Tuesday, July 19, 2016

It’s time to go, paperclips in the desk 213/365




     The purge is on big time. Not just paperclips but all kinds of desk stuff we haven’t used in years. Really, how many thumbtacks does one need? Maybe none. Then there are greeting cards, envelopes, old calendars, dried up glue sticks... the list gets boring.
    How do we know what gets thrown away or taken to the put-and-take? Easy question: If we were moving, would be take it? Put another way, we make decisions by pretending we are moving, although that is not on our immediate horizon.  

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

It’s time to go, more books on the shelf 212/365


     We are getting ready for a major purge in our bedroom, which really is two rooms. Scuppers was sick when we grandpet sat last week, and we realized how long we've had the wall to wall carpet. So we're going to take it up and work with hardwood floors and a few area rugs. This will entail getting rid of stuff--LOTS of stuff. We think we'll get a dumpster. I feel energized about this because I don't want to be stuck with one or both of us unable to clear out when the time comes.
    This is ended up primarily being a book purge; many New Age—past lives, astrology, ‘para’ this and that. Just the thing for someone at the put-and-take. Fewer books means fewer shelves; so far we’ve emptied four.
       Passing these books on to interested readers opens up simplicity, which is one of the goals in getting rid of stuff. When we decide to move, we will have already done some downsizing. If we stay here forever, what a BIG help it will be to our kids. In letting go of all those ‘para’ books, I have released all obligations to pursue the topics. Simplicity on the material, physical plane; simplicity on the psychological, spiritual plane.

     A revised form of this post is on my www.acottagebythesea blog, which is all about my longing for silence, solitude and simplicity.