image via Aubrey RoadI received an e-mail from a reader last night, Serrin, (great name yes?) suggesting I take a peek at the portfolio of Andersson Wise, an architecture firm in Austin. After an hour spent ogling their amazing structures, I was in a sort of reverie over the idea of a small (tiny even) house.
I realize this isn't revolutionary, but the act of packing away most of our belongings while the house is being put back together post-flood has underscored how very little we need to live. In fact, I'd even say the living with less part has made our day-to-day existence infinitely more simple and enjoyable (despite the general mess and aggravation of the whole process).
Again not revolutionary, but when you have a lot of stuff, you have to take care of a lot of stuff. And this taking care of stuff takes time. I didn't realize how much time I had been spending taking care of my stuff until, well...I didn't have to anymore. I knew this fact inherently; I've even created an entire blog that essentially documents my quest to have a simpler life by acquiring fewer possessions. But "one less shirt here", "one less lamp there" really only inches the needle toward simplicity. By packing everything away, I instantly had the more mellow lifestyle I've been desperately chasing (apparently in vain).
With all this new found free-time, I read (a lot...more on that later), bake, write, conjure-up projects with the girlies. It's been a game changer. So (and I know you guys will be dubious given the copious amounts of griping I've subjected you to) the march toward household "normalcy", which will cumulate in reinstating all of that "stuff" back into each room, makes me just a smidge melancholy. Don't get me wrong, I want our house back, I do...big time, but I'm pretty sold on our current super-minimal existence.
Somehow I'm feeling like there's going to be a really big garage sale in my future...
12 comments:
well, then good luck with your future garage sale ;)
I don't have a lot stuff, but this is true - people now seem to gather too much things around them. They are usually not essential for life.
And these pictures above are just lovely!
Have a great weekend!
Monika
www.efektnimbu.blogspot.com
www.bentopopolsku.blogspot.com
this post is timely for me. i'm in the process (and i mean smack in the middle--just taking time out for lunch and blog reading) of purging our entire house while my husband and oldest daughter are gone for the weekend. i missed our huge neighborhood garage sale but goodwill will be receiving a large donation from the family frederickson come monday.
beautiful photos.
also wanted to say thank you for inspiring me in countless ways. have a great weekend.
Oooohhh. I love it! Yes, have that garage sale. I've been working on this for less than a year but I really do plan to have less stuff. I read somewhere that one family gets rid of two things when they buy something new. Makes you really think about what you bring into the house and if it's worth it or not. Good luck!
oh i love this whole minimalist thing- always have, always striving to pair down my belongings so i'm not stuck caring for stuff- i'd much rather daydream! Love when you post about this, such a good reminder:)
I wrote a big post about this last week. Too much stuff & we don't even have that much. But I'm trying to find ways to clear things out that we aren't using. Sold my loved but unable to use bamboo curtains this week to a cool new eco-friendly surf shop & met some great new friends. I'd rather have cool people & cool experiences than stuff any day...now to posting more stuff to craigslist...
I hear you! I am so torn between my penchant for collecting and living a minimal life. I've recently tried the 333 project -- only 33 items of clothing, shoes, accessories in 3 months, and I LOVE it.
I hope you have a wonderful garage sale!
Camille
Um, before you garage sale it could you please, please have an online sale?
simply, yes!
I am new to your blog in the last couple of weeks. I completely feel your pain about your flood. My home was also flooded earlier this year due to a malfunctioning washing machine. It is a nightmare to say the least. I know you are over the worst of it but I say go for it and make the most of the situation, make those improvements.
And I'm with Sarah, please have an on line sale.
I agree with Sarah... please have an online sale first. I loved this post so much Joslyn...
Wow, this was an inspiring post--in many different ways! I love the idea of living with less--I look around our wee little apartment and sigh... it will be a while!
When we sold our adorable 1912 craftsman home, we had to "stage" it. We packed away everything! It was the most stress-free existence (albeit impersonal) yet I strive for that streamlined living now that we are in our new home. Been toying with the idea of hiring a professional organizer to help me attain that goal. Best of luck with being stylishly minimalist. P.S. I think you do a great job and I'm inspired that you reach for new goals.
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