But, it was my grandmother's---

When I talk or write about my down sizing experiences, I immediately get the same response. "What would I do with all my stuff?"  

I say, "Get rid of it."

They say, some version of---Oh-h, but that was my grandmother's, that was my mother's, when we did that or lived there, when the kids were little.

I do get it. I have sentimental things that have no purpose and I just can't part with.  When we down-sized here at home base, I took two cedar chests (one had belonged to my grandmother and one to my spouse's mother) to the summer cabin. I had promised myself to pare down my "keepsakes" to those two chests and I did. Since we are now settled in our tiny house at the home campground, I brought those two chests back this season. I went through them again and organized them to go into the small storage shed we have at home.

I greatly enjoyed just touching and seeing some of my mementos. I am glad to have them near, but they will go into hibernation and who knows when they'll ever emerge. 

The thing is, having some things that just are special and remind you of other times and people is not bad. BUT, if you have your rooms, your cabinets and closets, your storage areas completely filled with useless stuff, you honestly are smothering your life today.  You are not living your grandmother's or mother's life. You are not even living the life you lived 10 years ago---at least, you shouldn't be.  

You should be living your life today, in the present.  You should have the things around you that you use everyday in that life. By all means, if you still bake and cook and entertain lots of folks and family, keep all the dishes and tools that you love to use.  Don't keep cabinets and drawers of stuff that you truthfully never use any more.  Pardon me, but it's just crap.  Nobody needs 6 spatulas.  Trust me, you can get rid of massive amounts of material things in your life and still be very happy. As a matter of fact, you will find that you will feel much better when you have cleared away clutter and excess.  

Give your children things NOW, not after you're dead.  Give things to people that really could use them. Sell it, trash it, donate it.  Go out and get something that you really could use or just want. LET GO of the past. I don't mean merely the distant past. You and life has changed since last year, since last month. Just because you were happy in another time and place doesn't mean that you would be now. Memories are in your heart, keep them there, not cluttering your space now.  If you are lucky enough to be in the world, give yourself room to breathe and enjoy it.

More is Optional

At my age, I know a lot of people who have worked for years.  They had dreams and plans. A big nice home for themselves and their family is often part of the American dream.  And though many managed to achieve that dream, why are they not so happy?

I believe that the reason is people don't always recognize that dreams, wants and needs will change over the years. Now, that the work years are over, they find themselves stuck in an old dream. What once seemed like everything they ever wanted, suddenly is much more of a burden than a joy.

Now, I have repeatedly said, "downsizing your life is not for everyone." The same as travel or not working isn't for everyone.  If you need to be physically near your grown children or extended family, if a great deal of your life revolves around your location and contacts and you just aren't happy taking more than a short vacation on your own (or with your partner), then you are probably not going to be satisfied with a drastic change of location or even with a smaller home.

The hubby and I spend 3 to 5 months away from our home state each summer.  It's a privilege to get to enjoy a beautiful location and though we miss our family and friends, they have lives of their own and they are welcome to visit. We have had the unexpected pleasure of meeting some new friends in this away from home haven.  When we are home, we so appreciate and enjoy our grown children, grand children and old friends. You can trust me, there is a world and life out here, away from your roots.  Separation and change is not an abandonment of your family and friends. 

This is possible for us, because we have down-sized. We do not have large homes in either place. Our resources, funds and energy allow us to have two places to live that we enjoy and we do not have the burden of responsibility of owning and maintaining big homes.

Ask yourself---

     Do I only really use and live in a small part of my home these days?

     Have I began to feel resentful of the money and work it takes to just have and maintain my home?

     Do I envy people that seem to have a simpler life?

     Do I see or visit other places and long to spend more time there?

If you really are not happy any longer in the place you thought would be forever, explore some options.  Explore YOUR options.  In Texas, it's not unusual to own property. We do have friends who have just kept a small piece of their property and sold off the rest and have built smaller. Could you live in a park home or a travel trailer? Could you live in a condo?  Think of no taxes, no maintenance. Think of beautiful places.  Where there's a will, there's a way. If you achieved your dream and it makes you happy, smile and love it. But, if not, remember that More is optional, find your Less.

