...I think that most people here would feel those to be too extreme for long term voluntary living but OK short term.
Also, since the "hardcore baseline" will be different between most here based on their own experiences and beliefs, maybe the goal should be anti-excess, barebones for happiness, minimal needs rather than "living in a cardboard box down by the river" kind of thing (although it can include that too and I personally like that kind of ideas to be discussed but doubt many others will).
It’s still so subjective and arbitrary, though. I think that’s the reason the (whole) forum needs to remain open, with each member responsible to and for herself.
By any definition, thousands on a quick vacation each year (for example) is excess. It’s excessive environmentally, financially, and in terms of percentage of most people’s income, global need, local need, etc. Sharing a private home with only one’s favourite person is luxurious. Spending more to live in a high infrastructure area is both luxurious and excessive. Not relative to living in a cardboard box -relative to need, to simplicity, to the majority, etc. Most people on the planet live far more simply.
Extreme excess (e.g. two people spending $2000/mo for 1200 sq ft) is too low a comparison set point to be of much value. If we say a life of luxury and excess is the bar so long as it’s
slightly less excessive and luxurious as the extremes of Western middle class, are we really talking about badassity, by any definition?
It seems simpler to recognize that the vast majority of us (members) are lucky and soft and living cushy lives than to pretend we’re amazing.
I love the ideas in your closing sentences, and those are what we do on the forum already. It’s what’s gotten many of us from Super Soft to merely Quite Soft, which is cool.