It's Been A While

So, this happened today.  

Prior to today Kelly had been very busy trying to get what she wants to take to New Mexico into a reasonable pile in the empty living room.  Unfortunately, the pile was bigger than the car.  We considered renting a trailer, but really don't want to pull a trailer across the country.  So, we decided to go with the smallest PODS container, 7x7x8.  Now we can just load up what we need to go across the country and put everything else into the PODS for delivery to Albuquerque.  Unfortunately, they don't deliver to Taos, so we need to rent a van or truck and pick our stuff up later in August.

Prior to today's delivery we took a break and traveled to Maine for a 10 day break.  We did the auto road to the top of Mount Washington, something I've never done before, and drove the Kancamangus Highway and hiked the Flume.  An enjoyable break to get us ready for this final push.

We should be New Mexico bound this weekend or early next week.

Getting Closer

Yesterday was a busy, busy day.  Three different friends came by and picked stuff up, Dan (Kelly's son) came by and picked up a few more things.  And we also had friends over for dinner, who have been in Hawaii for the past six months and are getting ready to move to Massachusetts.

We are approaching the finish line.  Next we plan to set up the car topper in the living room and pack what we think we want to take to Taos.  If it fits, great.  If not, we need to
downsize a bit more.  The main part of the car will be our clothing for the trip, the cat and dog (with their accouterments) and food that Kelly can eat along the way.



Top left is the upstairs front bedroom, then the "room that must not be entered," the downstairs apartment that needed repair, the living room, and the old exercise room.  The Bowflex and the treadmill are both gone.  Our bikes are still there because they are coming to Taos.Who remembers the photo of the "room that must not be entered" from our earlier posts.  Quite a difference.  Most of the areas with stuff are groupings set aside for people.  Some of them are piles that still need to be gone through, but not many.

The Past 30 days or so

Much of what I've written thus far in this blog relates to what I've read from the all knowing downsizing gurus.  I've signed up for Living More with Less on Facebook, I've read and re-read Marie Kondo, Fly Lady, and many other experts whose works populate Google search results.

In the past 30 days, there have been days it seems to take a great effort to continue slogging through 'things'. Other days flow like raging rapids, with things quickly being removed from the house as buyers stop in to pick up their newly purchased treasures.

To sell:  Things I thought would sell quickly, have not.  The car, the HD motorcycle, the collections new in box of Barbie, hot wheels, GI Joe, All things Shrek, Harley Davidson Gear/Decor and HD Memorabilia. HD  Leather jackets, even leathers new with tags, never worn, are not capturing any one's fancy on ebay or CraigsList.

We did sell the high end treadmill, the furniture, the big screen tv, the rower, and the Mustang.  Update: The  Honda Insight sold to our friends Janet and Walt who were in the market to purchase a replacement for their Toyota Prius, a car they've passed to their college age son.   They are happy with the comfort and economy of the Honda Insight, and it is nice to see the car in good hands.

To donate:  Thankfully, the Tidewater area is flush with places that regularly schedule pick up in this neighborhood.  DAV, Vietnam Vets, Purple Heart, and more.  One organization, Eggleston Family Services, has the added advantage in that it also picks up old electronics, keyboards, household items, construction items, tools.  They seem to be willing to take more than most.  I have worked with their organization before, and am glad to put a good portion of the stores moved out of the attic into their capable, hardworking hands.

To Keep:  This pile is still too large, or, as I like to think of it, Under Deconstruction.   Things that move into the To Keep pile have been known to graduate to the donate pile, as I re-examine my motives and keep in mind the long term goal of less.

In the past 30 days, I've learned another old adage that proves to be true.  Your kids really don't want 90 percent of the things you think they will.

Don't keep it for them.  They've outgrown it, and have moved on to a new collection of things that matter to them now.  I thought the Christmas Ornaments, or the treasured toys of their youth would be grabbed up and carried off to their homes. No such luck!

The laughs that treasures of yesteryear brought forth from their smiling faces will have to be reward enough for me.  My Buddy, the baseball and basketball cards, all of the Fisher Price School Houses, Farm Houses and Ferris Wheels now belong to some other youngster.  I hope that the parents pass them on quickly, rather than allow them to set unused in the attic.  I let things set, unused, for far too many years, with the idea that the kids would have kids and want to continue the memory.  My kids are grown and have other ideas on how to live their own lives, which is exactly how life should be!

The other truth I've realized is that deconstructing the overflow is cathartic.  Sometimes it's really hard.  For a few days or more, at times I've had to stop the effort, because mentally I couldn't get my head around the next category of things to move over the threshold and out the door.  We attach memory and emotion and safety and security to things.  It's more than just stuff, but holding on to too much is like dragging anchor.  At least that's the way it is for me.

Thankfully Paul is patient and understanding.  I think observing me in the process of downsizing here also gives him an appreciation for what he will face when we get to Taos and begin the process there.

I've also come to realize this process isn't just about downsizing.  It's about creating the surroundings that bring us a sense of sanctuary, haven, and peace.  Having things just to have things isn't helpful in the greater scheme for our lifestyle.  We want to have less so that we have less to take care of around the house.  The goal for us is minimizing the demands that our possessions place on our time and wallet, so that we may travel and enjoy visiting family, friends, the country, and the world.   Fewer possessions equals more time to play.  Fancy that.

Pancakes worth repeating

Pancakes.  It's Nor'Easter season in the Mid-Atlantic.  This rainy, bleak morning brings out my noms for pancakes.

Paul is a kind and patient man who's eaten more than his fair share of gluten free, soy free, dairy free, egg free pancake attempts this past six months.

Today, I do believe, we discovered the closest thing to perfect pancakes.  His one complaint?  That I didn't write down the recipe.

So here we go, the recipe for yum.
Paul will try to replicate the success of this recipe again in the morning!

