The Simple Life

Florian Friedel (aka ‘Flo’) was born and raised in Pforzheim, Germany. Flo started working as a programmer running cnc-machines when he was twenty years old, the same year he fell in love with rock climbing. But three years later, he felt trapped in a job that gave him little freedom to travel and climb. With some hesitation, but knowing this is what he needed, Flo quit his job in order to go on a six months climbing trip. He discovered a lifestyle that he didn’t know existed before. He bought a van, drove to Spain and spent the entire winter climbing around Cornudella de Montsant. Six months turned into eight years. During this time, Flo learned that he could live with a lot less than he had thought. “You have to allow yourself to be flexible enough in your mind to change your life according to your needs.” Today, thirty-three years old, Flo owns a piece of land outside of Cornudella where he has built a 430SF home off-grid. He spends summers working in Germany building climbing walls and enjoys a simple life on his land the rest of the year. Flo collects rainwater, runs solar panels and enjoys his daily chores. “Land comes with maintenance, but it is work for yourself, for your life and not for money, so I don’t question it. In the end it’s the little things that make you happy.” I walked away from our conversation feeling inspired by the life Flo has created for himself. Sometimes less is more. It allows us to connect with ourselves, our community and the land we live on. Cornudella is very special in that way, its tight-knit community feels like family. Some of the happiest people I know here have very little. For me, it’s a good reminder to keep evaluating what actually makes me happy and “stay flexible in my mind” while I take my next steps.