simplify my life

LOL. I don’t know if it really counts as simplifying, but I’ve been playing with my 43 things. I want to group them by “topic” as it were. Financial, Health, Education, Writing, etc. It’s all for me of course, and the numbers don’t really mean that one goal is more important than another.

Anything that helps me function is simplifying, right?

This month’s major step is my Kleen Kanteen. Rather than have to either buy bottled water or reuse plastic bottles, I have gotten myself a metal water bottle. It’s a reasonable size and it’s easy to use and drink from. There’s been a small period of adjustment, but it means fewer bottles and cans to take home for recycling.

I’ve slowly been purging things from my life and directly into the yard sale boxes. (Or onto Amazon, in the case of books.) It’s strange how as I get rid of things I become more willing to get rid of things.

The latest purge was the magnets that haven’t been on the fridge for at least a year. (“depersonalizing”) I think we got rid of about half of them.

I am still not a proponent of “decluttering” as a life-style because I prefer Victorian profusion in my decoration, but I have started to let go of things I’ve been keeping for years in a box.

I can’t wait to get to a point/place where I can actually display the things I love as opposed to having to be ready to “show the house” at any time. (We were on the market for a year before we pulled off and the house is still decorated like a BORING Pottery Barn catalog. I MISS MY STUFF.)

Yes, I know, we haven’t even hit Christmas this year, but I’m already planning next year.

I’ve decided that with my thank you notes this year, I’m going to ask my family to make a one dollar monthly pledge to http://www.modestneeds.org in lieu of a present for me. It’s $12 for them, and (if the matching contribution comes through again next year, which I believe it will) $24 for the organization. I have 5 uncles. That’s over $100 for my favorite charity and no more purses I can’t use or hair brush sets I end up giving to Toys for Teens.

(Aside: You could make a pledge like that too… hint)

I’m also planning a year long project for my grandmother’s present. I’m going to give her a year of letters. I’m thinking I’ll get a nice journal from my collection and sit down once a week, or more often and write her a letter in it. Then, I can wrap it and present it to her at the end of the year. (I’m also doing a crossstich project I think she’ll like.)

And I’m going to assume one of my parents bills this year (the internet bill) as opposed to a big present.

Part of me knows I’ll miss having a heap of presents wrapped under the tree. And heaven knows I probably will still hit the dollar store and Salvation Army for trinkets and books, but I also know that this will make my life happier.

crosses fingers Let’s see if anyone actually reads my thank yous.

Start Rant

Okay, here’s the problem, I like my clutter. No, it’s not a substitute for unloving parents. I’m not holding on to the past. I’m not holding on to some long lost trauma. I’ve had a wonderful life and loving family.

I like visually stimulating environments.

I’ve been living in a “simple” house because we’re moving. Half of my books are in a storage unit. And I MISS THEM EVERY DAY.

My “useless” decorator items are in storage because they’re too personal for showing a house. My rooms look like something out of a magazine. In fact, the entire house looks like something from architural digest. It’s beautiful.

It’s boring.

So, yes, I’m simplifying my life by getting out of commitments I don’t need and junk mail I don’t want. I’m eating more whole foods and reducing my environmental impact.

But I refuse to give up my collections, to sell off all my art, to turn my wardrobe into a monochromatic black mess or any of the other BS that people tout as “simplifying”.

Viva la clutter!

End Rant

I’m sorting as I pack to move to the new house. I find that there are some things, like stationary, that I can’t make myself get rid of.

I am however, going through books as I pack them and sending the ones I don’t like to the used bookstore/library book sale. I think that’s a step in the right direction.

I’m planning to sort my clothes as I go too. I’m not sure how that’s going to work out, since I tend to get rid of the things I don’t like anymore as soon as they’re clean again. I don’t know if that will give me any more space.

Okay, so the family is going to move again and it’s time to start boxing, sorting, selling, etc. to get ready for it. It’s also time to start cleaning.

I’m trying to approach this as a simplification project. I’m reducing the number of CDs in my collection. I’m reducing the number of books on the shelves (and trying to convert both to cash).

I’m going to try ebay and craigslist and amazon to sell things as opposed to just getting rid of them. I give a lot to charity already. I think it’s time to try something new and different.

Mom found an auction-house where you just walk in with a selection of items and they’ll sell them for you. It will work for things we don’t care about. shrugs We’ll see what happens. It will mean less to move at least.

As part of simplifying my life, I’m going to reduce the number of goals on my 43things list to 35.

Well, we’ve gotten ruthless around here and have over ten bags of books to go to the used bookstore. Last time, we actually got a check, not just credit. It’s nice to have something to put in the bank.

Any books that the bookstore doesn’t accept, I drop off at the library on the way home as a donation. (Some they sell, some they might use).

Next up: Sell the comics.

I let another magazine subscription go this month. That means I’m now down 3 magazines that I have been basically just giving away. I wasn’t reading them anymore, even though the topics still interested me. I’ve got other things to spend my time on. :)