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Yesterday, my husband and I got back from Hawaii. We were a week (actually eight days) on Maui. We stayed in a friend's 'condo'. He owns a piece of property with six rental units on it, and he's kept a single room with an attached bath and closet and its own separate entrance for his own use. Add an air conditioner, a bar fridge, & a microwave and it's a comfortable place to stay. We probably had half of our meals in the room.
Living out of a couple of suitcases for a week, on an island where many are pushing to live in a more ecologically sound way was a really good experience for me. Simplicity has never been my strong suit. Our return yesterday was somewhat jarring. Walking through the house, I was struck by how much unmitigated clutter I have generated. After a week of living in a sparer and uncluttered environment, coming home has been in part a smack in the face. I simply have way too much stuff. I possess too many things. Too many things I don't use. Too many pieces of clothing I do not or cannot wear.
I'm struck that in a world where so many live on so little, that this is very conspicuous consumption, and simply not consistent with my Quaker beliefs. So, I've resolved to start jettisoning things that serve no purpose in my life, but are taking up space. My intent over the next two years is to make certain that for every new thing acquired, something leaves. Further, it is my intent to make certain that in addition to that, at least one thing that is neither useful, needed, or cherished is either given away, donated, sold, recycled, composted, or just tossed.
I have created a new persona on Livejournal, [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] The purpose of this new journal, is to keep me honest. It's my plan to keep a tally of what comes in, and more importantly, what goes out. Some days there will be posts of nothing more than what went out and what, if anything, came in. Other times there may be thoughts on my experience of trying to live a life a bit more simply. Anyone following my regular journal is welcome to follow this if you're interested, but it's not in any way, shape, or form expected.
Living out of a couple of suitcases for a week, on an island where many are pushing to live in a more ecologically sound way was a really good experience for me. Simplicity has never been my strong suit. Our return yesterday was somewhat jarring. Walking through the house, I was struck by how much unmitigated clutter I have generated. After a week of living in a sparer and uncluttered environment, coming home has been in part a smack in the face. I simply have way too much stuff. I possess too many things. Too many things I don't use. Too many pieces of clothing I do not or cannot wear.
I'm struck that in a world where so many live on so little, that this is very conspicuous consumption, and simply not consistent with my Quaker beliefs. So, I've resolved to start jettisoning things that serve no purpose in my life, but are taking up space. My intent over the next two years is to make certain that for every new thing acquired, something leaves. Further, it is my intent to make certain that in addition to that, at least one thing that is neither useful, needed, or cherished is either given away, donated, sold, recycled, composted, or just tossed.
I have created a new persona on Livejournal, [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] The purpose of this new journal, is to keep me honest. It's my plan to keep a tally of what comes in, and more importantly, what goes out. Some days there will be posts of nothing more than what went out and what, if anything, came in. Other times there may be thoughts on my experience of trying to live a life a bit more simply. Anyone following my regular journal is welcome to follow this if you're interested, but it's not in any way, shape, or form expected.
