pare down, pare down
Today is the day a new year starts over here. I’ll take down the tree, wrap the ceramic candle holders in tissue, remove the ‘joy’ wreath that hangs on the door. I’ve hung onto the decorations for this long because I don’t know when I’ll see them next. Possibly this spring or summer when I’m raffling off my possessions to family members and friends before putting the lot up on Craigslist. It all sounds a bit sad, but really, in a way, it’s a relief.
I am ready to shed all the accoutrements that make up a funny little life in an apartment: the five-foot-tall faux Christmas tree, the hand-me-down couch, the squat chair I bought for $25 from a thrift store eight years ago. The rice cooker and counter-top dishwasher. Ancient stereo system and obsolete CD collection. The L-shaped desk that takes up a third of the living room. I’m done with all of it.
The general reaction that D and I get from friends and family as we continue to reveal our steps and plans for the move onto a sailboat starts off with, “But what about…” and usually ends with “your job?” or “your home?” or “your things?” All of which can be answered thusly: Meh.
I don’t mean to sound callous. (The job will be in tact. The boat will be a new home. The things, well, they are just that.) I personally own nothing that has sentimental value to me. If there were a fire, I’d grab the cat with one hand and my laptop with the other. And those two precious items will be with me in this new life.
I am looking forward to open air. That is all I know right now.
As Pablo Neruda wrote, “pare down, pare down.”
Wait… you’re going to live on a sailboat? (I’m STILL not back into my regular routine after the break, so I’m waaay behind here!) That’s so exciting! It sounds like such a liberating thing to do, too, I can’t wait to hear more about it
Yayy! Good for you AmandaNicole – I think what you are doing is fantastic…I admire and secretly envy you!!
LOVE your plan!! I wish I had done that 10 years ago! In my humble opinion, you are one very smart girl. Life is filled with the living and not the possessions we collect. xoxo
Man, can I relate to this. Oh yes!
Getting rid of our stuff before we moved to Paris was one of the best decisions I ever made.
I can’t think of much cooler than moving onto a sailboat. You GO girl!
How very exciting! Moving onto a sailboat! I’ve always thought it would be neat to live in a houseboat, mostly because I grew up in the prairies where houseboats = exotic. but a sailboat is pretty exotic too!
I know how you feel about paring down. Living in a small apartment it’s a constant battle to keep the space from filling up and a good pare down is so cleansing.
I am completely going through the same thing as you right now!
We recently decided to move to Paris. I’d say a pretty large proportion of everything you see on Craigslist right now probably belongs to us! Had a few successful sales, although the ’selection of board games’ is proving difficult to shift…
I am also not feeling terribly attached to anything. Which really surprises me. I think when you make a decision that requires downsizing your worldly belongings and you know in your heart that it is the right decision, it becomes an easy task to give up those objects.
Good luck with everything!
You’re going to be living on a boat?!? Where? When was this decision made? Oh my… I must have missed something!
I too live on a sail boat!!! well for part of the year, it is great in the summer months, but when the rain and snow hit it makes for tight quarters and cold nights. The only things I miss about living on land are a yard to grow things and not having a pet. I just don’t think its fair to keep pets in such a small space. However there are always fish and hamsters!!! Good luck!