Isn’t it funny that when we make a purchase there is often a surge of excitement that courses through us? It is like happiness is created by spending money to get clothes, electronics, toys and stuff. But that happiness is short-lived and we quickly move on to the next thing that catches our attention, hoping to generate happiness again. This is like a wheel that keeps turning. Stuff will not bring long-term happiness. The thrill wears off quickly and the need for something new and shiny takes its place. The last purchase is stuck in a closet, moved to the basement or stored in the garage to make room for the next shiny object.
I jumped off of this wheel a long time ago and that helped my finances considerably. I stopped spending money on stuff that I didn’t love and need. It also helped me emotionally by guiding me to find other outlets for my anxiety and my boredom. Now when I engage in retail therapy it is at the Thrify Shopper or Salvation Army. I prefer a walk in the woods or spending time with my loved ones.
I have written before about my need to minimalize my stuff, to get rid of what I don’t need and never use. I have been on this quest for years and have made significant progress. The last couple of months have been particularly productive. I guess isolating at home due to a worldwide pandemic has its advantages.
My dream is to live in a tiny house, van or simply (and more likely) a small but well organized space in the country. I love the idea that everything I own is easily accessible and has a spot to call home. In the hunt for this, I keep combing through my possessions to see what is not needed, is duplicated or simply no longer used. At times, I find this activity anxiety producing but usually it is therapeutic and I celebrate each item donated with a “yeah me”! I long to wake up each morning to a beautiful view that doesn’t include other houses, people or cars. I think this pandemic has also pushed my introvert tendencies to the next level.
I have gone through old photo albums and removed all of the pictures. I kept what I wanted and have a bunch to give away. I dumped what I didn’t care about and the ones that looked almost identical to the one before. it. I didn’t finish all of the albums but went through about 2/3’s of them. I found pictures of places I can’t identify and of people I don’t know. I found it rather funny that in the past I was excited to get them stored in albums and now I am thrilled to get rid of the albums and get them all in one small box.
HOW TIMES CHANGE!
I got rid of a queen sized comforter that came with me from Massachusetts. I have been using it at the lake but it is too big for my twin bed and there are plenty of comforters there to use. I am still holding on to a nice red one that might not survive the next downsize! I donated two of my four bath towels; how many does one really need?
I gave my sister a jacket, my Mom a shirt and donated some hoodies. I actually dumped 2 yard work hoodies and designated 2 more for my outdoor work. I have gotten rid of several pairs of footwear over the last few months. I am embarrassed to admit that 2 of them I had practically never worn. My brother was able to sell one pair for me and I got my money back in full!
My camp chairs went out to the road with a free sign on them and were gone by the end of the day! This also worked for some gardening pots and old tools. An old cooler went to the storage room at the cottage.
My dog and my Mother are not safe from my downsizing. I went through Mother Fran’s closets and drawers with her and got rid of a big box of clothes. She has lost a bit of weight over the last year and a lot of things were too big. I tossed some of Fenway’s old toys and a bed.
You would think with all of my progress and updates on downsizing I would have this task complete. By now my basement should be empty, my drawers tidy and my closet organized. That is not the case. I am down to one half of a pallet of stuff in the basement (I started with 2). It essentially contains 1 huge suitcase and 1 regular sized suitcase that I didn’t own when I moved here. It has one box of off-season clothes, 1 box of bedding, some holiday decorations and plenty of odds and ends.
I guess I continue to take baby steps! My dresser drawers no longer overflow and if I leave my closet door open I am not anxious about what I see. Every once in a while I fold my clothes the way Marie Kondo taught me in the “Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. I can’t say it is perfect but I see my progress and that makes me feel good.
Maybe at some point I will simply decide that what I own is exactly what I need or perhaps I will no longer care. Who knows. Times have changed and I tend to go with the flow! Bye, bye photo albums!
Is anyone else on a downsizing, minimalizing, tiny house quest?
Lake Girl