I have downsized my possessions to the extent that they now fit neatly in 15 Rubbermaid boxes.
For those who don’t know me personally, the events of September 11, 2001 combined with the Enron debacle and the loss of friends who died prematurely were the drivers for a radical life change. We purposed to reduce our possessions, our debt and our income in order to increase our free time, mobility and spontaneity. It didn’t come easy and some of the decisions were downright painful. I know there are those who think having only 15 Rubbermaid boxes of stuff, a dozen or so paintings and a large, red toolbox sends a certain message, as if that’s all we have to show for our careers and 25 years of marriage. Here’s my response to that line of thinking:
- If I wouldn’t have left my 20-year employer I would never have known that I had talent for anything more than working in a cubicle 40+ hours per week.
- If we wouldn’t have sold the house and lived with friends for a few months we never would have known how good of friends they were, and are.
- If we wouldn’t have lived on a boat and spent 24/7 together in a small space we never would have known that our marriage could survive whether we spend all our time together or little time together.
I highly recommend getting rid of the clutter, whether it’s taking up space in the closet or in your life. Paring down to 15 boxes takes commitment and courage. But now that I’m there I might cut that in half, and maybe half again.
