Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for.Seeking material success is beginning to 1 a large number of people around the world.They feel that the longtime work culture to make more money to buy more things is 2 up their lives, leaving them very little 3 or energy for family or hobbies.Many are turning to 4 ways of living and downshifting(过田园式生活)is one of them.
Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to 5 last year.One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz.They 6 to work in central London.He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank.They 7 go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, 8 their two children with a nanny(保姆).Nearly twice a month Daniel had to 9 to New York for meetings.They both earned a large amount of money 10 began to feel that life was passing them by.
Nowadays, they run a 11 in the mountains of Wales, “I always wanted to have one here,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to 12 the decision to downshift.It’s taken some time getting used to, but it’s been 13 it.We have to think 14 now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any 15 .However, I think it’s make us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot 16 .”
Liz, however, is not quite sure.“I used to enjoy my job, 17 it was hard work and long hours.I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m 18 getting used to looking after the animals.One thing I do 19 , though, is being able to see more of my children.My advice for other people wanting to do the 20 is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”