Mix 1 T white chia with 3 T water, set aside to congeal. 10 minutes. (use one large egg if you can use eggs)
Melt 2 T ghee, or butter, or coconut oil and set aside to cool (use any good fat of good flavor)

Whisk together dry ingredients
1 C Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1/4 C Potato Starch
1/4 C White Rice Flour
1 T white sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Add 6 T lemon water (fresh lemon juice with simple syrup) (substitute lemonade?)
to one cup of 'Milk' ; I used oatmilk
Set aside for five minutes

Mix together chia/water mix, cooled oil, and oatmilk/lemon water blend.

Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients bowl.

I make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, then pour in wet ingredients all at one time, and gently whisk to just moisten all dry ingredients.

Let batter set and percolate while griddle heats up to 350 degrees.  Do not over stir.

Once griddle is hot, lightly oil with ghee or coconut oil, then pour pancake batter onto grill.  I used about 1/4 cup per pancake onto hot griddle.

If the batter is too thick, thin with more oatmilk, be careful not to over stir the batter.

Let the pancakes cook on the griddle until they are bubbly across top and dry on the edges.  Flip and cook opposite side just a few minutes until golden brown.

This batch made us 12 generous fluffy pancakes.

Simple syrup:

Boil two cups of water.  Add 1 Cup of Sugar (most recipes call for 1 to 1 ratio) and stir until sugar is dissolved.  Let cool.

Add juice of 12 lemons.

I use this lemon/water/sugar mix for all things requiring lemons - guacamole, lemonade, mixed drinks and cocktails.  Freeze in ice cube trays then use a Tablespoon (cube) at a time to season soups, salads, and pancake batter.

In good health.

Guru Advice, of dreams, grief ~ and Moving on

In general, the advice of the downsizing throngs consistently preaches these principles:

1.  Sort - decide what to donate, to sell, to throw out, to keep and to provide a home all it's own.  A putting place.
2.  Ask - Does it make me smile or bring me joy?  Does it bring a bad memory?
3.  Ask - Do I have more than one?  (I have nearly two of everything my friends joke)
4.  Ask - Have I used this in the last ....... (times vary according to author) six months, year?
5.  Set a timer and Unclutter for at least 15 minutes a day with a vision in mind (making it easier to get ready to have company over? moving out?)



Marie Kondo recommends sorting by categories.  It's a smart idea.  Begin with Clothes, move on to books, toiletries, save memories such as photos and letters for last or you'll get hung up and stall out.

She states that when we hang on to things we do not need or use, we have an attachment to the past we need to let go of, or we keep these things for stability in the future, or a combination of the two.  I also believe that the more time I spend on yesterday's stuff, the less time I have to enjoy what I really really want to do today.

Having said that, Kondo's approach grows more appealing in my daily search for motivation.  It's her work on downsizing that I continue to return to when I find my self in a holding pattern that doesn't seem to move me toward the goal of putting the house on the market quite as soon as I think I want to.

Kondo recommends taking everything from every room in the house of today's category and putting it in one place.  All at the same time.   Oh, and begin first thing in the morning, when there is quiet.

I don't know about you, but it's a challenge to put ALL of any category in one place here at this house.

For example, Books.  There are beyond many books in my inventory of books that I've collected since childhood.   To make it manageable for me, I've modified the approach to put all cookbooks together and work through them.  Followed by all motorcycle books, then all books from the 1900's, Repair and Home Building guides, and so on.

Kondo recommends holding each item to check for the experience of Hall of Fame level Joy.  If it's there, keep the book.  If not, the book is released to bring some one else joy.   She states that your body will 'know'.

The camping gear is another category I found challenging to put all together, as some items that get regular use outside of camping take year round residence in the house.  There are soft coolers, hard coolers, large coolers, small coolers.

We pack food everywhere we go, so this isn't unusual.  There are also camping items in the shed, but it's simply too cold outside to go into the shed, and there is plenty yet to do in the house.  The camping category receives a stay.

What I've experienced over the last month or so of sorting through the last 30 years of my life is that when it comes to the things I have no attachment to, it's pretty easy to donate, sell, share, or put in the garbage.

When I come across the things I have an attachment to, I experience a twinge, a pull at the heart strings, a dream of what once was or of what could have been.

Today (April 3, 2015) I opened a letter from 25 years ago.

And I stalled.

Instead, I rested.  I cleaned, I cooked, I did laundry.  I avoided the task of sorting until the grief and I came to terms.  I spent time online searching for more advice, ideas, methods, and encouragement.  I picked up the downsizing banner again four days later.

I do think that if I had stayed the course as Kondo recommends, simply stick with all of the lesser categories of clothes, books, toiletries, tools, and so on, before tackling the big box of memories, I might have stayed truer to the course.  

Each day is a fresh start.  I will follow her advice which states that you need to hone your Joy detector in other categories before you will acquire the strength to tackle memories, letters, and photos.

This is, by any measure, mentally taxing work!  Perhaps if it wasn't "MY" stuff, I'd find it easier?

For the sake of my own accountability, these are the three next categories:

Winter clothes
Blankets and Bedding
Motorcycle Leathers and Gear

Wish me Luck!

April Already

   We had hoped to have the house on the market early this month. I know it won't be early, but it may be this month. We are making progress, but just not as quickly as we thought. Kelly has gotten through all the papers that need to be shredded and is now going through photos. Some she takes a picture of and posts them to Facebook. Her relatives are having a grand time with all the old photos.
   She plans to scan and toss, or scan and give photos to the appropriate relative. Her plan is to not bring any photos with her. I'm not sure about that. I think of the bookcase full of photo albums that Laura put together when she was alive and I'm pretty sure I can't just scan and toss. I think I can send them to a relative to store, but I know that I can't toss them.
   Since it is always good to have a picture in a blog post, here's one she posted of her son Dan. By the way, he is in his 30's now. He's on his grandfather's bike wearing his grandmother's glasses.

Yes Kelly, You Are Making Progress

    Remember the first pics posted for the room that must not be entered?

