Urban Monk, aka Secular Ascetic Options

Just got my copy of Adbusters end of year edition, and they 3 top identities of 2006. This one caught my eye...

Urban Monk, aka Secular Ascetic.

Not to be confused with the hedonistic urban hippy, urban monsk thrive on the underrated pleasures of self-denial. Taking a cue from the Stoics, Puritans, Sadhus, Spartans and Jains, this eminently sustainable though largely secular creature excels at saying no: no to the accumulation of wealth, no to conveniences, no to cars, no to television, no to meat. Possibly owns a laptop, but harbors deep-seated guilt about that fact. Thrills at issuing personal challenges like 100-mil, raw, vegan, calerie-restricted diets. Some adherents even dabble in the mortification of the flesh, renouncing hot water and room temperature above 15C. They do, however, tend to draw the line at sewing thorns into their underwear.

This seems to describe me quite well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I'm not interested in making lots of money.
I stopped watching TV a year ago.
I drive a Smart car.
I own an iBook (but have no guilt about it).
I am giving up meat for 2006.
My room is heated to 17C.

Any other Urban Monks out there?

Greetings Mediocracy. Very interesting name 'Urban Monk'. Sadly I cannot associate with all the 'necessities' to be one.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/swoon2.gif) However, I have no desire for wealth; I watch as little TV as possible (premiership football the exception); I despise red meat and am fast going off chicken. I adore vegetables. I have a laptop but sadly don't feel at all guilty.

As far as hot water goes I am at the stage of having one shower a week because I can't stand hot water but also am too much of a coward to take a cold shower.

I am a lone magician ... currently wearing a brown sweat shirt top which looks a little like a short monk's habit less the hood. I enjoy solitude ...

I might not fully qualify as an Urban Monk; more like a 'Green Belt Monk' as we live about 10 minutes drive from Hamilton City Centre in the green belt here in New Zealand.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)