Downsizing, living life more simply or, the current trend is called minimalizing. No matter you call it, my journey has been labeling it, “getting rid of all the shit I don’t need.” Simple. Strangely it has not really been that simple at all.
I have never had a lot of attachment to ‘things’ and it has caused some problems over the years. We spent hundreds of dollars and more time than I can count moving an upright piano that belonged to (my great grandmother?) As I write this I feel bad that I don’t remember. What I do remember is that I was the only one in the family that played it and no body else really wanted it. After hiring the first piano movers for about $400 I should have realized why no one else wanted to lug the thing around. It was after the third or fourth movers that I realized it deserved a better home than collecting dust, unplayed in my next living room.
My condo is a one bedroom 640sq foot top floor unit. I guess I should say my condo WAS because I sold it. I was hoping to moving into something more. Something bigger. Two bedrooms, maybe a yard?
Then Melissa suggested I watch a documentary on Netflix called ‘The Minimalists.’ I watched it twice. Joshua and Ryan are a bit extreme for me but the theme that we attach so much to things and stuff really spoke to my soul. Downsizing from my small condo made sense.
At this point, I had 15 boxes packed and put in my storage room. I don’t think that I could have told you what was in half of them! In fact, two of the boxes were labelled ‘random closet stuff 2006’. WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? What was so important in my life that I boxed it up over ten years ago and never touched it?! Time to officially start downsizing.
I brought all the boxes back up to my apartment and opened them all. Yup. Even the random closet stuff and sorted through it all.
Random closet stuff was mitts, gloves, and hats. Extra ones. I already had one or two of each that I actually wear. It was also keeping a bike helmet, wrist protectors, two combination locks and a sun visor safe. I couldn’t have remembered the combo for the locks if you paid me a million dollars. And I don’t think I have ever worn a sun visor in my life!
After two full days of wine and Netflix I managed to whittle away at the 15 boxes. I have two that I am keeping for sure and two that I want to spend a bit more time going through. Seven boxes got donated to Value Village and the rest of the stuff I am selling on Facebook market place. So far I have made $850 and am waiting to sell another $500.
It is great to have some fun money but it feels so great to get rid of so much useless stuff. Clothing I hadn’t worn in years. Casserole dishes that I got as a wedding gift 20 years ago and had only used once. Crystal wine glasses that I was afraid to take out of the wrapping for fear I would break them so NEVER used them. Five different sizes of frying pans. 14 different sizes and shapes of glass vases.
The list just kept getting longer. Pink boots I bought to help raise money for breast cancer that are still in the box. Seven different shades of lipstick, nine colours of eye shadow. A full set of 12 bowls and plates with a gravy dish and serving platters. I have never, in my entire adult life ever had more than six people eat at my table. I don’t think I have ever made gravy, either?
So why. Why do I have all this crap taking up space in my home. Downsizing makes so much sense to me.
Physical space, emotional space. A lot of space that I could use for…
Nothing.
Space that I don’t have to fill with shit that I don’t need.
I am looking at buying an RV. A 35 foot fifth wheel RV to travel across the country in. I want to fill my life with memories, adventures and experiences.
Don’t get me wrong, I still like stuff and things. I have just realized I need a lot less of it than I have. I just bought the new iPhoneX. Jasper has a nice doggy bed and matching pillows and I love my fluffy purple towels.
I can’t wait for the next chapter in my life. Downsizing my stuff and my things will make it easier to just pack up and go when I want to.
www.theminimalists.com
I hate clutter and have thought of adopting this way of life for awhile as I am a packrat. Especially of clothes. I always think “I’ll fit into it again someday or I might need it again someday” when I never wear it again and just buy everything new. I think I’m going to start doing this as well, unfortunately I am afraid of fb marketplace type stuff but making my life more simple will definately help! Awesome blog Lacey!
I had a pair of jeans that I could barely get over me knees 🙁 Yup – what if one day I fit into them again? It has been 15 years; I haven’t worn them… I doubt I ever will. Donating a few boxes to good will is less stress than Marketplace. SOme organizations will come pick up as well – have someone home with you.