Rules are to be Broken

I don't think there is anything more outrageous than the so called "rules" of fashion or decorating. Who gets to say what is the correct thing for us to wear or the correct way to decorate the places where we live?

One of the best things about shrinking your life style is that small spaces don't necessarily lend themselves to trends and what's "IN".  It's a great thing about tiny houses and other downsized living spaces---they are perfect for breaking all the rules and decorating just the way you want.

When we were building our summer cabin, before we even decided to downsize our whole life, I knew from the beginning that I would furnish the little house with things that I enjoyed. I wanted things I loved and that I thought would be useful in the environment we would be living in. I didn't want a lodge, or a hacienda or any particular style. I wanted comfy and inviting. It took us three summers, (we lived in a travel trailer while we worked) to finish the cabin. During these three years, I often frequented estate and garage sales, thrift shops, etc. I didn't want all brand new.

A favorite project was collecting dinner plates.  I had decided loosely on a color scheme of blues and natural woods, touches of red and yellow. So, if I spotted a nice plate that had blue, I bought it. I have this great assortment of plates and store them on my open shelf on the plate racks. When company comes, I just say "Pick your own plate".  People seem to enjoy that, and I love it. No matched set of dinnerware. 

You certainly don't have to follow any set rules when you outfit your space.  Since I really do hate clutter, I have a rule or two that I think keeps my very eclectic spaces pleasant to live in or visit.

       

***COLOR.  Color is very important in pulling together a space. Not just one or two colors, but certainly not several colors that don't even compliment or match.  Color is more important than patterns or style. Different styles of furnishings and varied patterns will still work, if color is consistent.

***NO CLUTTER. Especially in smaller spaces, keep your junk in control and out of sight. Don't have your counter tops over populated with stuff (even though you use it), leave space to work and not be constantly moving something out of the way. If you have a nice long counter top, but you're usually working in a small area, after you've moved a half dozen things---you are wasting your time and your space. Don't throw the mail, keys and stuff from your pocket on a table,etc. Put like things in baskets, in cabinets, in drawers, on hooks or shelves, in anything that organizes and stores it---flat surfaces, counters and tables need to be visible, clear and usable.

Is More Enough?

I recently watched a documentary about the settling of the American West.  The first thing that stands out is the incredible dangers and hardships the adventurers into the wild and mostly unexplored vastness endured. I sincerely doubt that I, or the large majority of Americans today have the toughness of mind and spirit to make such journeys.

The second thing that really stood out to me was a commentary that when those that survived reached their lands of promise, they always began to clamor for the new territory to become part of the United States.  It struck me so clearly that it is in our very blood to constantly want more.

I do not believe that we, Americans, are empire builders. I don't think that we truly want to go out and conquer the world and gobble up land mass. I do think that we have this inherited desire for better than we presently have.  Even those like myself, who have embraced the idea that life can be smaller and simpler can't avoid that consuming need for making our lives the best. We want the most comfortable, efficient and unique small dwellings.  We didn't go out and pitch a tent and start growing potatoes.  We want less to be more.

Perhaps it is a human trait, but I somehow believe that there is some exceptional trait in Americans---we are dreamers and we reach out for the distant prize that will make our life better. The difference in those courageous pioneers that rolled before us;  they were willing to risk all, to give all to reach those treasures they sought.  So much of our present day population has lost all of that willingness to sacrifice and work for their goals.  Indeed, many don't even see why they should have to work for their prosperity.  Our success in acquiring "more" has weakened our character and strength of resolve.

While this diluting of the very blood that makes us Americans is a big disappointment to me, I'm still enough of a dreamer to believe in our spirit.  I truly believe that if a catastrophic disaster struck us tomorrow,  there would be those that survived who would immediately be gathering wood for a fire and looking into the distance, making plans to move forward. Even if we were reduced to nothing, I have no doubt that we would soon pick up our pursuit of more.