>If it would have had a squishy pad it would have been just as comfortable as s regular bed.

I had a few of those eggshell pads cut to fit the cot, and it was fine. Biggest problem was my fat-arse cat trying to shove me out of the warm spot, but moving up to a queen size bed hasn't resolved that. :p

I sleep on just a folder up comforter in the floor pretty often. I have noticed that when I sleep on it, I get some back pain for about the first three days, but it feels like a "good" back pain if that makes any sense. Its almost like the floor is adjusting my back to where is should be. After the three days or so, I feel amazing.

Once I go back to a regular bed, I once again start to feel some back pain...unfortunately, this time is not a good feeling, lol.

I would love to stay sleeping on the floor full time, but I don't think the gf would like me abandoning her in the bed, and she definitely wouldn't have any part in sleeping on the floor

LOL! Exactly!
Mom doesn't think I am comfortable.
This twin air is quite comfy and has alleviated my back pain.
Beds larger than twins overwhelm me--when I have company--there have been complaints.
Which leads to why I won't shack up.

In my twenties my mother put one of those egg crate foam tops on my bed. I used it for one night with the pointy side up. I didn't like it at all. I understand the theory about why it is beneficial but that didn't make it comfortable.

Sleeping on the floor can be OK with some padding. I gave it a try two years ago to see if it would help my back. It didn't. For a few days with nothing more than a comforter I slept fine. The mattress is still more comfortable. The cot is more comfortable than the floor. I've never used a futon for very long. Those are different and some brands must be different from others.

The futons I've seen are sectional with very big lumpy segments. They were held together by big buttons going across them. Those dips where the buttons were seemed too big. They must make sleep less pleasant. Is that the case? Someone here mentioned having the Japanese version of futons. They were expensive and looked similar to the ones I've seen. They had two folds that made three segments and they were designed to be used on floors. That would be a very simple bed and it would be more portable than a spring mattress with a box spring.

Would having the ability to pack up and move easily be one aspect of living simply? My idea of simplifying my life is only related to possessions because my work and social lives are already simple. There isn't anything I really want to change other than creating some type of job for me to be self employed. In the mean time I just get jobs.

Have any of you tried a Japanese Futon? I've heard good things about the ones located here (http://www.jlifeinternational.com/index_e.html) and am considering getting one somewhat soon.

For the past few years, I have been switching between an Air Mattress and an American Futon. I nearly slept on the Air Mattress for close to 2 years straight and it started giving me back pain and am now back on the American Futon.

The Futon I feel has corrected the pain I was receiving from the Air Mattress but I don't feel like I get a quality sleep from it.

Air Mattress: AeroBed EnduraBed (Discontinued) (It was an outdoor model which probably attributed to its failure for me)

Futon: Jaclyn Smith Traditions Mission Futon (http://www.kmart.com/jaclyn-smith-tr...W434244510001P)

If you have any alternative bedding ideas that can be stored away after use feel free to mention those as well.

Lots of air mattress love here...personally I would sleep better on cold tile in the middle of December than I have ever slept on an air mattress.

The Japanese futon does seem interesting. I helped a friend build a "frame" for one, one tile for his daughter. It was basically like a low wooden table for it to lay on. The neat thing was that they wanted it built with no metal parts since it has something to do with Feng Shui or something. We did all attachment points with a drill and dowel rods.

As media storage and other electronic devices become smaller, more can be kept in the same amount of space. That may lead to a much larger collection of media and more time spent managing the collection, and possibly never actually reading, hearing, or watching the media.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=264160
One day this might be me, though I would probably own a reclining chair and stay in that all of the time.

My current sleeping "apparatus" consists of a sleeping bag laying on top of a trifolded comforter. If it's warm I sleep on top of the bag, if cold, well... in it.

I've never slept better. :) Actually I visited my parents a couple of weeks ago, slept in an actual bed and was sore after that. :notamused:

For breakfast, I would have coffee and toast, sometimes, I drink orange juice. I usually wear jeans and shirt and would ride my bicycle to practically wherever I go, unless of course it would be several miles away. I sleep on the floor when I feel like it, I would just place my mattress on the floor. :) I try to keep costs at a minimum without sacrificing comfort. Last month, I got to make a wise decision of getting rid of my dedicated fax line and opted for this http://www.maxemail.com/max/online-fax.html It is really savings (now I would have some extra cash for a weekend movie, even just once a month). Anyway, if I'm tired, I don't prepare dinner and would have some meals delivered. And btw, I still watch cartoons if I'm stressed out.

What is several miles to you? To me several miles is definitely bikable.

My idea of simple living is changing again. With my frustrations building regarding working only at a part time job, my mind is ready to dump everything just to move to a place where there are better opportunities. I walked around my living room and bedroom and the amount of things I want to keep is shrinking. In my living room all I saw worth keeping were my toolbox (living rooms are for the important things right) and my Xootr scooter. There are many other things in there that six months ago I just had to keep.

In my bedroom all I want is my computer equipment, some clothing, air cleaner, two exercise devices, bongos, and about four mementos that belonged to my mother. There are a few other practical things in the kitchen but wow, frustration can really make a person prioritize in life. I have never, ever, been this way before.

I have no exact words for the way I feel about this. Have I reached my own personal realization that I really don't need things, or has my situation just made me select the things I feel are useful to me? Even some of the useful things could be jettisoned if the need arose. It's as if I'm half way to the point of not needing possessions. I want to reach that point in my psyche where I have no attachments.