This is what the room looks like today:

Or this angle:

















There is a floor showing and walls!  You are making great progress.

Phone Wallpaper

Last June I took a driving trip from New Mexico to Portland Oregon, south through California and back to New Mexico.  I really loved my walks in the redwood groves of California.  I took many pictures, but had to push the ASA to 1600 and 3200 to get a light reading.  This results in very grainy pictures.  Next time I'll bring a tripod.

However, the other day I came across those pictures and decided to put one on my phone as wallpaper.  I really like the results.  So an image that isn't good for printing or stock photography looks great on the phone.

You are more than welcome to download and use it on your phone if you like.

Craig's List and Safety

   A few days ago I listed my 2012 Honda Insight for sale.  I got a response quicker than I expected, but it didn't feel right.  The person went on about scams and wanting to avoid them, but didn't want to use an electronic payment system.  He also didn't like the Craigslist email system and asked that I respond to his email.  His email address was hosted by a known spamming service and was registered to a Latin American express shipping service.  He offered cash.  Cash is the hook.
   I responded from a throw away email address that I understood about scams and that we are fortunate to live near Virginia Beach where people can use the police station lobbies for completing transactions.  I offered to meet him at anyone of the Virginia Beach police precincts.  No response.
   If a response doesn't sound right, trust your instincts.  Check with your local police station and see if they are willing to provide the meeting location for your higher price transactions.  Just because they haven't advertised the service, doesn't mean they won't be open to it.

An Update, Books, and Motivating Me

After a few days short of about a weeks worth of unexpected but necessary rest, I am once again ready to approach downsizing.

This week I am striving to downgrade my white
tornado approach and behave more like the tortoise.

Inch by inch it's a cinch.

This week also found our renters in need of another month living here so that the repairs underway in their new home can be completed before closing.

They are good friends and good company.  I am relieved to have a reprieve not of my own making.  It's an extension of time, granted by circumstances.

While Paul is painting the trim around the fire place, I am sorting through books.

Books are my friends, and I will dearly miss their presence. Many of these books haven't seen a shelf in years, as they've been living in boxes.
Why?
They've been waiting for the mission style book shelves to be built in the room that was once a formal dining area.  We are selling the house and I am leaving the dream of the books on the built by me bookshelves behind.  Today I am going through the books and removing personal items, book marks, money, notes, and receipts.  I am deciding as I go where the many books will go, and I find a pleasure in doing so.

Who will make the best use of the shelf of Harley Davidson and Motorcycle books?  Who will want the cookbooks that date back to the 60's and 70's?  Who will appreciate the shelf of books on marketing and sales?

The books that I am leaving with others are books that I hope will be put to good use.  This appeals to that basic practical need I have to help others help themselves.   It's good  for me to find happiness and satisfaction during this process.   While many of the remaining books are likely to end up in recycling bin, I will donate to the local  charities and see if they have any luck reselling from their shelves and let that decision belong to some one in the future.

After a few hours of handling books, I realize I have picked up and set back down on the shelf the same book.  Three times.  I am aware that I am tired and distracted and not making progress.

I now take this as a sign to either take a break, rest, or refocus.   Or all of the above!

To refocus, I like to get online and read motivating articles that inspire me to keep moving.

This article takes it a step further than I am willing to go by asking that you write down everything that you own, then calculate it's value or cost, then sort your belongings by Need, Sometimes Need, Want, and Crap.
The author then recommends that you take photos of the four different stacks, and review the cost in time and dollars of the crap stack (pile).   It's a method that can be used to change the way we think about the way we buy our stuff.

I'm all for redesigning the programming in between the ears in order to live a leaner, cleaner life.  I find that having a full time retail with long hours job was (I left work last October) a huge distraction from thinking about purchases.

I  realize that I purchased many things not because I needed them, but because, as this article suggests, I was using many a purchase as a way to fill my unmet need for time out with friends, time to have fun, time in the garden, time for reflection and time for my spiritual life.  

The effort to refocus has inspired me to take the rest a step further.  I invite my husband to a nap.

A nap will allow the brain to cogitate on the next few hours of book sorting.

By the time we wake up, it will be nearly time to open a bottle of wine.

Effort, Reward, Rest, Repeat.

Pets - what to do?

   When Kelly and I married we became a blended family.  She was a dog owner and I a cat owner.  Now we both want to travel, but don't want to leave the pets behind.  This creates some interesting problems or concerns.
   While Trinity, my cat, did fairly well on the trip from NM to VA, she isn't in love with travel.  Lokki, Kelly's dog, loves to ride in the car and will probably love traveling.  However, we have not had both in the car at the same time.  They get along fine in the house, but how will they do in the confined space of the car?  Do we leave Trinity in her cage and give Lokki free reign?  Do we let them both out in the car?

   Once we sell the VA home we will be traveling with both in the car.  It may be a straight trip to NM over four days or it may be late enough in the year that we go to Indianapolis for my niece's graduation from Med School and then see other family in the Midwest.  If we do that, the pets could be traveling for closer to three or four weeks.  How frazzled will Trinity be then?  Will she adjust or go and hide each morning?
    When we are settled, whether that is in NM or some other state, what do we do when we start to travel in earnest?  Do we take Lokki with and leave Trinity behind?  Do we leave them both behind and find a good pet sitter?
    We hope to travel on military Space A flights.  If we do that, we can't bring the pets.  Do we take a number of shorter Space A flights to find our next place to live?  Then pay the high US Carrier fees so we can bring our pets with us for a much longer stay?
    What do we do for Lokki when we are in my condo in N.M.?  Here he is used to a fenced yard and we can just let him out to do his business.  I don't have a yard and the nearest grass will require us to put Lokki on a leash and walk him.  If we put a gate on my little courtyard will Lokki get used to doing his business on pebbles and mulch?
    So many questions that need to be answered.  Perhaps the first step will be to take Lokki and Trinity for a ride one of these days.  

