As you may know, my daughter and I moved from Washington State to Maine about two years ago. But I didn’t move the bulk of our belongings until May of this year. I had to rent a storage unit to keep half the stuff we own because the condo here is much smaller than my place was back West. So, I’m letting go of stuff.
I’ve always been something of a minimalist. I was able to haul everything I own in a small pick-up truck until I was 40. However, having a family changed that, and like most Americans, I accumulated some stuff. But I have a goal to reduce the amount of stuff I own by 75% by the summer of 2025. It’s not easy, but I am making progress.
The less stuff you have, the more freedom.
I used to operate a blog about minimalism called Hip Diggs. I gave it up for a few reasons. It seems a bit hypocritical to try to sell minimalism. The blog was not getting the traffic I wanted. But most of all, I was not living as minimally as I wanted to be.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never been like the greater majority of Americans. Comparatively, I have less stuff than most. But I still had too much stuff for my own liking, and I still do. That’s why I’m letting go.
With every trip to Goodwill and the used book store I feel weight lifted. I still have furniture to sell. I will sell one of my two vehicles at some point. For now, the small truck still comes in handy for hauling stuff.
One area I really have more than I need is in the musical instrument category. So, recently I let go of a bunch of small stringed instruments and hand drums. In return, I bought a new Gibson L-00 parlor guitar. Something let go, something gained. By space and weight, I cut the stuff back by 75%.
Next, maybe a camera.
As I go through old technology and digital equipment, I have a plan. For letting go of old cameras, tablets, TVs, and stereo equipment, I think I’ll give myself permission to buy a nice camera. I’ve mentioned before that photography is something I want to pursue more as I get closer to retirement. So, why not?
For now, I’m still working at USPS, so my time is limited. But as I mentioned last week, life is uncertain and things might change at any moment. Embrace it. – dse
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