Move Preparations and the Discipline of Simplicity

March 21st, our target move date, is approaching. We're excited about our new adventure into a more simple life, close to nature in a peaceful and beautiful setting. It's even more wonderful to arrive at the beginning of spring, as the North Country awakens from its winter slumber. I like autumn, but I think springtime is my favorite season.
Our highest priorities are to get our stuff moved and the horses established. Then we have to construct our garden. All that presumes that the place doesn't need major repairs - always an unknown. I think it's important to engage the community and I'm hoping to join the Volunteer Fire Department. I don't know anything about firefighting but I can learn. There's also a Volunteer Ambulance in town and I may consider joining that (again with zero knowledge of the field). It's easy to live in isolation but I don't think it's healthy.
We are making progress every day. We pack a few boxes, all labelled, staged and ready to ship. We are getting rid of the stuff we don't need. Life gets increasingly simpler when you 'edit' your stuff. Our big goal in the next two weeks is to sell one of our cars, our beloved Subaru Forester. We have three cars and we'll keep two - although that seems like one too many.
The discipline involved in simple living can be quite difficult. I'm taking a computer science class that I really like, but our little netbook computer will be replacing our big desktop machine. The netbook won't run the software so I'd have to upgrade - buy another computer - to remain in the class. I thought about it and made a tough decision to give up the class. A new computer is a step in the direction of complexity, not simplicity. I'll probably spend more money buying a new computer than I estimated, many hours configuring it...and we'll have yet another device to charge, maintain and keep track of.
So, the netbook will be our computer, such as it is. I'm sure we'll upgrade eventually but the idea is to "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without".