Passages

[Miranda]

We're planning to put our house up for sale in the Spring so we've been lightening the load. Every time we take a bag of donations to Goodwill/Salvation Army/Habitat it feels so freeing. I've loved my "stuff" but it sure feels better to have less of it.

BTW, both motorcycles sold yesterday!!!

+1 to that...

I've been going thru the process of decluttering also.

I read this guy's book (excellent), and continue to read his blog also... http://brooks-palmer.blogspot.com/

[Pax]

+1 to that...

I've been going thru the process of decluttering also.

I read this guy's book (excellent), and continue to read his blog also... http://brooks-palmer.blogspot.com/

It's been an interesting journey, I am so NOT a packrat but my SO is. She realizes she's got too much stuff now so she's getting ruthless with the cleaning out, it's fun to watch.

We've also pulled old junk out of jewelry boxes and sent it off to a buddy of mine (a retired chemical engineer) who buys gold and silver... so far we've gotten $1600 back!!

[limewave]

Speaking of Goodwill . . .

Garage Sales DONE! Over it! Way too much hassle. I can drop everything off at Goodwill then write it off my taxes for more than I would ever be able to sell it for in my driveway.

Driving Okay, I still drive. Many moons ago I moved to the outskirts of the city where I work. I learned that everything was at least a 20 minute drive. I moved back "home." At the time, I had a 50 minute commute each way, but once I was home I never had to get in my car again. Of course, now I work from home. And we live less than a mile from the schools, daycare, post office, grocery store, bank, etc. THIS IS THE LIFE.

Drawing Hard to believe I was an art major. I used to LOVE drawing. It was my life. Now there is no time at all. I've picked up sketch pads and charcoals over the years in hopes of rekindling this hobby . . . but my passion is just not there anymore.

Hotels DONE! I much prefer my RV. Even after staying at some of the nicest hotels, I long for my RV, my own bed, my kitchen, my shower, my couch . . . Nothing like having Lake Michigan out your front door and the woods for a backyard.

[limewave]

We've also pulled old junk out of jewelry boxes and sent it off to a buddy of mine (a retired chemical engineer) who buys gold and silver... so far we've gotten $1600 back!!

I've been contemplating this. Before my grandmother passed, she gave me her wedding ring. But it was an older style, quite dated. And so she insisted (I didn't ask) that it be reset in a new band. I have this stunning ruby and diamond ring now. I LOVE IT. However, I have this giant gold band leftover. I have been contemplating selling it. DH thinks I should hang on to it--it was my grandmother's afterall. But why? There are no stones in it? I just imagine it sitting in my jewelry box until I pass.

[Pax]

I've been contemplating this. Before my grandmother passed, she gave me her wedding ring. But it was an older style, quite dated. And so she insisted (I didn't ask) that it be reset in a new band. I have this stunning ruby and diamond ring now. I LOVE IT. However, I have this giant gold band leftover. I have been contemplating selling it. DH thinks I should hang on to it--it was my grandmother's afterall. But why? There are no stones in it? I just imagine it sitting in my jewelry box until I pass.

That's where we were, neither of us even wears jewelry but we had a bunch of the stuff we'd been given as gifts over the years. My class ring hadn't been on my finger in 30 years, and I had a gold watch that belonged to some relative (I have no idea who so there's no emotional attachment). Now that money is in our escape fund for our next move.

[limewave]

I just went through my jewelry box and found my charm bracelet from 1991. the charms: Golf bag, Tennis, Trumpet, Skis, and Bicycle.

Hmmm, the only thing I still do is cycling!

[GLC1968]

See, my problem is that I still love doing all of my previous hobbies and of course I've added many more. While my time is limited, I just can't say 'done' about any of it because I do love it all.

OK, here's two:
Snowboarding? Done. I never liked it *that* much anyway.
Rugby? Done. I'm too old - I just don't heal quick enough anymore.

The rest? I still want to do these things even though which ones get priority does shift from year to year...

Beading
Biking
Triathlons
Farming
Gardening
Travel
Kayaking
Skiing
Hiking
Camping
Tennis (hardly ever do this, but I love it when I do!)
Running
Baking
Canning/Dehydrating/etc
Ice skating
Photography
Reading

There are lots of things I've tried and decided that I didn't much like pretty early on (like golf) and other things that I don't want to try because I don't want to add another potentially time-consuming and expensive hobby (motorcycles) to my life.

I do have a 1972 Super Beetle in our garage in need of TLC (I bought it as a project car and never worked on it) that I really should let go. I just don't see how I'll ever have time to work on it (even though I may love doing it).

[Pax]

Rugby? Done. I'm too old - I just don't heal quick enough anymore.

Amen sister! I got invited to the Old Girls game (where the old gals play the current college team), they asked me to play!!!! I laughed really hard, smiled and said "since I have to be able to walk tomorrow I'll pass, but thanks".

[Owlie]

I need to stop trying sports. Seriously. I pick all the expensive ones. Speaking of which, I thought of another one that dropped out of my life: Fencing. I was really into it in high school and the first half of college--competitively. I was only mediocre at it because I wasn't fast enough. I ultimately ended up dropping off the team because of academic and personal reasons, and the fact that it aggravated an old ankle injury really prevented me from getting back into it. I need to find a way to get rid of my old stuff, because I doubt that I'm ever going to pick it up again.

[malkin]

See, my problem is that I still love doing all of my previous hobbies and of course I've added many more. While my time is limited, I just can't say 'done' about any of it because I do love it all.
...
I still want to do these things even though which ones get priority does shift from year to year...

This is pretty much my style. Maybe some day we'll go light and get rid of everything and live in someplace like those tiny IKEA demo rooms. For now we just moved and have double the square footage, so at least we can muck around in our stuff, see what's here, and think about it.

[Miranda]

It's been an interesting journey, I am so NOT a packrat but my SO is. She realizes she's got too much stuff now so she's getting ruthless with the cleaning out, it's fun to watch.

We've also pulled old junk out of jewelry boxes and sent it off to a buddy of mine (a retired chemical engineer) who buys gold and silver... so far we've gotten $1600 back!!

That's great! On both accounts.

Besides physical junk, other things in our life can be "clutter"... like our activities we no longer love as you say... relationships with other people... anything really- that no longer serves you today.

I've got some old gold stuff too... I said I was going to sell DH's baseball card collection and he about had a wetting accident lol... sooo that one is not quite there yet.