OP --- my advice would be to make a note in your diary to return to this forum (if it's still here) when you're say, 35 to 40 years of age
(and keep hard-copy of your current posts in this forum, too)
It will be interesting (for you, more than anyone else) for you to compare your beliefs of now -- with those of later, when you've spent 20 years or
so in the world, on your own
By then, you'll very probably have children of your own
You (
if you're on your own) and/or they (
if you become a parent yourself) will very definitely require 'material things', even if
they're basic shelter and regular food, water supply
You may, if you wish, impose your own values upon your childen
For example, you might raise your children outdoors (under a tree, perhaps) which would require them to dig holes when they wanted to defecate
You might expect your children to live off the land, which would consume much of your own and their time in pursuit of edible berries, grasses, seeds,
etc
You might raise your children to accept they cannot access technologies which you consider 'materialistic' -- in which case you and they will
require to pitch your wild-wood camp close to water in order to bathe & wash such clothing as you possess. No phone or internet or electric light.
Open fire to boil water and cook, etc.
Eventually, you'll be compelled to address the issue of your offsprings' education. You could home-school them, of course, which would consume much
of your time and energy. If you decide your children might benefit from at least a few years' formal education, they'll be placed at decided
disadvantage when they attempt to mix with children from more conventional homes -- picture children dressed in woven grass with a little pouch of
seeds and berries ?
Very probably, if you choose a non-materialistic lifestyle for yourself and your children, you'll discover your children will reject it and you. For
a time, at least
Only later, perhaps when they have children of their own, might they appreciate your attempts to instill in them non-materialistic beliefs and values
-- just as you claim to reject what you consider to be your own parents' 'materialism'
Your parents had a life before you were born. And their lives will continue when you depart their roof. They were not born *as* parents, nor were
they born simply to be your parents. They have lives of their own. You are merely a part of their life's journey. You might be surprised by the
choices they make, once they're no longer responsible for maintaining your lifestyle. They might retire to Sedona, for example, or take up painting,
sculpture or dedicate some time to hands-on work in the 3rd world. Your inheritance (which I'm sure right now you'll claim not to want) might be
spent instead on fostering orphans from Iraq
I know someone who, as a young woman, portrayed herself as a free-spirit. She came to our home several times a week as a teenager, to bemoan her
parents and what she believed to be their 'materialistic' values, so on and so on ....
You'll smile at this (I hope) because once that girl's parents were freed from the responsibilitiy of providing for their offspring --- guess what
they did ? You'll love it ! Those 'materialistic' parents spent basically every penny they possesed on a huge tract of virgin bushland and when
all the planning depts. had been satisfied, they erected a dam in a gorge on their land. It wasn't a huge dam, by any means. But it provided a
much-needed water-supply for native animals and birds in that drought-stricken region. Then, using their backs and hands and their remaining monies,
they erected log-cabin type chalets where, for a fee, corporate types could conduct bonding and other seminars in a natural bush setting. When the
cabins were empty, families with disadvantaged and disabled children were invited to spend a week, in peace, for free
The last time I spoke with their daughter (the one who'd bemoaned her parents' values) she was a parent herself and expressed her fury with her
parents for
'squandering her inheritance on that stupid alternate-lifestyle money-pit'
My husband and I visited her parents a few years ago. Quite an experience. But worth it to see the parents, both white haired, lined of face but
smiling naturally ... no artifice, as smoke curled up from the chimney of their hand-built home and the sun set behind the mountains. There were
dream-catchers and bits of stained-glass dangling from verandahs and native-birds galore. Their furniture consisted of random 'interesting' pieces
they'd picked up at the local tip and reworked. They made their own bread, grew their own food. Their hands were masterpieces in testimoney to
human-toil. They had next to nothing but appeared very fulfilled. And they said, without complaint, that they seldom heard from their daughter these
days. She was too busy working to pay for her 4 x wheel and standard suburban home
Soon, you'll set out on your own life's journey. You'll need to sell someone your skills and time, for example, in order to pay your own
electricity and ISP bills so that you can do something as simple as post online. Unless you opt to utilize free library (or perhaps your future
employers') internet access. Which will mean someone else will be paying your way.
In order to eat, you'll need to grow your own food or sell your time and skills to buy basic foodstuffs. You'll need a place to return to each
night, to shower and clean your clothes and sleep, for example. All the material comforts you take for granted now are things you'll have to provide
for yourself, in a short time
Hopefully, you'll be able to arrange a life for yourself that doesn't betray your ideals. That, on its own, is a considerable undertaking and quite
an achievement, if you manage to pull it off
In the meantime, you might ease up on judgement of your parents. For your own sake, most of all. Because, remember, you're going to have to read
the opinions you hold of your parents today --- later, when you're their age
Best wishes