Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Downsizing Journey Begins, Anew!

This is all I really need! 

I realized that in order to achieve some of my dreams, I am going to have to do a few things.  I don't like talking about dreams unless I am actively doing something towards the dream.

Since I do not want to get a job and stop homeschooling, as it is my first priority, the next reasonable thing to do is to make an effort to downsize the stuff we have so that one day when we move into our smaller home it won't be an all of a sudden downsize. 

I've tried many times to downsize stuff.  When we moved 3 times in 4 years, I got rid of a lot of things.  But, we've been in our current home for 2 years and things have started to collect again. (People just love to give me things!) 

And then there are the three pack rats I gave birth to.  I have no hopes of getting rid of my kids' things.  They will have to do that on their own one day or else cart a boat load off to their homes when they leave the nest.  Perhaps my purging will inspire the same?    


Why is it so hard to let things go in the first place?  I've thought about this for so long.  When I go camping, I only bring the most needed items, even then I think it is too much, yet I feel so much joy being simple.  The contents of our small camper is plenty to keep us fed, warm, and entertained.  Of course, it is vacation and not reality, but truly makes me think I could learn to be content with a lot less stuff around me.

I am going to take a serious look at our possessions, again, and try to let go of things that are just taking up space.  I really want to let go of things.  I feel it is the next step.  (The first step was to get debt free, which we are.)

So, what are the real necessities of life?  We need a little more than the basics of food, clothing, shelter, and warmth in cooler climates.  I think again of camping, having just enough, not too much.  I think that should be my goal and what I determine is just enough, and not too much will look different from another person.  Being a homeschooling family will also make my "must haves" different than others who do not have kids at home 24/7. 

For starters, I know my kids have too many clothes.  I will be thinning out the kids' closets.  Jeff and I share an old style closet with sliding doors, not a walk-in, so I think we are OK there. 

Shelter is by far our most expensive monthly outgo.  The house is more than we need, for sure, but it's comfortable, close to our activities, and so it won't change for now.  Plus, it is a pain to uproot kids. They still talk about all the moves. 

Another thing I want to explore is stocking a larder of sorts.  I feel vulnerable in this area.  We need to have a bit of food stocked in case of emergencies. 

So much to do!  It all energizes me though.  I am excited to get started and share the journey with others! I'll probably make more progress after school is finished, too.  For now, I will spend a little time planning how to get this job done. 

Enjoy your day,
Jenn

1 comment:

  1. Sounds like you have some good things planned out. I hope it all works for you, and I love that picture of your camp site. :)

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