I knew a lady who had no attachments. She was a Catholic Nun that grew up with my mother. That is how I knew her. People would give her gifts of all kinds. If she saw that somebody liked anything she had in her little apartment she would try to give it to them.

As long as I had some clothes, a way to get around, some money for rent and food I know I could abandon everything else and live securely, but would that be enough? I've come close to doing this before when Hurricane Katrina forced me to evacuate New Orleans. The differences are that back then I had a lot of money in the bank and this time the paring down is voluntary.

I really feel for you. It sounds like you're in a tough situation and getting frustrated. I've been there myself a few times, so I know it's really hard for you right now. Just remember that this too shall pass, and soon you'll look back at this as a "character building" time. My thoughts are with you!

I feel for you also. It seems that it is pretty much where I stand right now. I've been letting go of pretty much everything lately, although I have trouble getting started selling things. I'm selling all my bicycles except my commuter. I also realized that I enjoy walking. I'm within a 20 minute walk of everywhere I need to go usually. The only reason I use my bike for is visiting my parents in the next town over.

Some might remember the end of April as the time I spent preparing to leave on a bicycle tour with the purpose of relocating afterwards. I've made my trip, I'm done relocating and found a place and a job near each other. I'm really enjoying my car-free life right now. I was able to take the summer off to travel, spend copious amounts of time reflecting, pare down my possessions and also digitalize my music and photos.

The question that is troubling me the most is: What now ? I know that simple living is part of me and makes me deeply happy, but what am I supposed to do with all my time ? There are many things I like to read about when I have the opportunity, thinking I can just choose something to study in university. But should I go spend 4-5 precious years studying something I enjoy now, but may not in the end ? Or should I spend that time traveling ? A part of me likes Epicureanism: living a simple life away from the limelight, devoid of stress and pain. I'd like to study philosophy, maybe I could figure myself out a little better. :lol:

I really enjoy reading everyone's posts, especially in this thread. Thank you. :)

I am not car free.. I try to be car lite, combining trips and try not to drive if I don't a specific reason to go some where that requires driving. One pretty big recent event for me.. at least.. I've got rid of my Direct TV and sold my television. It's been about a month now and I don't miss it. I spend that extra time either outside in the yard, riding, or watching things online.

Just wanted to share.

Yeah... I gave up Direct TV a while ago and moved to NetFlix. And now I've pretty much switched to YouTube and BikeForums. Along with riding I also like to pick endlessly at my bikes.

Just YouTube for me. I found many channels that have great documentaries. Also enjoy BF.

Local TV, DVD's from the library, PBS.org, Top Documentaries, Discovery Channel Canada, National Film Board of Canada, YouTube. And my collection of VHS tapes.

I found some information recently about the gasoline rationing which was in place in Canada and the U.S. during World War II. Motorists were allotted four gallons a week at first and later three gallons or a little more than 11 litres a week. My fuel consumption in 2011 averaged to less than half the allotment during the most stringent period of rationing. Most of my short trips were by bike or on foot. The car was used for longer travel. Transit is not an option for me since we do not yet have a scheduled transit service where I live.

At no point did I feel hampered or restricted. For me, the limited driving simply makes a lot of sense.

I've just moved into a new apartment complex, and for the first time I don't have an in-unit washer/dryer, I've got to use the laundry center. $1.75 for one load! I already have an albatross-style drying rack, but now I've got a washboard and laundry-plunger on their way to me. It'll be interesting to see if I can make a go of hand-washing most of my clothes. I'm hoping to be able to only use the laundry center for bedsheets and rugs and stuff.

You might want some sort of wringer also. Washing lightly soiled clothes is pretty easy. Rinsing them and wringing them out is more difficult. It will also tear up the skin on your hands.

If I were in the position without a washing machine I would buy a used one. The last one I owned came from an appliance repair guy. He said that when many people upgrade their machines they needed him to haul away the older ones. He sold a bare bones one year old washing machine to me for just $150.

You could put the machine on a cart with wheels and connect it to your kitchen sink faucet. The water in the machine could drain into the sink. There are rubber adapters that fit over a faucet. They're like socks. The other end screws into the intake hose. You wouldn't need to connect both the hot and cold sides. Just use the hot side for a warm rinse cycle or in the middle of the cycle turn off the hot water and turn on the cold water.

Over time you would save money with your own machine.

Plungers with buckets do save money but they take up your time. I would use that method if I were in an RV away from a city. Kookaburra1701 let us know how the plunger works. If it works well I might get one to have as a backup machine. I've already got a big bucket.

I'm saving up for a wringer - I haven't found any less than $80, and those were cheap-feeling plastic ones. The one I want is metal and screws onto the side of the washbasin, but it's $150.

The plunger-thingy I got was this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o00_s00_i00
It's still in transit.

Unfortunately there really is no place to have a washing machine in this apartment, it's way too small. I already had to give 4 pieces of furniture away to Goodwill because they just wouldn't fit in the unit. I might give more away, it still feels crowded. I'm used to washing things by hand - I'm a knitter, so lots of my wool socks and other garments I've made have to be handwashed cold and then stretched and pinned to retain their shape while drying. I figure if I do it often enough, and don't let the clothes pile up (I don't have that many anyways, only about 4 changes) I should be able to get it done during the evening news.

Given you investment in hand washing stuff, it seems like you would have to do at least 100 loads before you save any money over the coin machines in your complex. And that doesn't include the costs of water, electricity, or your time. Are you sure it's worth it?