Downshifting or upshifting?

I've had quite a few emails recently asking me how it feels to have downshifted.

There's only one problem: I'm not sure I actually have.

Sure, I've swapped the city stress for laidback island living, I've got a compost and I do actually intend to start growing my own vegetables, which seems de rigeur for downshifters. But that's about as far as it goes.

I work hard. I'm ambitious as hell (I have a whole notebook dedicated to everyone of HowToItaly's future plans and other editorial projects). And I'm making far more money than I was as a staff journalist or as an English teacher.

Rather than downshifting I like to think of it as upshifting: I've got:

• More money and more financial freedom
• A better quality of life in a place where cost of living is lower
• More 'me' time, 'us' time, family time and friends time
• The freedom to take holiday when I want without worrying about going over my set days
• I have a 2-second comute to work. The stress of sitting in traffic jams or waiting for yet another delayed train has been eliminated.
• I get to pick and choose who I work with - and that goes for clients and partners
• I get to go for moonlight dips in the sea with the sky lit up by the stars and moon
• My wine is poured out fresh for me at the cantina (wine cellar) and I pick up organic cheese straight from the shepherd's family.
• I'm fit and healthy
• I get to type away while looking out at the sea view

What do you think? Are you an upshifter? Do you plan to be an upshifter? Or is it all complete rubbish?

Comments

[Laura]

You're a total upshifter- And you're list makes me all the more motivated to be where I want to- upshifted, and in Sardinia, 2008!

[James Martin]

As someone who has raced cars, shifting is value neutral for me. You don't want to be stuck coming out of the hairpin in 5th gear, I can tell you.

I figure it's "uplifting" to make a living doing what you want to do in a place you want to do it from. It's not just an individual thing--the world needs to shift back to having happy people running things instead of dour folks waiting for Armageddon because they've got nothing better to do.

james

[Emma Bird]

Hi James

Thanks for stopping by. I love the term uplifting.

And thanks for sharing your experiences of Sardinia in your (wonderful) Wandering Italy blog. Your descriptions of people was so spot on. Oh, and $25 dollars of pane carasau? Woah! Expensive!!!

Ciao
Emma

[Joanna Young]

Hi guys - I think uplifting is a great term too, and one I haven't before in this context.

It captures what happens for the person involved - and all the benefits for others around us as we spread our happiness about! Thanks James :-)

[Emma Bird]

Hi Joanna

ooops. Sorry. I somehow managed to miss your comment so a rather belated thanks. Seems rather appropriate to writing and Italy.

Emma