Prioritizing Experiences in Nearby Nature and Community in Daily Life
Meet Brett Korsgaard, who derives a sense of lasting satisfaction from prioritizing experiences over stuff in his life. Brett has benefitted from abundant, nearby community and nature spaces where he lives. Investments in public space benefit us all. This post is part of Profiles in Living Connected to Place, my series that portrays individuals living connected to place with intention and the support of systems that make it possible. Prior posts can be found here.
As a child, Brett Korsgaard spent much of his time roaming the oak savanna beside his family’s Walnut Creek, California home. He and his brother felt intimately connected to the land. They knew when and where the alligator lizards emerged each year and the seasonal changes to the weather, trees, and grasslands.
Brett referred to the ecosystem he grew up knowing as a child as “part of my being.” Time outside and exploring with family and friends left a lasting impression on him. He learned about the deep contentment of connecting with nature and having daily adventures within walking distance.
As an adult, Brett places a low priority on having stuff in his life, mainly resulting from a love of experiences and a sense of frugality passed on to him by his parents. Affirming that one doesn’t need to buy things for happiness, he remembers a Henry David Thoreau quote from his high school English class— “that man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.”
When I interviewed Brett, he was living with his wife and two teenage sons in what he described as a “fantastic neighborhood” in Austin, Texas. They could have bought a larger home on the city's outskirts but opted for a more modestly sized home in a central, walkable community. He loved that they could walk to the barber, doctor, a nature trail, parks, and restaurants for any meal, including his favorite spot for breakfast tacos.
Brett treasures his few possessions, many of which have been with him for some time. He keeps a pocket watch from his great-grandfather and a wooden Jack Kramer tennis racket from his high school tennis days. A mountain bike he has had for over 30 years still works and is used by one of his sons. Art pieces from nature, such as a nautilus shell, are displayed in his home. For yard and housework, he prefers mechanical items such as gardening with a hoe and cleaning floors with a broom. Brett enjoys his limited collection of items and feels satisfaction from not being burdened by stuff.
Experiences in nature and with others help make Brett happy. Sharing homemade desserts with family and friends around the holidays is one highlight. The pecan trees in his front yard bear a large harvest every year. Most of the annual crop is given to families in need who come and gather the pecans.
Brett has an iPhone but limits his time on it. He is “not sure it makes things better” and is concerned about how smartphones disconnect us from place. He does not spend time on social media.
Little time on digital devices and buying and organizing stuff frees up time for Brett to get regular doses of community and nature. He walks daily, usually along a nearby creek, and often interacts with neighbors. Brett reflects on how he approaches life, “We’re creating memories. We go back to the earth when we’re done. It’s mostly about shared experiences and enjoying the journey. The simple things are the most enjoyable— a walk, the rain, nature that hasn’t changed in millennia.”
With looming environmental crises and population growth, Brett sees living with less stuff as something everyone will need to do. He feels fortunate to live how he does, cultivating happiness from experiences with others and in nature. Living with less stuff also allows Brett and his family to save money and increase their financial security.
Reducing the role of consumerism and stuff in our lives has many benefits to the environment, community, and individuals. Downsizing the consumer goods system and expanding systems of nearby nature and community spaces will enable more people to derive a lasting sense of well-being and happiness and allow our places to thrive with nature and community.