[tvp2003]

Here we go, found the article: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgari...889/story.html

Even in big-living, big-consuming Calgary there are minimalists in our midst.

Take Jay Baydala: Once upon a time, he worked in corporate information technology, earning big bucks. Between contracts he travelled to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Latin America.

"I found myself drawn to the people in those developing nations. They had something - this joy, this lightness - even though in our Western eyes they have nothing," says the 41-yearold Calgarian. "But they had everything: they were so happy, so playful and connected."

After each of his trips, Baydala would return to Calgary where he owned a downtown condo, some investment property, a couple of vehicles, electronics, closets full of clothes - all the accoutrements of an affluent, First World life.

"But I felt empty. I didn't have what they had. I wondered, 'What is that about?'"

He realized the happiest times of his life were when he was an student and had less stuff.

"It was before I got locked in the trap of accumulating stuff and having to stay in a job because you'd accumulated stuff -the selfpropagating cycle of staying at jobs that you hate to make lots of money to pay for stuff you don't really need or want.