Ring of Fire - and It Burns Burns Burns

I'm a fan of the music of Johnny Cash.

This song has a different meaning to me than one might expect.  

This post has nothing to do with downsizing, or travel, or food allergies.

 This post is about the fact that I am not getting much done more days than I would like because of the impact of living life with a Ring of Fire.

 In January of 2012, an Oncology Nurse shared with me that I had made the decision to save my life by electing to have a bi-lateral mastectomy to remove breast cancer.  

An Oncology doctor later advised that I had dodged a bullet and didn't need chemo or radiation.

Happy Dance!

While I do not recall any medical professional advising me that I would be entering the world of chronic pain following surgery, perhaps one Doctor or Nurse did advise me of this possibility?  Perhaps they did not know I would soon be an unlucky member of the iron bra ring of fire club following surgery.



The tissue expansion and breast reconstruction process began in January and ended in September of 2012.  

I was often assured during the process, that once the tissue expanders were replaced with permanent implants, the pain would subside.

The burning sensation and sense of wearing an iron bra rolled in glass shards hasn't resolved.

It's steadily there.  I've adjusted to it's steadily being there.

Most mornings I mentally work on pain gating before we get out of bed, and this helps me to get on with the activities of the day.  Most days, I can engage in a life I enjoy.  Most days, the pain and I get along.


Recently, I decided to paint the walls on each side of the fireplace.   It was a small job.   I wanted to do it, and I made a good start.  My will is strong.  The burning ring of fire burned higher than my will.   Thankfully, a close friend finished the painting and it  looks great.


Recognizing that I am not capable of doing the same things I could do so easily before the surgery isn't happening.  Not quickly, not easily.

This past weekend and again about two weeks ago, the burning ring of fire around my rib cage kept me from fully engaging in life for a few days at a time.

The ring of fire is relentless and it burns, burns, burns.   Did I do too much?  Not enough exercise? Did I eat or drink something my body is allergic to?   Are the implants encapsulating?   It hurts too much to think it all through.

Yesterday I slept for most of the day.  I am thankful for an understanding spouse.  I am thankful I can sleep through most of the pain.  I wish I could sleep it off and not have the experience of this pain at all any more ever.

Today it Hurts.  To breathe, and to move.  Contact with clothing feels like wool over sunburned skin.

Today is a better day than yesterday.  I am ready for a reprieve from this burning ring of fire.  I'm feeling limited.  I get up to refill my coffee mug.  Every movement hurts.   My amazing husband pours me the coffee.
Is there an approach that will be effective so that I can get some things done today?   Ouch.   This is not my idea of taking a break!

I only want to find respite.  Oh, I want it All.  I also want to maintain clarity of thought.   Pain meds aren't kind to my thought processes.  I skip the meds and hope.

      I recall the Oncology Nurse's words - you saved your life and you don't have cancer any more.

I hope to get in a walk with my husband.  I hope the sun shines.  I hope to be distracted.

I hope it calms down to a tolerable level soon.

I hope.

The Way We Were

Memories.  I've been sorting through boxes of mementos this week, and a lot of memories come to mind.  There is this collection of evidence of my life on this planet.  A member of this tribe, in this space suit. Evidence of a living, breathing existence from 1962 through to today.

I really don't remember ever intentionally having it in my mind to save so many sentimental things.

I'm not a scrap book fan.   I don't have any photo albums of my past to speak of.   I've not ever organized my photos or memories into anything structured.  These boxes of mementos and photos are untidy, unstructured, and unorganized.   Each box seems to house a collection of roughly five years of my life.

There is a diary that I've kept off and on since I was 15.  This is destined for the shred pile along with most of the rest of the many letters, notes, and post cards.  I review a few paragraphs then toss these things into the recycle box.

For a few days I yearn to pull the diary back out of the box.  I thoughtfully consider the reasons I imagine are important enough to warrant keeping the diary.  Ultimately, I leave the diary in the shred pile and stack more tax records from last century on top.  The urge lessens, but doesn't disappear.

Why toss it all now?  Mainly because I don't want to use up today and tomorrow reliving yesterday.  The more I keep now, the more often I will handle these many things tomorrow.

Why did I keep so many photographs, cookbooks, recipes, letters sent and received, holiday letters, concert tickets, broadway tickets, playbills, photographs, airplane stubs, train tickets and so on?  

Even as I sort through these things today, I find some items are easy decisions to toss aside.   Off they go into the recycle bin, or shred bin, or trash bin.

Other items I think may perhaps be of value to the offspring.  Photos taken in their youth, clever letters from admiring classmates, notes of encouragement from grandparents.   I set these things aside and allow them to decide on their own if they want to keep or to get rid of.

Each day there seem to be a few items I think I want to keep.  Each evening I review these items, and it seems the collection multiplies to many more items.   It is time to rest and reflect.

It is the love expressed by an ancestor that is shared in a card, a bookmark, a letter, a gift, or a photo that hooks me, keeps me holding onto the paper, the photo, the card, the book.   Holding on doesn't bring them back, and it doesn't extend my life.  Still, the yearning to cling continues to reverberate on a low hum.

I dig through some more boxes.
The past 40 years documented in letters, post cards, and photos, journal entries.  Wow.  The dialogue in my head goes something like this:

Do I preserve these things for my offspring? or let it go now so they are left unencumbered by history?

Let them pave their own way fresh and clear of any trauma I experienced here or there. Even in the boxes of happy memories there are some difficult and challenging times.  Will it help them to know?

Let them find their own resiliency and make their way.


Like time capsules, these many memories activate emotions when I read a page of handwritten diary entries or letters to and from important people in my life.  Feelings put to paper so long ago.  Expressions of my own angst, confidence, frustration, joy, need, love, experience, desire, growth, expectation, happiness.

All standard issue events, emotions, experiences of ones life.   My Life.

These experiences brought me here, sorting through boxes in my middle age.

