THE PURGING BEGINS

 STUFF

 
So MUCH Stuff! Years of accumulation.

It's a daunting task sorting through everything we have accumulated as well as all that my Dad left behind. His 83 years of mementos. And his parents mementos...

   We have several months to complete this task but we are getting there. It doesn't have to be so difficult. We just have to get into a different mind set. We tell ourselves; "It's just stuff". 

  First thing to do is pack or set aside what you would save in a fire if you had time. Documents and necessities and family heirlooms. Give some to grown children or put aside for storage. 

 I am thankful we don't have a basement or attic full but the barn makes up for that! A BARN full to toss, burn, give away, sell or repack for storage.

    Pulling stuff out of stored boxes and the deepest nooks and crannies of every closet, cupboard and cabinet.

   Reading others peoples blogs about this task. I know we are not alone with the struggles of "letting go". Most of it is pretty easy to toss but some things I have to set aside and talk myself out of. 

... You DON'T Need It!"  I  keep telling myself..

Be assured it does get easier with practice.

   They say to get rid of anything you haven't used in a year, even if you aren't downsizing. 

    Well, I have stuff that's been tucked away for 10, 20 and even 30+ years! Most is easy to purge but other things I struggle with.

    Oh! And then there is my Dad's stuff! 

   He was born in 1913! Some is my Grandparents stuff! They were born in the late 1800's!  Most of that will  go into storage. Some I might donate to a WW2 Museum tho.

    It's mind boggling but at the same time this really is a good thing. A blessing in disguise. Moving or not, this needs doing.

 If we weren't forced  into doing this and if anything ever happened to me, I'd hate the thought of my kids having to deal with sorting through all this stuff. It wouldn't be fair to them at all. This is a major motivation to get through this part of preparation to live in a 5th wheel.

  When I start feeling "separation anxiety" about the stuff I'll take a walk out in the desert and imagine that I already don't have a house, and all that stuff ....

 Ill Imagine I had just pulled off the road and stepped out of a trailer and am going for a walk taking in the scenery. 

I put my mind there and imagine I already don't have all that stuff.

It's all gone and replaced with this ......

 Quiet

Fresh air

Endless scenery  and wildlife ... FREEDOM ...

That helps motivate me too.

Instead of having things (that can be replaced) sitting on shelves that I have to dust off...

    you can't replace time and missed opportunities.

No amount of money can give you more time.

Instead of stuff I will be free to roam 

 all just a step outside my front door, wherever we park it.....

     Someday my body will not cooperate. Someday I will not have a choice but to sit in front of the TV and stare at those dusty things on the shelf. I won't even have the ability to dust them!

   But right now we have a choice......

 If anyone has any tips to share about this task, please comment!

Previous Post - The Beginning / Saying Goodbye            Next Post - The Purchase of our RV

The Beginning / Saying Goodbye

Chain of events that brought us to this new chapter.

We have enjoyed this view out our
 living-room window every morning for 15 years .

I am going to miss this place. 

 I had never been a "home owner" until we got this place in 2000


  Planted a garden every year. 

Planted a pond and cat tails and goldfish...

~

         Nothing ever stays the same tho.

  Learned that a long time ago. My Mother passed away when I was 4 years old . We moved a lot, different neighborhoods, different schools, different friends.

   Then as an adult after 3 kids and 2 divorces we moved to Arizona from Oregon to help my Dad in his last years.

Change shouldn't feel new to me.

  Life is always changing. Transforming. That isn't necessarily a bad thing.  We can't resist it, we have to roll with the punches.

~

 After my Dad passed away I assumed the loan on his house.  a
A"Simple Assumption".

  A little paperwork and $75. and it was done. I "owned" my first house. A place to raise my kids! No more renting. Didn't have to ask permission to plant a garden or build a pond or paint the walls!

   Many thought I inherited the house and it was paid for but it wasn't.  It would have been paid for if he had some kind of life insurance  or mortgage insurance but he didn't. But at least I got a house with no down payment. That was better than renting as far as I was concerned.

   In 2010, my husband was no longer able to work. The long road to trying to get on disability is a story in it's self. And now it's obvious it isn't going to happen before the house goes into foreclosure.

  For 3 years we spent all of our savings and sold everything of any value to stay afloat. We held on  as long as we could. There are very few jobs here that can support a household on one income. So it's time to move on.

Our Garden

Our pond and all the critters it attracts. 



The desert toads and dragonflies have come here to
 breed every monsoon season for over 10 years.





And other critters come for a drink
 from the pond during our scorching summers..

  We built a pond, and a garden. and raised chickens.

  Sold eggs and zucchini to friends. 

   And we have been here long enough to have a family pet cemetery in the back yard.

           

   But life always changes.

  Hind Sight 20/20, we should have spent our savings on an RV at the onset 4 years ago and pulled out before we spent every last cent of our savings prolonging the inevitable.

    Finally defeated, we will  be sorting through years of accumulation making plans for a new chapter.

Welcome as we share our journey.

   Life will be good again, it will, just follow and see. :)

  

NEXT -  THE PURGING BEGINS