Stuff. Stuff. and Yep more Stuff. Geez, how much Stuff does one need in this world? What kind of stuff do I really need to help me in my daily life? What tools can best contribute to my getting along in a tiny home? These are the questions that went through my head as Brandon and I began thinking about our move into, first the dry cabin and then a couple of years later our move into the tiny home. I was 39 years old when moving into the dry cabin. I have no children and no siblings so I don't have as much stuff as some other women my age just because of these two factors. Still, I had plenty of nic - nacks and Avon "keepsakes" that had been given to me to commemorate a specific time in life. I started to realize how little space we we're actually going to have and the things that stuck out as most important we're survival items. I love my Mom and Dad dearly, but in a time of peril the Nutcracker dust collector sitting on the shelf was going to be the last thing I reached for as me and my "Go Bag" we're on a hurried way out the door to a presumed safe spot.
This was the start of a huge letting go process. I don't miss one thing I intentionally got rid of. I don't miss any of the cook books that I gave away, nor do I miss the clothes that someone in need now possesses. It was a freeing process. Now I can focus on other tasks that I want to accomplish and not be tied down to stuff. Now, there are a couple of items that I left in hotel rooms years ago. I still lovingly think of that old pillow that I was a couple hundred miles away from in Texas before I thought, "Oh no! I left my favorite pillow!" Well, it would be so old by now, that I am sure I would have thrown it out, so Bye Bye sweet feather pillow that craddled my head for so many years. I got over it and now have a nice pillow that suffices. Who am I kidding? I sleep like a rock and have slept literally on rocks during deployment. I can sleep anywhere. Through hurricanes and small earth quakes I've been told. The next thing I still think of from time to time, is an abalone shell that yes, was also left in a hotel room. I used it to hold my sage while it burned and cleansed the space I was in. Hopefully someone found it, considered it a treasure and had a use for it.
The stuff that I knew I would not part with was my camping stuff which I consider to be my survival gear and will never willingly part with these items. This letting go process was AWESOME! I love getting rid of stuff that no longer serves me. I have what I need in the way of material items and know that I have way more than most humans on Earth. I am very blessed to have what I need in my life and so much more. By detaching from these material items I gave myself permission to explore other areas in life. My down size happened in many stages. As I was ready, I gave away bit by bit and before I knew it I was ready to move into an 8 1/2 X 20 foot tiny home!
Brandon had mentioned in a comment (@leighlim)a week or so ago that we're Tiny Home Preppers and are looking to homestead so we are not minimal. Well, I think that we are minimal to the extent that if we don't need it we don't buy it or collect it. We do have a good bit of food storage, water and weapons. You know, the things that truly matter when the Poo Hits the Fan! I said to someone recently that we will all be faced with down size one day, because when we die we aint taking it with us, no matter where we transition to. I am happy to be in this physical reality with a wonderful man and one day will die and have more adventures some place else. Hopefully, by letting go of stuff in this life I am helping my soul to further gain fulfillment in this life and the next.
To the people who are thinking of down sizing, just start small and see what you are ready to let go of and the process will take on the energy that it is suppose to. Give yourself a chance to change! I am learning that if I give myself an opportunity, I can make lots of soul progress by getting my physical reality into better shape. If I just give myself a chance I am amazed at what I can accomplish. Take good care and well wishes to you all.
Lindsey
Oh my! We also got a shock. We moved from 2200 sq. ft to a tiny home, 16x16. We had no idea that we had gathered so much. We spent alot of time on craigslist getting rid of things. It has given us a real unattached feeling. It is wonderful!
I love to hear it! My husband just showed me the knife you sold on Steem Bay. Thats a beauty. Did you make it? We love knives!
Thank you! Yes I make them custom. I use repurposed steel and fully heat treat them.
Thats awesome! I can't wait to be able to bid on the next one you put on Steem Bay. Keep up the great work! My husband is going to put some jewelry that I made on there soon. He is way more patient with "buttons" than I. (I call the computers , buttons, usually followed by a curse word or two.) So, he is real good at helping me with the buttons. Have a great night!
There might be a bidding war 😏.
Haha! Yes! Good times! :)
Downsizing becomes addictive!
Oh, yeah it is!
So much love for this!! We did a big downsize/purge to move here, I am ready for another one to lose more baggage. You are so right...that pillow would be dust by now, what a great way to look at it. Easier to disconnect from the longing of things. I lost a few prized things in a flood....maybe they'd be wrecked or faded by now anyhow....thank you for this. Bring on the purging!!
Thanks for the comment! Good for you for letting go! I didn't realize how good it is for the soul until I started letting go. I took photos of a couple of special items and donated them to a good cause. I scanned most all of my photos and even parted ways with those. You know, since they are on my computer I look at them a bit more than when I had the "real" ones in a box. I wish you much joy in all your days!
I'm so ready to down size! But right now we're in a large house with 3 kids. We're looking to make our move to a piece of land in three years or so, and the kids will all be independent by then, so we can just take what we need. Being free of all this stuff just sounds like a dream!
Yay! I am excited for you! What an exciting time in life you are upon! It sounds like you won't have "empty nest" syndrome. Three years is plenty of time to go at down sizing slowly. I guess I took a couple of years to really get down to the bare bones of what I felt like I really wanted to hang onto. I used to participate in gift giving just because it was "the time of year" or the "thing I was suppose to do." I did it out of good intention, like most do, but I see now that I was giving to people who needed nothing. I choose not to give in that way any more. I give more thoughtfully now days. I have learned that my time is more valuable to those I love than any item I can purchase. Cant wait to hear more about your move! Good things!
I did a downsizing of sorts, moving to Canada meant leaving most all my stuff behind in storage in Sweden. So technically I still own a lot of stuff, but beside a siutcase with clothes (a really, really big one that I refilled once on a trip back to Sweden) and 6 boxes that I sent over the years I dont got much of my things here. Some I dont miss at all like my kitchen stuff - i like eating but not so much cooking food (good thing my husband loves to cook hehe), the clothes I done without for the past 2 years im having a hard time even rememberin what they are but the things I do miss are the rest of my tools and materials!!
But as you say, its more a matter of resetting your mind and adjusting than the actual doing thats hard.
I hear ya girl. I am sure you miss your tools and materials! Those are the things worth keeping. The tools that help us to be creative, thats some important stuff! I hope you are able to get those in hand soon :) Have a good day!
Downsizing is the future! I did too! I packed my suitcases 5 years ago to come live in Asia. I have been living in a bedroom since then and I rarely feel like I need more than what I own now. My tiny closet also helps keeping my thrift shopping habit in check...(well I honestly still need to work on that one ! lol) I would love to own a tiny home in the future, I'll keep following your journey.
Good for you! I will look forward to seeing your posts and photos. Good luck on your thrift habit. hahah. Take good care!