Some experiences remain too painful to relive.  Shred and move on.

I give thanks and acknowledge that there is a great deal to live for today.

I really don't believe it will matter to any one else but me in the long run, what stays and what goes.
Is it selfish to think that the contents only speak to me?  To any one else, it's fit for the burn barrel.

This sentiment ought to make it easier to let it all go to the recycling bin.  It likely will end up there after all.  Why not let it be me in charge of getting it done now?

The idea that some remnant will remain and have a positive impact for some one else keeps me from chucking it all down to the bottom of the silo at once.

But.  Doesn't it all eventually arrive there anyway?

Finally, I decide to refocus.  To reconsider the goal.

Downsizing.  Living with less.

Why?  There is only enough time to do what We love.  

Read, travel, shop for and prepare delightful meals.  Drink Wine.  Walk and Ride.

Enjoy the company of family and friends.

Live a little.  

Why I Don't Buy Lottery Tickets

   I know this is a bit off topic, but for some reason the lottery, Powerball in particular, has come up in conversation a few times.  I don't mind fantasizing about what I would do with the money, but you have to play to win.
   I have never felt that playing the lottery was a good use of my money.  I have bought a few tickets over the last 20 years, but probably less than 10.  Usually it was when everyone else was buying due to the crazy amount of money in the jackpot.
   I ran a few numbers that explain my view as to why it is foolish to play.  Assume the average person spends $20 per week on lottery tickets.  Here is the 10 year total spend, with the addition of $1,000 in the first year which I'll explain in a bit.

1	$2,040.00
2	$3,080.00
3	$4,120.00
4	$5,160.00
5	$6,200.00
6	$7,240.00
7	$8,280.00
8	$9,320.00
9	$10,360.00
10	$11,400.00

   A conservative estimate for market return is %6, some models use 7 or 8%, but here are the numbers for your return from the same money above invested in an index fund with all returns automatically reinvested.

$2,162.40
$3,332.14
$4,572.07
$5,886.40
$7,279.58
$8,756.36
$10,321.74
$11,981.04
$13,739.90
$15,604.30

   Here are the numbers again, but at 7.5 percent, which is the average return of two basic stock index funds.

$2,193.00
$4,397.48
$6,767.29
$9,314.83
$12,053.44
$14,997.45
$18,162.26
$21,564.43
$25,221.76
$29,153.40

  Note that the lottery ticket buyer has spent $11,400 over the 10 years.  Had the money been invested at a conservative 6% they would have and additional $4,204 in the account.  And if the return was 7.5% the money spent would be more than doubled, earning $17,753.

   So, what about that additional $1,000?  Most funds require a minimum to start.  T. Rowe Price index funds require $2,500 to open an account, but that is reduced to $1,000 if you open an IRA account.  Vanguard has a $3,000 minimum.

Here are actual 10 year returns on some Index funds:

T. Rowe Price

Equity Index 500	7.40%
Extended Equity Indx	9.25%
Total Equity Indx	7.93%

Vanguard

500 Index	7.87%
Growth Index	9.21%
Total Stock Market Indx	8.36%

   So, what happens if you just invest $20 a week for 40 years?  A typical work life. At 6% return you would have $171,843 and at 7.5% you would have $466,171.  So, whether you buy lottery tickets or not, isn't it worth your time to start investing $20 a week?  Index funds are perhaps the easiest to get into and have low fees for marketing and management.

Eating Dessert First

Paul recently reminded me that our Blog is also set up for discussion of food.

Today, I will share a recipe for what was a successful hit after dinner last week.  

We sat down and enjoyed dinner with friends, and then we consumed the entire 9x9 pan of these yummies .  Yes, the entire Pan. 

 Between the four of us, I suppose that wasn't a lot of dessert, but it means this recipe definitely demands a repeat performance.

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free.

Warning: Contains Sugar!

Adapted from Enjoy Life Decadent Blondies recipe 

1 Cup plus 1 TBsp Gluten Free Flour Blend (I used Bob's Red Mill)

1/4 tsp Xantham Gum

1/2 tsp Baking Soda (I used aluminum free)

1/4 tsp Gluten Free Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/3 Cup Grapeseed oil - (I used equal parts Coconut Oil, Earth Balance Buttery Blend and Ghee)

1 C firmly packed golden brown sugar

1 T Vanilla Extract (I used 1T of Vanilla and 1T of Bourbon)

1 C Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips Mega Chunks (I used 1 and 1/4 C Mega and mini chips)
These are soy free (no soy lecithin) which is on my list of food intolerances.  If you aren't sensitive to soy, any chocolate chips will do.

Flax Gel (1/3 C warm water 2 T finely ground flax)  (I used white chia seed and warm water)

Preheat oven to 350

Prepare a 9inch square baking pan with parchment or non stick spray (I do not use non stick, I used vegetable oil) 

Melt oil in small glass measuring cup in microwave

Set aside with Flax / Chia gell - to make gel, add warm water to seed and let set for five minutes

In food processor (or separate large bowl) combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt

Pulse a few times in processor.

Add brown sugar to oil, mix until uniform.  I put the brown sugar into the food processor, then drizzled the melted oils while pulsing the processor.

Combine flour with wet ingredients and mix until well incorporated.
Stir in chocolate bits.  I dumped the mega and mini chips into the processor and pulsed a few more times.

Pour batter into pan, press evenly.

Bake for 20 - 22 minutes at 350 or until golden brown.  Cool for 20 minutes, cut and serve.

My preparation of this recipe required an additional 20 minutes of baking time, for a total of 40 minutes in the oven in order for the toothpick to pull clean from the bars.   Worth The Wait.

I'll update/edit this post if the next batch requires any substantial revisions.

What's For Sale?

The choices seem abundant to me.  At the outset of unhitching the wagon with all of it's gear, as in downsizing in order to combine/reduce two households into one, it's obvious to me that there is still use in many of the things I currently own.

Off they must go, to some one, some where,  out there.

