living with less

Today I took a load of stuff to Goodwill. For the 757th time I am trying to downsize my life and really prioritize. I want to spend time, energy, and money on the people and things that are important to me and less of all that on "stuff." I've been reading these blogs and books about the "minimalist movement." Daddy, I re-read the book you sent me entitled Put Your Life on a Diet, by Gregory Johnson. Interesting stuff. All these books and authors talk about owning only what you really need or really love and finding other things to do with your time and money.

When I think back to the times I was happiest and did the most with my life, it was when I had the least. In college I had a dorm room and some clothes and bedding. In the Army I had a barracks room (or hooch) and just enough stuff to wear to get me through. During those times I worked out, had dinner with friends, knitted, and read. I basically did the things that feed the body and soul. I find it harder to do all of these things when "real life" sets in and there is stuff to acquire and care for. So, I plan to return to the days of more freedom.

I already emptied my closet for the first go-round. All those clothes I always seem to acquire that take up space and hardly get worn.

Then came the knitting stuff. Somehow or another my long-term interest in knitting has resulted in a huge collection of needles and acessories. No longer. Those have been paired down. That may have been the hardest part so far, but it had to be done. I plan to pare down even further when I figure out what I don't use from the pile I kept.

Next comes the fridge. I realized recently that I tend to stash condiments, spices, and dried goods that I either use once and never again or don't use at all. I have made a promise to myself that I will only buy what I will realistically eat and enjoy. No more buying it just because it's healthy for me. Those foods are certain to languish on my shelves. No more fancy mustard because it looked good at the time. And I have to eat everything in the fridge before I purchase new stuff. Also, I am only going to buy produce at the farmer's market once a week.

I want to waste less and save my money for things I care about, like traveling. It is silly when you think about how much stuff just gets thrown away. The Germans have it right, making you recycle everything. Here in the U.S. it is too easy to just dispose of whatever you have lying around and not think about where it goes or why you just spent $30 on magazines that you throw away two days later. Hmph. Silliness.

I was going to take a photo of the inside of the fridge or my knitting pile for this post, but really it's just too embarrassing. I think I'll just work on paring down to the essentials and the stuff I really use and enjoy and occasionally I'll tell you about it.

Now, I want to find a way to have one of those tiny houses we've been seeing in the news lately. Maybe not as small as those in particular, but do you remember the little shack Esther was living in when she joined the USMC? Something like that. A bedroom, common room, kitchen and bathroom. I plan to move out of this apartment in Feb. when my lease is up and find something more conducive to the pets. A little shack like that would be perfect. Or maybe a trailer. Or RV. Who knows?