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!
Showing posts with label Downsizing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Downsizing. Show all posts
Friday, April 10, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
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.
This is what the room looks like today:
Or this angle:
There is a floor showing and walls! You are making great progress.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
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.
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.
Monday, February 16, 2015
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)
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.
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.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, January 26, 2015
The Many Options of Downsizing
What does downsizing actually mean? For many it is just a matter of simplifying the existing living situation. But others have taken it to the extreme, in my opinion. A few years ago I read a book by Tammy Strobel. The book documents her journey from living in a large apartment, to a smaller apartment, and then into a home built on a trailer. Smaller than many people's storage shed.
I don't want to go that far. Here are the options I see:
1) Sell or give away everything, nothing remains except the clothes we want to wear.
2) Keep some things that mean something to one of us. (Still no home.)
3) Make the effort to identify items we will need when we are in one home.
4) Sell the big ticket items and put everything else in storage.
5) Sell what we can and keep what we don't give away, but do buy a place to live and setup a home.
Option 1: This option gives us the freedom to travel and not have to worry about a house being left empty and if the money from the sale is invested wisely we can use the interest earnings to cover our rentals. However, it means we need to be lean enough to bring all we keep in one car.
Option 2: This is more practical, but requires us to find some storage. We would be paying storage unit fees, but that would be less than maintaining a home. We could travel as we like, and use our travels to find our eventual new home location.
Option 3: This would probably take a bit longer as we would need to put more thought into what we keep and get rid of. However, it would make it less expensive to setup home, when we eventually get to that point. It would also necessitate a larger storage unit.
Option 4: Yet a larger storage unit and it puts off deciding whether to keep something or not. Not an option I like, because we would end up paying to store things we probably don't need or want.
Option 5: This gives a place to move everything to, but we need to know where we want to live. Kelly has only visited New Mexico for a week and half that time she was sick. So, she doesn't know if she could live there or not. We are also both interested in looking at Northern CA or Oregon. Why buy a place before we know where we want to be.
The kicker with any of these options is, what do we do with the pets while we travel? If we are driving we can bring them with, but if it is a flight to Europe or Latin America, I would only bring the pets if we knew we were going for three months or longer.
I don't want to go that far. Here are the options I see:
1) Sell or give away everything, nothing remains except the clothes we want to wear.
2) Keep some things that mean something to one of us. (Still no home.)
3) Make the effort to identify items we will need when we are in one home.
4) Sell the big ticket items and put everything else in storage.
5) Sell what we can and keep what we don't give away, but do buy a place to live and setup a home.
Option 1: This option gives us the freedom to travel and not have to worry about a house being left empty and if the money from the sale is invested wisely we can use the interest earnings to cover our rentals. However, it means we need to be lean enough to bring all we keep in one car.
Option 2: This is more practical, but requires us to find some storage. We would be paying storage unit fees, but that would be less than maintaining a home. We could travel as we like, and use our travels to find our eventual new home location.
Option 3: This would probably take a bit longer as we would need to put more thought into what we keep and get rid of. However, it would make it less expensive to setup home, when we eventually get to that point. It would also necessitate a larger storage unit.
Option 4: Yet a larger storage unit and it puts off deciding whether to keep something or not. Not an option I like, because we would end up paying to store things we probably don't need or want.
Option 5: This gives a place to move everything to, but we need to know where we want to live. Kelly has only visited New Mexico for a week and half that time she was sick. So, she doesn't know if she could live there or not. We are also both interested in looking at Northern CA or Oregon. Why buy a place before we know where we want to be.
The kicker with any of these options is, what do we do with the pets while we travel? If we are driving we can bring them with, but if it is a flight to Europe or Latin America, I would only bring the pets if we knew we were going for three months or longer.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
An Inspiration and The Room That Must Not be Entered
Thanks to Kelly's daughter Ava, one bedroom looks like this. Ava recently moved to a new apartment and was able to take the California King. Now we have one room to inspire us.However, next to this bedroom is another which is known as the Room That Must NOT be Entered. It is locked, the key is not in the door. The room is full of many boxes that will eventually need to be opened.
