society. But I knew my husband was THE ONE and I was living without my family for 5 years by then. I knew what I was doing. I was choosing things on purpose already. Did I think I was a minimalist then? I don’t think so. But I’ve always lived minimally by financial reasons.

In 2009, we moved to Vancouver. My entire life up until then, I lived in non city center. I had to either drive, take bus or take train to do ANYTHING. We wanted to change that.

The Kitchen / Dining area Renovation

Not driving is wonderful. We use public transit maybe once a month. Everything is walking distance and it’s the best.

My closet:

Ever since I was a college student, I was choosing my clothes based on if I would wear that in 5 years, 10 years time. So what I buy is something special and something I love. I have a curated closet with pieces I love, mostly my aunt’s 30 year-old vintage or high quality made to last garments. Nowadays, I only shop when my size changes (I do need smaller pants), in my colour scheme in natural materials so that everything goes with another and all is comfortable.

Overall:

Practicing yoga made me more comfortable with myself. Shutting off social media is excellent way to have more zen mind. Minimalism to me is understanding the society and choosing what’s right for me. Since we have lived this way, we could move to bigger place or buy cars or whatever, but:

• I don’t need/want many clothes and luxury purses.
• I don’t need/want a big house.
• I don’t need/want a fancy car.

What I value is:

• Healthy body and healthy mind
• Rain forest around us
• Minimizing the carbon footprint as much as I can
• Financial freedom
• No clutter / Ease of cleaning
• Traveling the world

Knowing what you want is the first step to choosing what is right for you.

Because I chose everything carefully, I am responsible for everything.

As you can see, in my closet for example, there is no room for more clothes in my door width closet lol. Thanks to grandma, I know that I don’t need extra crap. I already have pretty much everything that I want, physically.

All I have to do is appreciate what I have. (things and people)

I am choosing to live humbly, and sustainably.

I don’t compare ourselves with others. Good on them but I simply don’t care if somebody has lambroghini or 3 million dollar house.