I have decided to sell a vintage bookcase and a scroll work metal bookcase. I’ll put them on Craigs List. I am shocked I’m selling the vintage bookcase, but once I emptied it of books, I thought I don’t need or want this anymore! I hope I feel that way about some other things. I need to make some money, and selling good stuff I don’t want anymore will bring some in. 3 weeks ago

These are, for some reason, pretty easy to declutter right now. So I am taking advantage of my attitude and getting rid of books that I am sure I won’t ever read (again or ever) so that I can have more SPACE in my life. My new passion – empty space. 4 weeks ago

This weekend, into the shed they went. I realized that my two shovels have disappeared, both the regular and the flat shovel! And I have three pitchforks! I have one or two of everything else (two is okay because it’s handy if someone is helping me). So I’ll have to save up to buy shovels, and see if I can trade a pitchfork to someone for something else. 1 month ago

This about says it all. I have piles in my living room to go through. I am going to use the Peter Walsh method – put it all out and then go through it quickly. First thoughts, make my selections, and then get it out of the vicinity quickly to charity or the sale shop. 1 month ago

Okay, I just learned today that Tupperware plastic containers made before 2010 probably have BPA in them! Dagnabit sumbucko!

So I am going to get rid of all my plastic Tupperware, for which I paid a pretty penny, and buy the Rubbermaid stackers that do not have BPA, and supposedly never did. Got to do it.

I’ll do it this pay period. I don’t want to be ingesting BPA, although I have for years! I guess it’s time to stop now. Question: Do I put them in the Goodwill or throw them away? 1 month ago

So the poorly behaved relatives moved out about 3 weeks ago. My house is quiet and much more empty. I am inspired to declutter. OMGosh! It’s such an amazing feeling to realize how much I have detached from my possessions. I am not decluttering as quickly as I want, but I am thorough and careful. Plus, I successfully resist bringing more into my house. Detachment is ahead of physical decluttering, which is good because I am not standing around thinking, what next, but deciding which one is next. Great feeling! I am keeping what is useful, what is beautiful, what I love. I am decluttering other people’s stuff (boxing it for them to take away), what I don’t use or love, and anything that makes me feel badly in some way when I look at it. I am actually decluttering things in the 2nd and 3rd levels below the superficial level on top! I feel myself growing psychologically and spiritually. Really exciting! 1 month ago

I am having some major problems with a couple of family members who have taken advantage of my good nature and generosity during the last 3 months. The problem will be solved at the end of the month; however, I have a number of items they have given me over the years. Last night as I lay insomniac, I realized that I have detached from them so much, that I have detached from most of what they gave me! Wow! Now I am able to pass some of the family heirlooms on to others. I don’t need to keep them anymore. I have been released. It really was a fabulous feeling because it came out of indifference rather than anger. I admit there are several things I will still keep because I like them, but I have detached from those enough that I don’t think of the poorly behaved relatives when I use or look at them. I believe I am maturing! 3 months ago

On January 1st I had 7 dogs, 9 cats, 4 horses, and 1 burro.

By Monday, March 8, I will have 5 dogs, 6 cats, and the same number of equines.

My favorite dog passed away on 2/2. My least favorite dog killed 2 cats within 6 weeks. One cat disappeared (coyotes I think). The cat killer will go to an Australian Shepherd rescue group in Scottsdale, AZ, on Saturday or Sunday.

I don’t plan to get any more animals. I didn’t plan for any I have now, except for 1 cat, 1 dog, and 1 horse. It seems that I am a rescue place for critters that are in need of a home. Lately I have been resisting bringing home new members of the family, although I do feed hungry strays were I find them (carry food in my car). I always thought I would have the Aussie until one of us died, but I cannot have a cat killer on my place with so many feline family members. It’s a sad thing, but everyone will be happier. I think even the Aussie will be happier. 3 months ago

in me that contributes to holding onto stuff, but then at the same time, the sorrow allows me to let go of things too. Living a Small Life, for me, means accepting my limitations in space, time, energy, and content. By accepting limitations, I am able to release the superfluous and root into the real me. It’s hard to be a real me sometimes because often, whom I am, is not acceptable to the mainstream USA. I try to stay in a community of those who accept me for whom I am, because when I venture out into the mainstream, I am considered odd. I enjoy being odd, but sometimes I feel uncomfortable when I am being stared at.

When I retire I will be a writer. 4 months ago

went to my god-daughter for her rodeo drill team’s yard sale. It’s the 2nd weekend in March, so I should be able to find more things to donate. Somehow it is so much easier donating them for this cause, to raise money for her drill team. 4 months ago

Yesterday I donated half a dozen bags of things, plus a near-new toaster oven, to the Goodwill. I considered having a yard sale (I have not had one and considered it for years), but then I thought, I have gotten treasures at the Goodwill. Now I am giving some so someone else can get treasures there too. It made the giving painless and actually joyful. I felt lighter and happy when I drove off. I also gave them an antique sewing basket, a new woman’s leather jacket, shoes, a three-piece ceramic cannister set, Christmas ornaments, a set of bookends made out of horseshoes with SF on them, ceramic dog bowl, two men’s jackets, and more I can’t think of. They had a good haul, particularly with the toaster oven. 6 months ago

