The Non-Consumer Advocate Book Club — Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle — The Bonds of Social Capital

by Katy on April 2, 2009 · 4 comments

 

Simple Prosperity

Welcome to week four of The Non-Consumer Advocate Book Club. We are discussing David Wann’s Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle.

The first week we discussed the preface, introduction and first chapter.

The second week we discussed the second chapter.

The third week we discussed the third chapter.

The fourth week we discussed the fourth chapter.

This week we’re discussing the fifth chapter:

The Bonds of Social Capital.

Wann starts this chapter writing that:

It’s inevitable that our society will once again give higher priority to belonging and lower priority to belongings. The reason is simple: our current way of life often leaves us feeling used up. 

It is this idea of social belonging vs. belongings that is explored in this chapter. When we isolate ourselves with television and other solitary endeavors, we do ourselves a disservice.

“Now we see that many of the products we work so hard to buy actually isolate us from other people — for example the ipods, video games, and Visa-funded fantasy vacations that take us (temporarily) to other realities.”

The issue of people with social support is explored as a study from the American Sociological Review reported that:

“One-fourth of American say they have no one they can discuss personal problems with.”

That’s awful. Not only does this high statistic make me worry that a large percentage of people don’t feel they can discuss problems with a spouse, but to not have anyone is sad indeed. 

The concept of social capital is introduced, which I love. Capital that is not quantified, and thus is not vulnerable to economic downturns. It’s present irregardless of income.

“When social capital is wisely spent, social capital lowers crime rates, makes schools more productive, and helps economies function better. . . In socially abundant communities and nations, individuals don’t have to earn as much money to be comfortable, because quality of life is partly provided by the strength of social bonds.”

One example given is farmers who share equipment. On my block, there are three of us who share freely and we enjoy that only one of us has to own a wheelbarrow, post-hole digger, etc. (Us.) But it is very reciprocal. For example, my neighbors are out of town at the moment and we are feeding their cats. They brought over their perishables before they left and I took their grocery store circular, which contained a very high value coupon. I knew they wouldn’t be using it, and that they would be happy to share it even if they were here.

Studies have been done on the affects of a strong support network on a person’s health.

“Dr Dean Ornish, author of Love and Survival, says, ‘Study after study has shown that people who feel lonely, depressed and isolated are three to seven times more likely to get sick and die prematurely than those who have a sense of love, connection and community in their lives.’ “

This connections between social support and physical health is further explored, with the relationship between humans and their pets also given credit for their positive effects.

Wann writes about the relationship between his parents, who describes it as a “sixty-three year love affair.” 

Wann also writes about a few other people whose wealth is not cash-based, but rather social wealth. (A priest who helped raise orphans and a neighbor who suffered from cancer.)

The social capital of neighborhoods is explored, as Wann writes about how he used to live in a rural mountain town and was isolated from his neighbors. Sure, they’d help each other out in times of crisis like blizzards, but it sounds like they were mostly fairly spread out.

Wann asks, “why did it take blizzards and power outages to strengthen natural bonds between people?” He writes that, “In many of America’s neighborhoods, we’ve become strangers on our own streets.”

Is this so, or a myth? I feel very connected to my neighbors, as do most people I know. I wonder how much truth there is to the “strangers on our own streets” assertion.

Examples are given about how people can bring the bonds of their neighborhoods together. Babysitting exchanges, community gardens, potlucks, discussion group, carpooling, etc. are mentioned. All good ideas. It’s very easy to get caught up in the demands of day-to-day life and never get around to connecting with those who are closest in proximity. And it’s especially hard when cold weather cocoons us in our homes for months at a time.

Wann writes of a number of great specific ideas that communities can do to strengthen not only their neighborhoods, but individual lives as well.

What’s not to lose? Strengthen your community and long term health by fostering your personal relationships. Sounds like a win-win situation!

Non-Consumer Advocate/ Simple Prosperity Challenge:

Host a neighborhood or block potluck in the next two weeks in your home. This is not an opportunity to show off your elegant and perfect home, it’s an opportunity to get to know your neighbors a little better and enjoy one another’s company. (So don’t worry about having your house being Martha Stewart perfect.) Points will be deducted for elaborate gourmet food .

