Sunday column: Maybe being a yuppie isn't so bad

My brother and I have a recurring argument that surfaces nearly every time we see each other: Who is the bigger yuppie?
He contends that I'm the yuppie of the family, since I drive a Volkswagen and have a Mac computer at home. I say he's the yuppie, because he's a coffee snob and has a downtown loft apartment filled with "modern" furniture.
Just for the record, I think I've got the majority of the family siding with me. But, he'd never accept that.
Phillip is a fellow Louisiana Tech graduate, but his Tech experience was a little different from mine. He majored in electrical engineering and immediately upon graduation went to work for Entergy in Little Rock, Ark.
I, on the other hand, was a liberal arts student whose first job after college graduation was waiting tables.
His starting salary out of college was more than I made after three years spent working as a journalist. Go figure.
The good thing is we both like what we do, and that's what's really important, right?
Despite the disparity in our paychecks and our ongoing "who's the yuppie" feud, Phillip and I see eye-to-eye in one area. We're both trying to reduce waste and energy consumption in our lives.
When I talked to Phillip earlier this week, I realized how his life is an example of our generation's heightened awareness of global climate and energy issues.
As a single working professional, he's not feeling the squeeze of the high cost of gas and everything else as sharply as the rest of us are. For example, he recently purchased a brand new computer desk in his favorite "modern" design which, despite its sale price, was more than I'd dream of spending on a piece of furniture right now.
Nevertheless, Phillip is downsizing in other areas. He recently moved to downtown Little Rock, within walking distance from his office. He bought a bike and rides it to work and to the Little Rock River Market, where he buys fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.
And, even more telling, he sold one of his two BMWs (yes, he had two BMWs and he's not even 30) and is considering selling the other so he can get a smaller, more efficient vehicle.
Why is my brother making these changes when he clearly can afford two car notes and gas for both cars, not to mention insurance and extra cash for enjoying Little Rock's abundant night life?
I think it's because he's aware of the impact his lifestyle has on the world, and he wants to be a conscious and thoughtful citizen.
This really isn't that novel of an idea for Phillip, who is also an avid outdoorsman. In his many years of Boy Scouts, camping trips and hiking trails, he's always been a low-impact camper. He feels it's important to leave a campsite the way he found it in order to preserve the wilderness area.
Along with many others, he's taking the ethical idea of low environmental impact and applying it not only to camping, but now also to day-to-day life.
There are many ways to apply this principle in real life; it just takes thoughtfulness and a shift in priorities.
Maybe people like Phillip are helping to redefine the word "yuppie." Much has changed since the term first became part of the American vernacular back in the '80s. Instead of simply referring to elitist young urban professionals with money to burn, maybe it's evolving to describe young professionals who are a little more concerned about the environment they're leaving future generations and a little less worried about buying the latest brand name products.
If that's the case, then Phillip and I might be a little more eager to be named "biggest yuppie in the family." It could be a label to take pride in, rather than something to be ashamed of.