Sell it on ebay for a fee, or list it no fee on craigslist?

List on Amazon, Donate to Habitat for Humanity?

Give to family and friends?

We listed a few things on Craigslist.  One item sold, and we received another offer at 50% of what we are asking.  We decided to keep that item, the treadmill, while it is 19 degrees outside and continue to walk on it for a couple of more weeks before we accept the lower offer.

Yesterday one side of my closet (work clothes accumulated over the last five years) went from being part of my wardrobe to belonging to some one else's wardrobe.

It felt good to get things moving on out, but part of me wondered, ought I have made more of an effort to market those wares on craigslist to the highest bidder?

In so many ways, there is such an abundance in my life, that I've never had any trouble sharing freely with those around me.  


Putting things in order, where they belong, or with whom they belong, seems to be the easiest way for me to approach this endeavor.  Selling things makes sense in some categories.  The motorcycles.  The cars. The power tools.  The big screen tv, the living room furniture.

I've never really been the one to put on a yard sale, or list more than a few things on ebay at a time.   I need that friend or relative who loves to put on a yard sale from dawn to noon.  Gack.

    Perhaps if I approach this effort to reduce like an income producing opportunity then I might find the motivation to host a yard sale?  On this gray an gloomy cold wet sleet filled day, Oh Bother!....this seems the only fit response.

Winter will soon give way to spring, and then, maybe then, I will possess the energy and motivation to move in that direction.

The more I think about it, though, the more I think a phone call to one of the several charities in the area will allow for a large donation pick up.

This approach may not net much cash in the back pocket.  It will help others in the community, and it will keep this downsizing project moving forward, and it is still tax deductible to donate household goods.

      Hmmmmm.  

Paper Work - To Keep, Shred, or Recycle?

Paperwork.

There is evidence of an ongoing effort to organize paperwork.  There are times, in the past, when I sat down and made the attempt to tame the talking papers.    Put them all in a row, like ducks.  Ha!

Even if the effort to organize was accomplished in fits and starts, as I sort through the drawers and boxes of papers from yesteryear, I am amazed at the number of file folders for each year simply labeled "To File".  

Fortunately, during the effort to move through the piles of files, I've discovered the title to the Mustang, the registrations for the trailer (since sold), the Motorcycle (still have to put up for sale), and some other documents relevant to 2015. 

I've also discovered manuals for other items we plan to sell online, and receipts which will help me set a selling price.  The nice thing about having these things fairly organized is that when I find that one valuable folder, a few more pleasant surprises are usually tucked away in the same place.  

I'd love (capital letters love) to bring zero paperwork with Us when we move out west.  I fancy the idea of scanning everything that isn't legally required to be an original.  Would my electronic filing system be any better organized than the hanging file folder in a two drawer cabinet system?  

One of the benefits of living in Portsmouth, VA, is that the city recently adopted a recycling program once again.  Thankfully they pick up every other week.  Since the program began, we have rarely had more than one or two bags of household trash for weekly pick up.  Not bad for a house hold of four adults and two pets.  

The amount we collect to put into the recycle bin has often exceeded the capacity of the recycling container. Those are the times we've resorted to filling up the unused space in one or more of the recycling buckets at a neighbors.  

It's convenient to have curb side pick up.  It isn't, however, safe to throw every document into the recycling bucket.

There are no security measures for the papers tossed into the recycle bin.  Meaning, any one can grab the papers any where along the way from the time I pull the bucket curbside to the time it is recycled at the SPSA plant.  

So, when there is any identification whatsoever, a name, an address, an account number, a phone number, then the document gets tossed over to the shred box.  If the document doesn't contain identification, but is personal in nature, it gets put into the same place.  Everything else gets a toss over to the recycling bin.   

In two weeks time, the box of papers to shred is now overflowing.  It is a relief to get out of the house straight away those papers that can be recycled and picked up like clockwork every two weeks.  Either way, It's visible progress.  

There are days when it seems that this downsizing project is going on for far longer than I'd imagined it would, but then, there are days when I realize that, like today's date, March 4th, there is momentum and forward movement.  I am happy to refocus on the effort to downsize when I can, and take breaks as long as I need to.  

Two important things to remember.  Keep moving things out of the house as often and as quickly as possible.  The open space inspires the desire for more open space.  

There is art in an open space.  

  

Discovered a New Blog

Today's New York Times had a delightful article about two Senior Nomads.  The couple decided to sell a bunch of their possessions, store the rest, and rent out their townhouse.  They have been traveling Europe for almost two years now and use AirBnB to find their rentals.

I just started reading the blog, see link above, and will be interested in seeing how it develops.  My one dislike, is probably one that others will have about this one.  It is difficult to read from oldest to newest.  I'll have to investigate Blogger settings to see if there is a simple way to do that.  For now I clicked on the oldest year, 2013, and then the first month they started posting, June.

Kelly and I will read a month of post each day as incentive for our own downsizing.

A Minor Break

   Last week I was looking at the schedule for the Tannahill Weavers and noticed they were playing at a library in Western Virginia at the end of March.  There was another Irish group playing the day after I looked at the library schedule.  So, we decided to drop the downsizing and made the four hour drive to Bedford VA.  We found a nice AirBnB to stay at and enjoyed a lovely concert by Socks in the Frying Pan.

  The group is on their second tour of America and Bedford was the first stop.  Check out their website and if you get an opportunity, go listen to them.  One suggestion, if you find a concert you can go to, use your browser to go to the venue's web site.  The app they are using for ticketing is cumbersome and requests more information than I want to provide.

  This week it is back to downsizing and hoping the sun will come out.  Right now it is cloudy with occasional rain.  There is still snow on the ground from last week's storm, but it is melting.

Questions about Stuff

This morning I began the usual thought process which begins something like this:

What did I learn from yesterday's efforts, and what can we accomplish today?