I will do the same at my house, and maybe even incorporate a book swap.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that technological gadgetry isolating us from one another? If so, would you be willing to live without them?
  2. Would you cut back on the amount of work you do, the amount of time you spend acquiring and pampering possessions, and trade it for honest relationships?
  3. Do you notice your neighborhood becoming closer and more supportive in times of crisis, such as snow storms and power outages?
  4. Do you feel you’re a stranger on your own street?
  5. Will you be joining the neighborhood/block potluck challenge? If so, give yourself credit and let us know! Heck, send a picture and I’ll even post it.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

The next chapter to be discussed is: Time Affluence.

P.S. Sorry it took me so long to get this week’s book club discussion up and going. 

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Jeanine April 2, 2009 at 11:02 am

Do you agree that technological gadgetry isolating us from one another?
No. If not for some technology, I’d not talk to some people I deem worthy in my life. Case in point….this blog and this comment.

If so, would you be willing to live without them?
I could live without them. I don’t think I would learn as much, but I could.

Would you cut back on the amount of work you do, the amount of time you spend acquiring and pampering possessions, and trade it for honest relationships?
Define honest relationships. I know I have honest relationships, but I’d really need someone to be VERY brutal to advise me how to survive if I were to cut back on working. Acquiring and pampering possesions? HA! That’s funny. According to state stats, my family and I are below the poverty line. This is with two working adults….both full time. We ‘acquire’ bills. Lights, car insurance,groceries. No cable or phone or internet…those are free. Sylvan Learning Center because the school district can’t be bothered to cater to the well behaved children….but if my child was acting up and out, she could get free in school tutoring. We ‘acquire’ health issues. Diabetes, ezema, poor eyesight. We don’t ‘acquire’ things that take away from the very little that we start off with.

****sorry about that…..the rain has me in an awful mood***

Do you notice your neighborhood becoming closer and more supportive in times of crisis, such as snow storms and power outages?
No. Time will tell, as we are currently about 2 feet away from having to row to work.

Do you feel you’re a stranger on your own street?
Yes. I don’t know but one person on my street, and I’ve never been in her home, though her grands and my kids play all the time.

Will you be joining the neighborhood/block potluck challenge?
No. I live in sketchy neighborhood, and unless there was someone there to keep the riffraff at bay….I can’t see it. Free food and drink tend to bring all kinds out. The police are short handed and without a chief. Not something I want to chance. I would, however, love to start something like a street garden….something that would draw like minded people. I just wish I had some land to do that on.

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Ryan April 2, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Hi,

Interesting read. As for discussion question #1, it has an isolating effect if we allow it to. I spend a good deal of my day on the computer, networking on the FB, twitter, and various boards, but I also make time to get outside and socialize. I run and always make it a point to chat people up when I am in the neighborhood. So I feel that I have a good personal balance between technology and human contact.

Thanks for sharing your insight 🙂

Ryan

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Catherine April 2, 2009 at 8:38 pm

I have a strong network of family and friends but I know only a few of my neighbors by name. I am old enough to remember living without a lot of our modern technology but I would not willingly give up my cell phone, the internet, or even my Ipod. Most important, to me, is the ability to easily stay in contact with my son who lives overseas. Overall, I think I am more connected to others due to modern communications.

Reply

Meg from FruWiki April 4, 2009 at 1:42 pm

1. Do you agree that technological gadgetry isolating us from one another? If so, would you be willing to live without them?

No. I’m kind of shy and don’t get out much because I work from home. I don’t think I’d get out much more if it weren’t for the internet, but because of the internet I’ve met soooo many wonderful people that I do consider true friends. I feel even less isolated because these friends are literally around the globe.

2. Would you cut back on the amount of work you do, the amount of time you spend acquiring and pampering possessions, and trade it for honest relationships?

Definitely! And I think I have — even if most of those relationships are online!

3. Do you notice your neighborhood becoming closer and more supportive in times of crisis, such as snow storms and power outages?

We haven’t had too many disasters here, so I wouldn’t really know. I think we have a pretty supportive community, though, for those who reach out.

4. Do you feel you’re a stranger on your own street?

A bit, yes. And the one couple we sort of knew appear to be moving.

5. Will you be joining the neighborhood/block potluck challenge?

Nope, but great idea! One of these days I do hope to make it to the neighborhood watch meeting to get to know more neighbors, but they usually hold those on nights that I’m busy.

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