The balance of pluses and minuses

I talk a good talk about decluttering, and there is so much advice on the topic. I do believe it's a good approach to love what you have.

I also felt like this, found via the Seventh Generation blog, is a good approach:

"Ask yourself what you want your life to look like over the next few years," Grufferman writes, "and you'll come up with a vision for your future, which will be your personal theme. Once you have your theme, you can work on getting rid of everything in your life that doesn't fit the theme, and you will be prepared to let go of the clutter."

Even though I've got a few years before I turn 50, it sounds like great advice. So what would you say is your theme? I think mine would be Greater ecological and creative sustainability.

In Andrea Zittel fashion, actions can be divided up into pluses and minuses:

Consumerism:

More trading/bartering.

Thoughtful purchases--living with a mend it mentality. 

Buying used.

Consuming: 

Food straight from the farmer.

Homegrown and homemade.  

Expending:

Biking.

Trading.

Giving.

And living by the William Morris quote {thanks for the reminder Sarah!}:

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."