The Simple Life

No, this is not a post about Paris Hilton.

In reference to the last message, I am probably not going to move to five acres and start homesteading. First, my husband wouldn't be game. Second, we would have to move quite far away from where we are now to afford something like that, and that's not going to happen. Plus, I love where I live.

Okay. So. I've been thinking about how to break this whole thing down. And the thing is, my desire to escape to a farm or homestead (when I know nothing about farming and homesteading) is really a desire for simplicity and sanity. I want to eliminate the unnecessary stuff and processes that seem to constantly go on around my family and me. I don't want to feel buried under or surrounded by stuff. I don't want to always be looking for stuff I can't find. I want to be more self-sufficient. I want to conserve. I want to create things from scratch.

Perhaps such a quest is quixotic. It certainly seems overwhelming. Nevertheless, I think I might get started, taking baby steps. I was even thinking of giving the blog a new title, and I might at some point if I keep up this quest. I've been suffering blognnui lately as is. But for now, I think I'll leave the title but will start trying to post entries about efforts to de-clutter and get back to basics. These will be my baby steps as a I try to focus on the simple, the sufficient, and the sustainable. I'm sure academics and kids will still pop up as part of the process.

Today, for example, I cleaned out (mostly) my half of the clothes closet. I purged the clothes I don't like and don't wear regardless of whether or not they fit (except for a few things I don't wear often but that my husband has given me). I purged things that don't fit, except for a few favorite pants that I optimistically stored in the top of the closet for "someday." I did the same for most of my drawers in the dresser--just a couple of more drawers to go. Now I have two big garbage bags to give to Goodwill.

Oh, and last week, I cleaned two-thirds of the "linen" closet. I still need to do some purging and folding of linens, but I organized all of the wrapping paper, cards, candles, and toilettries and, as a result, I found everything I needed to wrap my daughter's b-day presents. Usually, I'm running higgledy-piggledy to the drug store at the last minute to get wrapping paper. Thus, cleaning the closet saved me time and money.

In both cases, by purging I seemed to end up with more instead of less because, in both cases, I came across things that were buried under other crap. Shirts (Oh, I remember this shirt!). Shoes (I forgot about these!).

And now I no longer have to wear those corduroys that chafe my waist because they are gone.