Hi,

I was just thinking, after one of the podcasts I listen to mentioned how much we waste 
in terms of, well, everything, about a world or country that was based on a philosophy 
of necessity, minimalism, and functionality. Anyone who chooses to move here come, 
well aware and supportive of a life without all the frills and fluff, and most importantly, 
opposes waste.

A little bit more about this country:

Houses are built in limited spaces with optimal functionality in mind — somewhat edited 
in a way that beds can fold up, creating more space in the house during the day, with 
tables that can be pulled out of the wall to use only when needed. Some people already live 
like this right now. Amazing.

Using less land for the houses will allow more space for gardening and nature. There will 
be more green in this country than cement and buildings.

Rather than commercial markets, farmer's markets will be the norm and only type 
of market. The community will buy food and produce from their local farmers, a win-win 
for both parties. People will have fresh produce daily and farmers will thrive.

There will be extremely limited quantities of junk food and fast food. The cost of those 
will be ridiculously high. I'm thinking for a Mcdonald's big mac, around $57. Would you 
still buy one? Most people living here will probably already enjoy a fresh, clean diet, but 
even the best of us will occasionally crave junk food. The high cost will hopefully 
discourage people to eat it, eventually closing down all fast food joints. Hamburgers and 
pizza are more than welcome, you'd just have to make it fresh at home. Your body will 
thank you, and it'll taste better anyway, without all the preservatives and who-knows-what. 

Everyone lives with the essentials. No excess stuff that will sit in closets, never to be used. 
Everything we own will have a purposeful life, because anything that is ever made here 
will have been approved by the This Is Necessary (TIN) committee. 

Before anything gets made, we will ask, "Do we really need this?" A simple yes or no will 
determine whether that thing will get made.

Any product of any kind will be made with natural materials that are durable and 
long-lasting. Re-usable is our favorite word.

Design and style wise, simplicity is the reigning aesthetic of all. Kind of like A.P.C. 
meets Eames meets Everlane meets Muji meets Scandinavia — yeah, just like that.


This country I imagine is called Modest — pronounced "moh-dest."


Would I live here? Maybe after I've come to terms and full realization that I really 
don't need all this junk in my life that inevitably becomes waste and trash. I really only 
need basic essentials to live. Happiness, I should find elsewhere besides in materialistic 
things, though I do get weirdly excited with simplistic designs in knitwear, furniture, bags, 
cups, and plates. Sometimes I look around at what's in my room and I feel "ugh" and 
distressed. So much stuff. Stuff I never use, stuff I wore once and never again, stuff I bought 
out of impulse, just wasteful stuff. 

I need to quadruple think before I buy.