I first met my efriend Krissie on a message board titled "Simplify Your Life" where we talked about clutter, possessions, excess materialism. All those lessons were brought home to me - er, slammed home to me - when we had to do the radical downsizing to move aboard the boat.
So when she sent a note asking if I was still simplifying, my first thought was - how much further can I go? My clothes closet has 11 hangers, my husband and I fit all our possessions and all our living into less than 300 square feet of space, I traded my CD collection for an iPod and my cookbooks for a Word file, what's left?
But there are some jobs that you can't do once and they stay done - like feeding yourself, it's an ongoing project. Books, t-shirts, condiments have a sneaky habit of accumulating when you aren't looking, and need to be purged on a regular basis. Fellow liveaboard Scott says that if he didn't do a major cleanout every change of season, he'd accumulate enough junk to sink his boat.
Last winter, we sorted through all our clothing and donated half. This fall, we did it again, and now I'm getting close to feeling right. Hmmm, not what the manufacturers want to hear. Have you noticed that here in the States when someone says "I have nothing to wear" it means there's nothing in their closet that suits their fancy at the moment? There are places where having "nothing to wear" is the literal truth.
My next, toughest of all decluttering challenge is going to be purging my address book. The glory of the modern technology is that distance no longer matters. The problem with modern technology is that you can't let friendships that have outlived their relevance just gracefully fade away. (If you have this blog link, don't worry, you're not one of the ones I'm thinking of shedding!)
So yes, Krissie, I'm still simplifying - and I'd love that link!
3 comments:
I'd love the link too Krissie! Interesting post Jaye! Being the mom of 2 little darlings, stuff just seems to accumulate more and more. I've had fantasies of shedding everything, selling the house, and just traveling and experiencing life.
I'm sure if we tried hard enough, we'd find a way that it could be done. I'd have to talk the hubby into it of course... but my eldest is on board!
It has gotten me really looking at things, and thinking about what I need and how I can simplify things like the homeschooling (which accumulates a lot of stuff!!!!). We had a huge purge before #2 was born, and as I'm watching the baby clothes (#2 was in the 3 month size since two weeks ago!) accumulate in the basement, wondering if I should hold onto them (we're not sure if we'll have another or not) or just give them to someone who needs them.
In any case, so glad to hear that by shedding more stuff, you are where you want to be. I'm rather envious on this end, mind you! :)
ok added the link on my blog jaye...when I read this post I thought I wonder who her othr efriend krissie is and then realised its ME!!! lol!!!!
Playful grace - the link is there on my blog for you too...sorry I dont think you have a blog..last time I checked?
Post a Comment