an abundance of the same-old

There is a very high turnover rate in my town. We get lots of people moving in, and lots moving out. Mainly, it has to do with the lack of job opportunities. Lots of people come here with dreams of starting their own business, but few have the business savvy required to survive long term. The tourist market poses enough of a challenge, what with the seasonal dry spells, but the going rate for many services is also half of what it would be in a large city. Granted, the cost of living is lower, so it is offset by a certain ratio. But even with rent as low as $400 a month, some people just can't make it.

Another problem is that people don't do their research prior to arriving. They know nothing of the market or the competition. Asa result, we end up with businesses with zero customer base, or we end up with the same types of businesses presented ad nauseum. We've got empty motels peppering the highway for miles, and yet every year somebody comes along with the great idea of offering additional lodging. So why do some businesses survive while others fold? How is it that we can have hippies in the park selling enough handcrafted jewelry and art to pay their bills, while the new guy with the college degree and the BMW can't turn a profit?

The answer lies in our style of living. Those who live simply enough don't need much to survive. They can survive by working odd jobs. Some only work part time and still have enough mad money for their bar-hopping habit. That's where I need to be. We've already eliminated most of our debt, but we need to do more. My next step is to eliminate the mortgage. When it comes to expenses, mortgage and rent are top dogs and getting rid of them is one step closer to true financial freedom. I am starting to believe that there a limited number of necessary evils when it comes to bills. You can't escape utility bills, for example, unless you are living off the grid. Health and medical insurance is important, although one could argue that living a stress-free life can lead to better health. Transportation can be a sticky problem, unless you position yourself within walking distance of where you need to go.

The cost of food continues to rise, but we can offset some of the costs by growing our own vegetables and reducing our meat intake. Of course, to grow your own produce requires a hospitable climate for your crops (or a good sized greenhouse).

Sure, you can read the latest bestseller advertising how to make a million bucks by working a four hour work week, or you can come back from la-la-land and realize that nobody needs a million bucks in the first place. We just need to live more humbly.