Our resident deer--something I will miss

As I mentioned in “Summer Fun List Review—How Did I Do?” we’re getting ready to sell our home of nearly 28 years and move to a much smaller townhome just a few minutes away. Because we’re downsizing by about 1,000 square feet, we’ll have to get rid of a considerable amount of furniture and other belongings. 

Decluttering has become my life.

Some decisions are obvious. We won’t have room for our dining room table, china hutch, and sideboard so they have to go. We won’t need many of our landscaping tools and equipment (the landscaping is taken care of by our new HOA association), and my home office will have to share space with the guest room, so I’ll need to sell or donate some of my office furniture (sob).

And so many books. Even though a home library is extremely important to me, I’ll be purging books as I pack. Which ones are worthy of moving with us?

Two questions

During the packing process, I’ve been asking myself two questions:

How much can I take?

And

How little do I need?

“How much can I take?” speaks to how I don’t want to feel I’m losing items that are special to me as we downsize. I don’t want to get rid of things I need and use, but I also don’t want to leave behind things that really give me a sense of comfort and home. The glider rocker I’ve had since before my son was born falls into this category. I really love that chair, and sit in it often, letting the rocking motion calm me when I’m stirred up emotionally. I’ve scribbled many first drafts on paper in that chair, pondered many a deep thought. I’m not sure I will be able to find a spot for it in our new home, but I really want to.

On the other hand, how little do I need? There is such freedom in having less. Less stuff to clean, store, maintain. It’s calming to look around a pared down space. I’m no minimalist, but I’m happy for this chance to see how shedding excess will simplify my life and allow space for more joy.

OK, one more question

Looking at all my stuff with fresh eyes, I’m also asking, “Am I keeping this just because I’ve had it so long, or because I still love and use it?” Our current home has a LOT of decorative shelving which we’ve filled with various trinkets and doo dads over the years. With a lot less room for trinkets and doo dads, only the ones I really love for themselves will be making the move.

Some hard choices are coming—there will probably not be room for everything I use and love, so even some favorites may have to be left behind. That will have to be OK.

It never hurts to look around and evaluate the things you live with. Eventually, we will probably all have to downsize, or leave it all for our kids to deal with, and from personal experience, I do not recommend this! It may not be easy, but asking these questions about our belongings, even if we’re not planning to move, can lead to more peace, freedom, and yes, happiness.

Have you thought about (or actually completed) decluttering or downsizing? Any tips you can share?

For inspiration, check out The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. And if you have the streaming service Peacock, I also recommend the TV show of the same name based on the book. 

*See what I did there? 😉😊