A few weeks (hang on maybe it was months!) ago, I posted that I was moving to Armidale. I have a job and now I have somewhere to live. As I begin to pack up my house, I am overwhelmed by how much stuff I have! The overwhelm is exacerbated by the fact that to get an affordable price for the removalist, I am sharing a truck with someone else and have a defined space limit.
In the past, I have had the truck to myself and have just chucked everything in boxes. This time, every box I pack represents a fraction of a square metre in a truck I don’t have room for.
Frugal living? Maybe not!
How did I get so much stuff? I have been living a relatively frugal life for the past five years. I have had two “buy nothing” years. I have followed a one in one out rule. I bought nothing new. I had rules! Yet, my cupboards are full. Where did it all come from? Does stuff breed behind closed wardrobe doors?
Keeping memories
I have the standard three piles happening; keep, donate and throw out. Unfortunately not much is landing in the throw away or donate pile. While none of it, not one skerrick of it is actually junk, (!) there are a lot of memories. I am struggling to cultivate a minimalist attitude al la “The Minimalists” who propose that memories are thoughts and you don’t need to keep the physical object. They suggest you take a photo. I have written about my attachment to memories through physical objects before. The idea of getting rid of perfectly good items makes me twitch!
I can feel myself getting frustrated because most of the “memories” I have, I use. They serve a dual purpose. They are functional and connect me to my family. I like using my Grandmothers’ vases. I like stirring my cake mix in her bowl with her wooden spoon. I like using the ancient and wonky flour sifter. It’s at least 60 years old, and even though it’s a bit wonky, it still works. However, even I have to admit that I don’t need the pineapple shaped plates I bought a few years ago, regardless of how cute they are!
Ruthlessness is not my strong suit.
Even though I have made some very bold trips to the garbage bin and dropped off a car load at the op shop, the pile of boxes is growing. I have a limit of sixty boxes. I am up to thirty and I still haven’t started with the essential stuff I am still using. I have two weeks to develop a more ruthless approach!
Wish me luck!
I know the feeling all too well. I love the dresser in your header photo. Good luck on releasing attachments. It’s a hard task to conquer.
Thanks!
Hope it all turned out okay if you have by now made the move. I completely understand the attachment to physical objects for sentimental reasons. Getting rid of something we love, given to us by someone we love is very difficult. How did you do?
Hi Allegra, Thanks for droppingby! The move went fairly smoothly, but I didn’t get rid of nearly as much as I hoped I would! 🙂
Whoops sorry, I spelt your name incorrectly!
Oh not to worry at all. It’s a common error.