It’s beginning to look like I will be moving back home, and sooner than I had expected! Our projected move date is October 5. Wow. There has been a pull for me to be closer to my family for some time now. And though R’s family is here, he’s willing to give it a shot.
Three years ago, when I moved to the Northwest, I was seeking a life-experience. My biggest fear was that I would find myself stuck in the same place for the rest or my life, never doing anything, or being anything. And so, I quit my comfortable job, stuffed my car with all the books, photos, and journals that would fit, sold the rest of my belongings, and started driving. Several weeks before, my mom had accompanied me out here to find an apartment, so at least I would have somewhere to lay my head when I arrived.
I remember that first day I arrived. Once I had my hands on the key to my new place, I excitedly rushed in the front door. The place was perfect for me; a small, 1940’s one-bedroom apartment. Hardwood floors, vintage details, and a front and back door that both led out to lush courtyards. After driving for two days, all I really wanted to do was take a shower. And that was my first realization that, in my hustle to get rid of anything that can be replaced, I got rid of some “necessities.” Like a towel. And shower curtain.
Fast-forward several years, and arrive at today, as I’m preparing to move back. Once again, I am racing through the house, gathering things to get rid of to make the move a little easier. On many occasions, I have made a valiant effort to ”de-clutter.” And I think I did a very good job of getting rid of everything that I didn’t need when I moved up here to begin with. But the problem is, it doesn’t last. I cannot seem to sustain my minimalist ambitions. My inability to keep clutter at bay is evidenced by the fact that here I am, three years in the future, with a whole bunch of junk.
R and I were discussing our financial preparations, and, remembering my shower curtain predicament, I suggested we carve out a “replacement” budget, which we can use to buy the items that we get rid of for the sake of the move. At which point, he completely altered the way I’ve been thinking of, and have always thought of moving.
“I think it is a mistake to think that we are getting rid of all of this stuff, and we will replace it with newer and better stuff once we arrive at point B. It is more like we are reducing our possesions in order to live a less-cluttered, more minimalistic lifestyle.”
And it occurred to me that every single time I have ever moved, I have viewed it as an opportunity to get new “stuff.” And I gradually accumulate more and more “stuff” until it is time to get new “stuff” again the next time I move.
So we’re getting rid of a bunch of “stuff,” a large portion of which has been collecting dust in the basement for the past 2 years we have been co-habitating. I mean, literally, untouched. We’re taking to the pages of Craigslist, and half.com to try and purge our home of all of the crap we’ve gathered. With any luck, we’ll be able to fund a portion of the move with the profits from the “stuff.”
And I’m going to try really, really hard not to replace it all.
