In my last post, I mentioned that I want to radically simplify. What a luxury to ask such questions, especially if you consider how 80% of the world’s population struggles to find clean water each day.

Anyway, now I must figure out what radical simplifying means. I am pondering the following:

• Will I measure my degree of success by the total number of possessions I retain?
• Are certain categories, like technology, considered “banned substances” for anyone wishing to live a radically simple lifestyle?
• Is there more to simplifying than getting rid of possessions?

Some of my answers so far:

I don’t need to get all crazy about rules. The general goal, in terms of possessions, is  to keep no more than I really need to survive, create, work productively, stay healthy, and continue as a spiritual seeker. Yes to my technology which promotes all of these pursuits. No to multiple sets of dishes.

Since I don’t know where I will land yet, I want to store most of my stuff in my vehicles and avoid storage costs. Here is the storage plan

• PT Cruiser: Cooking, canning, kitchen items and a few favorite vases. If it doesn’t fit, it gets sold, donated, etc. Sewing machine and small flat screen TV also go in PT. I will use all my blankets and bedding to pad these items. A few lamps go in the small trunk. The PT is easy to load since I can put the top down.
• Van:folding bike, twin bed, stuffed chair. In bins I will pack up photos, memorabilia I want to keep from Kerry’s childhood and my life. In duffles  I will pack up, clothes, all SHOES/BOOTS, all of my jackets and coats (10?), all of my camping gear, technology. small printer, a few books that I never want to give up, survival gear, first aid, tripods, spotting scope, inflatable kayak, a small box with copies of my new book, some small end tables, and two garden tools.
• Pop-up: I will store my yarn, craft supplies, general tools, solar panel, pillows, treasured hiking pole from AZ.
• Other: I don’t know where I can fit my craft room furniture: dresser, sewing desk, and bookshelf. If not in the van, I may store them somewhere until I get settled. These three items really work for me and make a great creative space. No need to spend money to replace them.

I wont be taking:any other furniture, excess kitchen stuff, gardening pots and trellis’, home decor–like silk flowers, candle holders (with one exception, some homemade aspen wood items), loads of pots and pans. I hope to get lots of photos as I de-stuff my life.

I have done this twice before, once when I moved to Florida from Northern California and then again four years later when I moved to Colorado. On the Colorado trip I had an old Volvo station wagon and a car-top carrier. I left behind about 20 boxes of books, which were later mailed to me when I got settled. The difference this time: I don’t plan on replacing many things. I hope to eventually buy a few things from Ikea. I have the current catalog all dog-eared and tattered from day-dreaming.

HOWEVER, simplifying is more than tossing stuff. It is a holistic lifestyle change. You can find a great summary of the behavioral changes that help simplify life at this website. The most common problem I observe –from a minister perspective– is how people are just too busy all the time. When I was a young woman, we called this living the “rat race”. In the past, faith pursuits tempered our busy lifestyles but faith is less important now.

More thoughts about the a totally simplified lifestyle in future posts.