I've been house sitting for 17 months for someone who has been offering missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's been a mutually beneficial arrangement.
She's to arrive home in the coming days and after a quick hunt for a new home for myself, I began the process of moving my belongings to the smaller residence, a basement suite. I've downsized a couple of times over the years and find the simplification process quite pleasant, after it is completed!
I'd had my furnishings stored in her garage and could see them each day as I parked my vehicle. I could envision the space I'd require to meet my ongoing needs but found I'd underestimated the space I need for my "work" world to accompany me.
As an independent contractor I keep the records and files for the agencies I serve in my home office. But, as downsizing means simplifying my needs, this time I actually parted ways with my desk top computer and determined I'd learn to trust the laptop I'd purchased. I did purchase a back up drive system and I've used it a few times. Between that drive and thumb drives for various designated purposes I'm depending on my new system to not disappoint me. It's already been in for repairs twice in the first months of my ownership (
which leaves me a bit disconcerted) but back-up systems truly are the key to personal information security -
at least that's what I'm told.
I'm also a genealogist who believes in retaining paper copies of records. The volume of family history materials one collects over 40 years amounts to two filing cabinets, two large and two small storage boxes and multiple tote bags, enough to fill a good sized closet.
My son-in-law and two grandsons worked with a rental truck to move my furnishings and since that start I've made daily trips with smaller items in my car. While that may seem inefficient, downsizing is a process. It often requires measuring spaces (which I did do), and constant review as to the best locations for items in the new location.
As television viewers absorb the habits of "hoarders" they witness the process required for someone to let go of items they've collected and stored for a long time. While the volume and the strategies are a bit different for me, downsizing is a bit of an emotional process. Each item that may have seemed essential two years ago when it was packed away in storage, today is re-examined for its necessity in my changing world. Weighing and measuring each box or its contents for pertinency is key to coming to a comfort with the new and simplified world one designs out of necessity. My children know that I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to the paper records I retain, but we have an understanding that I'll do the best I can to rid myself of as much of the collection as possible before I leave mortality. I'd hate to have them stuck with trying to ascertain value for items or to have to eliminate the possessions I've treasured but they won't want. As I visit seniors in care facilities and realize how much more I must part with in the coming years, the task seems daunting. But I'm certainly learning how to do the job!
Lessons learned...
"If you haven't needed an item for 6 months you may discard it," may work for some people, but after housesitting, I'm aware of many items I've not used for the duration, but suddenly need now with relocation. That rule doesn't fit my circumstances.
"Determine if your need to retain an item is from emotional attachment or actual need," could be a necessity, but when I review boxes of photos, keepsakes (from my children), resource materials for my work (which I could probably discover on-line), I must admit I don't have this rule under complete control.
"Will it fit the evolving lifestyle?" is a question I ask myself repeatedly. It's a dandy approach when you go through your wardrobe to determine what clothes still fit and which ones are "hopefuls". I'm much better at discarding and dropping things off at Value Village. A few years ago I actually kept clothes in boxes for sizes in anticipation of my return to a former figure. I've now decided if I return to a former form of myself, I'll spend a few dollars and purchase new items.
Other rules seem to relate to independence and health concerns - for instance if I were to suddenly be incapable of caring for myself and living independently, my "household hoard" would be a problem - dishes, furnishings, files, etc. But, despite the early demise of most of my extended families, I've decided the Lord knows my habits and He'll provide me with an "impression" or a sense of necessity to do a sudden downsizing to save my family the burden. If He doesn't, I'll have a very tactful but firm conversation with him when we meet.
The bottom-line I've come to discover, is discarding parts of my lifestyle may bring blessings to someone else's. Some of the furniture that doesn't fit my world today has added comforts and convenience to other households - because I seldom send such items to the landfill.
Downsizing is an exercise and a discipline. It requires personal awareness of needs, constant determination to separate our wants from our needs and an awareness that the Lord knows our situation. Just as He fed the Children of Israel "manna" on a daily basis, he will provide for us as well. He's been really good with me about such matters. He readies me for change. For instance - I've been driving into a garage to thereafter enter the home I housesit. My new home requires my parking outside, entering a garage through a side door and then entering my apartment from another entry door. The garage based style I've become accustomed to has alleviated the discomfort I might have felt under other circumstances. It's all a matter of perspective.
Don't let downsizing intimidate you,
it really is a component of simplifying one's life and lifestyle!
It's as delightful as losing weight
if you've been dieting for some time - it feels GOOD!