I’ve gotten rid of books, clothes, housewares, cookware, dishes, purses, more. Threw stuff in the dumpster and recycled. I am motivated to clear things out! Put XBF’s stuff in my storage unit (my 1977 Chevy panel van LOL!) and more to go in. He’ll hate it in there, so will come pick it up. If I left it in the house, it would be there for decades. 6 months ago

This weekend I have to continue the arduous process of really and truly decluttering! My god-daughter is moving in with me, and I have to get ‘er done! I have my plan. Now I need to have energy and time and the ability to let go. 7 months ago

I am not writing future posts for this goal any more. They don’t happen and I don’t want to be a liar. So I am only going to write what I have done. 7 months ago

will see a flurry of decluttering activity. Everything from recycling to the couch going (I hope) to books, shoes, etc., will be decluttered and packed up. I intend to go to a flea market during the last few weekends of this month. 8 months ago

I am in the next layer of stuff to declutter, which means the good stuff that I like, but have detached from. It took a while to get to this point, but I’m there. Lamps, clothes, horsey stuff, vehicles, jewelry, books, etc., are being weeded so I can recreate my home environment into an agile, simple, authentic, green reflection of who I am now. I am regretting only one thing so far that I’ve gotten rid of; the rest, I can’t even remember what they were! I feel much more in control of my life. 8 months ago

Being single means I can choose what goes! And if it belongs to him, I just put it in a box for him to take away. No decisions, no arguments. Wahoo! If in doubt, I keep it and put it to the side. Here are some of my criteria (besides would I spend the time, energy and money to move it 3000 miles):

Realistic: Is it realistic to keep in my life? Will I really ever play the fiddle again? And if the answer is yes, do I realistically need two fiddles?

Affinity: Do I have an affinity for the thing? Is it something I love, or that I use, or has an important connection in some way to my life? I have a rock a friend gave me that looks like a potato. I love that rock. I have an affinity for it. But I don’t have an affinity for my couch. It needs to go. I am giving it to a friend. Bye bye.

If I have thought of letting something go, I really examine this closely to determine whether it should go. This isn’t always a good measure, but at least I examine whether it is true for me. 9 months ago

I’ll let my friend know she can come get them on Labor Day weekend. I’ll be happy to see them go. She will be happy to put them in her nephew’s house. I guess he has hardly any furniture. Both these are comfy. 10 months ago

Odd how now I’m thinking of moving to another place helps with decluttering things. Clearly some of what I currently own will not fit into my life then (I know this for sure), and these things can go, and can go now – if they’re decorative. Some things I use now, but won’t when I leave. These things will be decluttered closer to departure. 11 months ago

In 2016, there is a significant date for me. By that date, I will have decluttered my possessions to only those that I would move 3000 miles – because I might move 1300 miles! I like having an actual deadline because it keeps me motivated. 12 months ago

About a month ago the propane company came to take away their empty propane tank. I hadn’t used it in about 1 1/2 years. Now it’s gone. Woo hoo! Fire hazard. 13 months ago

in exchange for new siding on our house. I wanted to sell it anyway and buy a double! I get more money for this in the longrun because my nephew normally gets $30 an hour for the work he is doing on our house for the trailer. So far he has put in about 12 hours, and is about 1/4 completed with the project. I’ll get my money’s worth, and it’s a barter! Much better than dealing with money. 15 months ago

I watch Hoarders every now and then just to remind me why I am doing all this. I am not a hoarder, but that extreme keeps me serious about continuing to lighten up to a cowgirl minimalist environment. I feel very sorry for hoarders because they are mentally or emotionally ill. I have only been in the house of one hoarder, maybe 6-7 years ago. It was terrifying. Two children lived there. It was actually less bad than the ones on TV, but what struck me was that everything looked gray, that everything began to decompose into grayness. Very sad. 15 months ago

If I have something that I like, but that I am not using, and, I think of someone I want to give it to, I shouldn’t wait, but do it ASAP. This will increase circulation, eliminate blockages, strengthen familial and community ties, and make me feel good in multiple ways! I can think of half a dozen things I have that I really like but that I want to pass on to another. Time to do it. 15 months ago

I need to be more serious about applying this because I’m getting bogged down again. 15 months ago

I know it seems too heavy on the keep side, and it is. However, I looked in the back of my car today (the books are still there in the box) and realized that there is a book I can give away. After this afternoon it will be kept 18 and gave away 8. I have more books at home just chomping at the bit to be given to someone else. 16 months ago

and a box I couldn’t part with. But as I sort through the fourth box today, I’ll keep in mind: would I spend money, time and energy to move this book 3000 miles? That is the question. 16 months ago

I am cleaning out my old van (which I want to sell/donate) that has been used for storage for about 10 years. Today I loaded 5 boxes of books into my car to donate to the Library. I’m keeping a running list of donated books for this year so that I can claim it on my income tax. 16 months ago

I took a bunch of stuff to the Goodwill yesterday, and got my donation tax receipt. Thank goodness that stuff is gone! 16 months ago

I thought I would have to spend money on some, but boxes have appeared where I work and I was able to take them. There are about a dozen, and I think they’ll be enough to box up all my dissertation data, drafts, reference materials, committee correspondence, and etc., so I can move it out of my office and into storage. With that done, I’ll be able to get to the other things I need to do for my conversion of a very messy office into a clean and tidy guest room/office. 16 months ago