In the past two weeks, there were days I simply didn't have the energy to tackle the effort of downsizing or to begin blogging about it.
On those days I'd pamper my self and my husband with an extra break, some hot tea, and most especially, some cuddle time.

Fortunately he knows when to enjoy a nap.


I've also spent some time reading through a few different downsizing blogs for inspiration and ideas.

FLY LADY helped me get kick started on reducing the CHAOS (Can't Have Anybody Over Syndrome) a few years ago.  It seemed I was ever in the middle of kid raising, remodeling the house, painting and parenting, too embarrassed to have the boss and his wife over for dinner. The Flylady declutter program was a good start.   BUT, I Never did get around to having the boss over.  A friend from Moldavia told me that he was accustomed to Americans having houses too full to have company over.  Wow.

Time has passed, the kids are grown, and now, in downsizing mode, what captures my imagination is the book:  The life-changing magic of tidying up ~ the Japanese art of decluttering by marie konda.  

The two authors have this in common:  Discharge from your life the things you don't LOVE (Flylady) or the things that don't bring you JOY (Konda).

Flylady suggests that for 15 minutes a day, You do a "get rid of that old thing" fling boogie.   Each day is a new area, the one common denominator is starting off with a polished clean kitchen sink.

Konda suggests that you give your self a time limit and get it all done.  At once.  Category by Category.  In this way you'll skip the forever doing the tidy up thing.

She states that once you have your house in order, you will only allow your self to bring home the things that bring you joy.  You will discard all that does not belong.  You will surround your self with things that bring joy.

Your physical and mental house will ever be in order once you have finished putting your house in order.

Do it once.  Forever.  It will change you.

This appeals to me.



I'm reminded of two photos Paul published in earlier posts.

Room number one:  The photo of the room taken after my daughter took to her new home the Cal King bed.   Clear.  Clean. Pristine.

Room number two:  The disheveled room of boxes and other disorganized castoffs in the catchall room.  

Where would I rather spend my time?  In room one!  I can write a letter or sip on tea or sit and talk with a friend!  Clearly, I'm ready, Konda, for the do it once and forever be changed.  Let's roll.


As things pass over the threshold out of the door, on to bless some one else's life, the clearer and more determined I am in my own mind about living a life with less.  A Lot Less.

I am Loving the progress, as slow as it seems some days.  I am impatient at times.  I want more done.

Less stuff is the goal.  More time to play.  I am motivated to be clearer about what is useful.  What is needed.  I'm not yet at the realization of JOY or LOVE to keep an item.  Maybe I am too practical?

The idea of organizing EVERYTHING just seems to be such a life waster time chaser.  I don't want more organized stuff.  Who wants to be an ODC Hoarder?  Not Me.  Therefore, I continue the pursuit of Less.
What to sell?  What to give away?


This morning my thoughts turned to the clothes that I've moved from the bedroom we live in to the empty room that now serves as a staging area.  Everything in the re-staging room is in the reassignment phase of it's life.

At one time, these items:
1.  Earned money (uniforms for work)
2.  Brought a smile  (hoola hoops and nerf footballs to break up the monotony during slow days at work)
3.  Made me feel Pretty (an amazing lace gown with spaghetti straps I won't wear again post cancer and an awesome handbag or two)

Since then, these items have one thing in common.  They all take up space.  Each item takes up time. How much time do I want to spend on the experience of yesterday at the expense of the joie de vivre of today?
 

Tomorrow will go something like this:

It's another morning in the process of downsizing.  I will my self to do more paperwork, some past, some current.

While dear Husband showers, I go through another drawer and decide item by item which stays.  Which goes.  

I'm still looking for usefulness.  Utility is my primary filter.

Will I use this in the next two months or two years?   Will it matter to me if I never see it again?  What dollar value do I place on the items I use every day? Am I willing to buy all over again rather than pay to have this shipped?  Who will be the wise steward or lucky recipient?

While I look at each possession as it passes through my hands, I will try to find in my self the experience of "Joy" or "Love".  I might realize again that I am not yet interested in Joy or Love when it comes to possessions.  


I keep this item, because when I have it in my possession, I feel ____________ .
(Smart, organized, prepared, equipped, like a boss, like a girl scout, like some one ready for the Apocalypse)

A Good Day

  Today may not have looked like a successful day downsizing, but I feel like we did accomplish quite a bit on the monetary side.  We reviewed all the various insurance policies Kelly has and discontinued three of the five policies.  One because she is no longer working and workers disability insurance will have no benefit.  The other two were duplicates of her medical insurance.
   We also updated her name with that company.  I completed my initial tax estimate.  I just need to wait for some figures to complete them.  Ends up I contributed twice to an IRA in 2013 and I need to correct that, so I have to wait for the final interest estimate from my investment company so I can complete the paperwork for my taxes.
  We also sold the rower via Craig's List and have an offer on the treadmill, but we will hold off on that one for a few weeks as we would like to get a bit more than was offered.
    The snow started coming down around 3 this afternoon and we currently have a light dusting, but estimates are for up to 8 inches by the time the snow stops tomorrow afternoon.  Doesn't sound like much, but it is a surprise to me.  I wasn't expecting any snow in Virginia.

Were Does the Time Go?

It's hard to believe that a week has gone by with neither of us posting.  Kelly was going to post a few days ago, but her computer froze and when she brought it back up her lengthy post was no longer there.  Ah, the joys of not saving.

We have had good progress in downsizing.  The room that must not be entered had maybe a fifth of the items removed.  Some for donation and others that Ava was able to take for her rental.  We also got some of the exercise equipment posted to Craig's List and hope to sell the rower this evening.  (We are meeting with the buyer, but you never count on a sale until the buyer shows up and gives you the money.)

Today I saw this TED talk in my Google stream, it's a few years old, but a good reminder of why we want to downsize.

http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness#t-323198

Having both been in the military and moved many times, Kelly and I both relate to moving boxes a number of times before actually opening them to see why you kept it.  I'm of the opinion that if you have moved something two or three times and never opened it, then you should just toss it.  I think Kelly would want to go through the box and make sure she didn't have anything tucked away like money, savings bonds, or other valuable item.