Part of me is glad that we are starting on Kelly's home. It is far easier to tell someone else to get rid of something. I don't have the history. I don't know what piece of furniture was given by a friend or relative, what may have special memories or what can never be replaced because it just isn't made any longer.
I wonder what will happen when we get to New Mexico and Kelly thinks we can sell this piece of furniture or that piece of artwork. I do have all the memories of where we bought things or which ones were gifts. After my first wife died, I gave away things to the people I thought would appreciate them. Many were things that had associations for Laura, but not for me. How different will it be when it is an item that has memories for me, but not for Kelly.
Downsizing! Here we Go!
Ah, downsizing. I don't think a day went by these last ten years, when I hadn't yearned for a lot less stuff and more time to be away from the house to enjoy what's "out there."
During those ten years, there were teenagers who grew up and moved out, then an empty nest, followed by the challenges of breast cancer surgery recovery.
Now there is post op pain that lingers far longer than I would have ever imagined, which limits my physical activity. Thus the yard rake, the motorcycle, the power tools, and many more items need new owners.
On leaving the house:
The joys of home ownership are many; there is a great deal of freedom in changing the paint or the landscaping or the plants in the garden as the seasons change.
There is a certain pride in selecting the architectural shingles for the install of a new roof, or admiring the new sliding glass doors I framed in on each side of the sun room. These are the things I will miss.
On pursuing this crazy concept:
My dream of being out from under the privileges and responsibilities of a Big House (2400 sq ft plus 2-story shed and big yard) chatters like a constant niggling that likely stems from a desire to get on with the enjoyment of life with less stuff.
How to spend less time anchored to yet another house project, repair, upgrade, and any other major undertaking on those few precious days off of work?
Enter Paul Richard, who is a brave and adventurous soul. We fell in love before we met, and now we are embarking on this downsizing adventure as a husband and wife team.
What better motivation to get this done! Will the knowledge that we can soon be on the road to one of many travel destinations spur us on?
It is with a mixture of relief and some anxiety that this process gets underway. So what is the best approach to downsizing? Fast and furious? Pass belongings of worth on to family and friends? Put things in storage? Sell the big ticket items as is or fix'em up first?
Slow and steady, I remind myself.
Tomorrow we will take photographs to document Phase One of our downsizing for the things in Virginia.
Insane thought of the day
I am hopeful that Phase Two, which will be for downsizing the things in New Mexico, will also be on the calendar for 2015.
During those ten years, there were teenagers who grew up and moved out, then an empty nest, followed by the challenges of breast cancer surgery recovery.
Now there is post op pain that lingers far longer than I would have ever imagined, which limits my physical activity. Thus the yard rake, the motorcycle, the power tools, and many more items need new owners.
On leaving the house:
The joys of home ownership are many; there is a great deal of freedom in changing the paint or the landscaping or the plants in the garden as the seasons change.
There is a certain pride in selecting the architectural shingles for the install of a new roof, or admiring the new sliding glass doors I framed in on each side of the sun room. These are the things I will miss.
On pursuing this crazy concept:
How to spend less time anchored to yet another house project, repair, upgrade, and any other major undertaking on those few precious days off of work?
Enter Paul Richard, who is a brave and adventurous soul. We fell in love before we met, and now we are embarking on this downsizing adventure as a husband and wife team.
What better motivation to get this done! Will the knowledge that we can soon be on the road to one of many travel destinations spur us on?
It is with a mixture of relief and some anxiety that this process gets underway. So what is the best approach to downsizing? Fast and furious? Pass belongings of worth on to family and friends? Put things in storage? Sell the big ticket items as is or fix'em up first?
Slow and steady, I remind myself.
Tomorrow we will take photographs to document Phase One of our downsizing for the things in Virginia.
Insane thought of the day
I am hopeful that Phase Two, which will be for downsizing the things in New Mexico, will also be on the calendar for 2015.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)