lowmagnet

I'm soon to move to Raleigh, NC. I think this is the perfect time to make some significant changes in my life;
[list=1][*]My satllite isn't coming with me.[*]I'm getting rid of any furniture I consider 'crappy'.[*]My VHS tapes and VCR are outta here.[*]I don't plan on getting cable.[*]I've gotten rid of books of superstitious or occult nature.[*]I've also gotten rid of a significant chunk of outdated computer books.[*]I've dumped every game system and game not PS/PS2[*]I've dumped all my PC games. This was a long time coming since I bough a Macintosh last year.[/list=1]

I'm honestly planning on not watching broadcast TV. Electronic entertainment will be completely about DVD and PS2. Has anyone done the same?

This change of location is about cultural evolution from my perspective. I can go back to being vegetarian, which was impossible with visiting my folks on the weekend.

I can get better walks living in a city with actual sidewalks, as Pittsburgh is rather deficient in that respect. I have a chance to get better furniture because I'm leaving a lot of my stuff behind with my sister.

Will I go insane? Is that too much change for one person at a time?

Monkeybot

Welcome to the Triangle area. I live in Durham, about 30 min. away from Raleigh. Raleigh's got some cool stuff to do -- the NC Museum of Art is actually pretty good. I like it since it's a small museum, and rarely crowded, but their selection is still surprisingly good. Hillsborough Street, which is the "main drag" of NC State's campus, is pretty entertaining, if not exactly the classiest part of town.

Anyway, to actually address your point, I think it's cool that you're starting anew. It doesn't sound like too much change to me -- how else are you going to feel the full effects unless you jump in with both feet? And as a lifelong pack rat, I have to admire your ability to throw away so many of your belongings, even if it gives me cold shivers I'd probably keep my satellite if I were you, but hey, different strokes and all.

lowmagnet

For the reasoning behind my giving up the dish (and I would have done so this summer anyay) see This post on my site. Satellite is just too expensive, and I don't really get anything out of it anymore.

midnight

I have done the same with the television. I did fine with changing but I think the key to my success was in my approach. I didn't treat it like they were commandments that if I violated I was being evil. If I needed mindless time and TV was the only appealing outlet I watched some TV and turned it off when I got bored. If I got a uber big craving for something not in my new diet I either made a run to the restraunt and/or to the grocery store. Ate it in a meal or more until the craving passed. With food I've found if my body is craving something like meet its cause I'm low on something my body needs and giving it the meat is good not bad. So in short if you can approach your new lifestyle with flexibility and acceptance then I don't think you'll go insane. If you approach it like a born again approaches their new life of christianity yes I think you'll go insane and be miserable. That my experience any way.

Evangelion

Sounds to me as if you're making the right choice. More power to you.

BTW, I dumped TV 6 years ago and haven't looked back.

KoopaFanatic

A friend of mine who attended UNCG informed me that it's near impossible to be a vegetarian in North Carolina. Of course he wasn't a vegetarian, so it's not like he was trying...

Good luck! Me, I can't wait to get the chance to move someplace. I want to finish getting my stuff out of my parents' basement and do a good sorting-out.

Friar Bellows

Just remember that wherever you move and whatever you leave behind, the face you see in the mirror every morning will still be the same.

oriecat

I think that's totally awesome. Moving is a great reason to renew yourself and start fresh. I planned to do that a couple years when I was seriously planning to move to Chicago, but it didn't happen for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes we really want to make changes but find it difficult to do so while in our safe and normal environment. So you're not using your move as an excuse to make changes, but as a catalyst to make the changes you already wanted to make.

Good luck!!

lowmagnet

I've been a veg. before, so it won't be so hard to get back into it. At home, I already keep no meat, so that won't change. It just changes what I order when out with friends.

I'm 'mostly' vegetarian already, and I don't kick myself for eating a steak.

I'll still have a set for TV viewing, but it will be configured for A/V equipment and not for broadcast.

It is easier to make a change when you are already making on, that's certain. Moving from a remote office to headquarters will definately be a major cultural shock to me. I assume I'll adapt, though.

lowmagnet

Well, I decided to not give my dad the satellite dish and box, and include it in the sale of my current home. That's not going well. There are about 4 houses for sale on my block, and 35 in my zipcode. I see maybe a family come through every other day.

I stopped my 401(k) contributions, and I also stopped contribution to my money market. I'm going to be writing checks to close out some accounts (reducting debt load) and I'm working to find ways of making my house more attractive.

Luckily, I can afford to cover rent once I move, since I live in a rather ascetic manner. I have a condo under contract on contingency, but I doubt my house will sell in time. It's unfortunate, but I think perhaps I need to take a better look around the city before I settle in anyway. Who knows, I may come across something I really like once I'm ready to buy for real.