What is work anyway? We make a distinction between work, meaning a job or paid-employment and our Work, meaning our “calling” in life or our life purpose. Work, using this broader meaning, may or may not include compensation. Our path since 1994 has included very little work but a lot of important Work, most of it unpaid.

We believe that our living example is a powerful tool in transforming the thinking and behavior of others. Therefore part of our Work includes living our own lives in a simple and ecologically sound way. This is an ongoing effort with many twists and turns but includes volunteering in our community, staying connected with family and friends and transforming our “place” into an urban ecological model. (See Simplicity and Sustainability in Action)

Since January 1994 when David left the corporate world, neither of us has held “regular” jobs. We live primarily on interest income of about $30K per year which is generated by the “nest egg” we created by following the Your Money or Your Life program.  We supplement this passive income with some paid work. While promoting simple living and Getting a Life from 1994-2002 we sometimes received small honorariums for speaking engagements. Beginning in 2002, Jacque has taught yoga classes, worked as an election inspector, made chocolates on a seasonal basis and sold handicrafts. After occasionally doing small construction and maintenance projects for friends and neighbors for several years, in 2004, David started Heitmiller Handyman Service as a part-time business (see mar 2004 for more details.)

In mid-1995, shortly after Jacque completed her Ph.D. in Communications, Your Money or Your Life authors, Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, asked us to write a follow-up book which would include stories of people who had actually implemented the program. Writing, editing and promoting Getting a Life was our primary Work from mid-1995 through mid-1999. (As mentioned elsewhere on this site, 97% of the net proceeds from Getting a Life are donated to organizations that support simple and sustainable lifestyles.)

From mid-1999 through 2002, our primary Work was speaking and writing about simple living, Your Money or Your Life and sustainability. In our Work we try to make the connection between Money, Earth and Spirit. We are also actively involved with several organizations related to simplicity and sustainability including the Simplicity Forum, the Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) and the International Association of Sustainable Business Organizations (IASBO).