The trip to Italy is on hold for now.  We both decided to wait for the weather to be a bit better and also to let us get rid of more stuff, so we don't feel guilty about taking a "vacation."  Kelly has also added some cities to her weather app, so she looks at what the weather is in Frankfurt Germany, Catania Italy, Montevideo Uruguay, Taos NM, Fort Bragg CA, and Brookings OR.

What is our end goal?

Kelly and I have talked over the downsizing options that I laid out in this post.  We both agree that we need to focus on option three, take a bit more time to save the items we know we will use in our new location.  What we still talk about, but haven't made a decision on, is what will our final living situation look like.

Kelly said that she wants to spend more time in New Mexico, to see how she likes the town where my condo is.  Maybe six or nine months, to get a good feel for the place.  We both agree that even if she does like the town, that we should downsize and sell my place.  Our future should include, not her place or his place, but our place.

What we are still unsure about is what will that place be?  Will we go the rental route and move as we tire of a location?  Or will we buy and always have a base to come back to when we travel?  I have done home exchanges and had very good luck with them.  What I like, is the people I have exchanged with have always been pet people, so there is built in pet care.  I take care of their pets and they take care of mine.  We both leave info for a pet sitter in case any longer trips out from the exchange home are taken.

If we rent, exchanging is questionable.  In theory, you should get the permission of the rental owner before you initiate an exchange.  However, renting allows us to move to different locations in the U.S. and Europe.  But moving every few years may be hard on Trinity, my 8 year old cat.  She really
doesn't like the car.  Lokki, on the other hand, loves the car and travels well.  Lokki is Kelly's Toy Pomeranian.

If we buy a home and do exchanges to feed our travel bug, will that be enough travel?  If we exchange a couple times a year for a month each time, will that allow us to see all the places we think we want to see?  What about far away destinations?  If you sit on a plane for 20+ hours, i.e. New Zealand or Australia, would we be happy with only 30 days away?  Or would we rather spend six months or more?

Our Western tour of NM, AZ, and UT was just over 30 days and while we both felt it was a good amount of time, it was also time to get back to our pets.

So, do we rent and stress the cat every 9 to 24 months or do we buy and go away from our pets when travelling?

The Room That Must Not be Entered

As promised, here are some shots of THE ROOM.  The volume of stuff isn't large, but the variety and disorganization is what is daunting. Kelly has started attacking the room.  Removing books from a shelve and going through a box or two every day.  Slow and steady is what will get this done.  Items she selects for donation I put in the bag for the DAV and put out by the front steps for pickup.  Yesterday we got rid of two bags of books, a box of wine glasses, some clothes and kitchen utensils.  Like I said, a variety of stuff that will result in new discoveries everyday.

Measuring Progress

When I sit down in front of the computer each morning, I mentally take note of what I've accomplished toward the goal of downsizing since yesterday, then I plan what I'd like to tackle today.  I also take time to read online what others have done or are doing to keep the wheels turning.   Paul and I sit at the breakfast table and talk over our plans for travel, and I let him know where his manly manly moving skills can best be used for the morning.

Today begins the second Tuesday since we returned from our extended travel.  The sense of being integrated into a routine is beginning to establish itself.

Here's a basic outline of categories I use to help me maintain a sense of progress.  Each day I begin with a new category, and what I believe will require the most decision making.  I find the later in the day, the more difficult it is for me to be clearly decisive, so the rough and tough stuff gets attention straight after breakfast.

1.  Paperwork.  Past, Present, and File for the Future.
The evidence of accomplishment shows itself in the copier paper sized box of documents that require shredding.  It's satisfying to see this measure of progress, as this is my least favored area to address.

2.  Clothing.   What do I still wear, stays.  What can I sell (Harley Davidson Leather Jackets!), what can I give away (silk pants and skirts from 20 years ago!), and what a relief to have all of this room in the closet again.  I still can't decide what to do with my collection of sarongs, which I adore wearing around the house in the heat of summer.  

3.  Housewares.  As we will be living here until the house is listed for sale, I am essentially going through one cupboard a day to cull through the items not used in a year or more for now.   I am asking family members to let me know what they want once we empty the cupboards for good.  I am mentally deciding what goes into storage and what is given to some one else's kitchen.

4.  Furniture.   We'll be using most of the furniture until mid march.  I believe we have homes or buyers for a good portion of the big furniture already.  What we don't sell, we will donate.  Somedays I want to put a sticky note on each item and it's destination, as I worry I've promised the same thing to more than one person!

5.  Vehicles.  State inspections, repairs, paperwork in order.   Dust off for a photograph and post online.  The motorcycles will likely sell easier once the weather warms up.  We haven't yet decided when or if to list the second car.   We will likely list the Mustang once Tax Returns start coming in for the local area.

6.  Books, Boxes, and the other things I haven't unpacked in twenty years.   Taking this one a box at a time.  A box a day is the goal, and an easy goal to relax to one box every other day.  Online sites recommend just keeping the box shut and letting it go.  I've discovered savings bonds, birthday cards with cash, and photos of ancestors, so I will not exercise the option to toss without first exhuming the good stuff.  

Books that were printed on acid paper are yellowed and crumbling, so that's an easy toss away.  The older books from the 1800's and the early 1900's will be tougher to sort through.  Still letting that one roll around for a future decision.  As the books go, the shelves will clear, and I'll feel better about having less.  Paul, are you ready to open the door of the room with no key and take 'before' pictures.  I'm cringing at the thought!  Which is a great reason to start there today!

7.  Relax.  We are retired.  The desire to move before the bugs and humidity of summer are upon us in the state of Virginia remains a prime motivator.  Two mortgages doesn't make financial sense for us, and running two households isn't something we want to do any longer than we have to!