Revelations of minimizing withdrawal

[ByeBye]

Still consider myself a newb to 'minimalist' living but, as I look back over my life, I've had a lot of this outlook even if I didn't have a name for it and thought worst of myself for not really wanting all the external "success" that so many others chased. 

I've been downsizing possessions for the last year and though it seems like I've been trudging slowly through mud I've got it whittled down to an acceptable level knowing that I'll be doing more trimming 'n tweaking as I go. Lately, as I've been reading some of the philosophy of minimalism page on CRVL I've realized that, for the most part, unnecessary possessions are diversions, things to attach to so I don't deal w/ the real world, external and/or internal but usually internal. 

I also realized that my diversions are non-tangible possessions as well sometimes. For example, online presence, having a cluttered virtual world that I can easily get lost in for hours, hell even days, at a time if I allow it. I believe, depending on what parameters you use, that I've been addicted to the electronic world for a long time. 

Disclaimer:The draw to the mobile/nomad way of living is an extension of my philosophy of life not just an alternative housing remedy so YMMV.


I've been doing the inventory of what do I need in the way of a virtual reality. How much time do I need to spend online, texting, 'checking in', facebook, etc. The early results were kinda scary, I don't need that much unless I don't know what to do with myself. So, I've challenged myself by vowing to trim virtual world time to a minimum and see what I end up doing with myself. I think a certain amount of online entertainment can be a way to fill a recreational need but I used it much more than that.

So, a start: eliminated two completely useless sports forums that I've been active on daily for years a week ago tomorrow, yay!. Next is to eliminate 'surfing' w/o a cause. That'll be a big detox for me but we'll see.

 

[travelaround]

I used to own a lot of websites - I've downsized on that quite a bit in the last 5 years but plan to delete more of them. That lightens my load quite a bit.

 

[ThisDharmaBum]

I am also getting a lot of joy from unsubscribing to emails and avoiding the Facebook. It is a part of my minimalist journey. Thanks for sharing.

 

[QinReno]

I live real-life in a tiny 1BR condo, downsized significantly several years ago when I moved from CO to NV. The rented apartments here change occupants all the time. This morning a 20' U-Haul truck pulled up at 9 AM, and 3 young dudes, late 20-something, have been unloading it every since. Incredible amount of crap going into a tiny apartment. How do people that age accumulate so much stuff?

When I was about 30-YO, I moved from the west coast to the southeast, and everything I owned I carried in my (first) van, which I also slept in along the way. (of course, a month earlier, someone had broken into the van in Oakland, and stolen half of what I owned, .

Most stuff in life is just "filler material".

"If we didn't have so much stuff, we could just wander around"
- George Carlin

 

[RoamerRV428]

I am a minimalist at heart and always have been and hate cutter and too much stuff around me, I get choked up in being crowded and live the minimal now. But at some point I had to say that my computer time ramped up. Where I noticed I was online more than off it seemed I did the same. I was never on facebook or twitter or any other things I consider useless but I was on some game sights I enjoyed, some forums of other like minded people about my interests in life and realized, wow, my online life was taking up time. I ditched a bunch of sites and cut my computer time by a lot, so I get what you are saying. I had no problem deleting a bunch of stuff that when ya really think about it are not needed by us. Kept what I truly liked, ditched the rest of the clutter!

 

[MrNoodly]

Along the way to vandwelling I remembered that in college everything I owned fit in the back of my VW, and I was happy.

About twice a year for the past five years I've gotten rid of more things -- things I realized I didn't need, things that were no longer important or enriching, things that were just taking up space.

 

[ByeBye]

Just another thought that appeared as I was reading everyone's posts...

"Mindfully" is a mantra that I've embraced in the last few years, with varying degrees of success, and I think it's at work here.
Inventorying the external world while minimizing requires one to reflect on their relationship w/ that/those objects, "When was the last time I used this", "Is this a need or a want", etc. Same holds true w/ what are sometimes called self defeating behaviors, what's my relationship with those behaviors, i.e. we know it's not the best thing for us but we're going to do it anyway, "How much is too much", "Is it really THAT bad", "But I need distractions sometimes".

I'm merely engaging in inventorying my inner goings on and mindfully deciding whether that dynamic is serving me well or not. While a tangible item is usually a yes or no, black and white, take it or leave it type decision the internal excesses aren't always so easy.

So, I peeled the onion a bit more to get back close to source...to know what I need, I must know my goals. What are my goals in this life experience from this moment forward? They're mine to make/create and I believe I'm creating them, whether I'm aware of it or not and most times I am not.
So this reexamination in the interest of minimizing has to begin there for me. What is it I would have in this reality I am co-creating, internally and externally? Part of me says I already 'know' a lot of that answer but I'm not listening to him right now, lol, I'm questioning everything. The only thing I'm relatively sure of at this point if the goal(s) don't include thriving vs surviving I'm on the wrong route.

Think it may be time for a vision/dream board or the like

 

[travelaround]

Mindfully is better than unmindfully... and we've probably all had the experience of driving a long distance and not remembering any of it because our minds weren't on the road, or reading a paragraph or page in a book and then realizing, we haven't understood a word of it and must re-read.

Good idea to focus in on the issue and reimagine life in a mindful and intentional way. I want to do that too but am frequently thinking of ways to somehow pack my current life objects into the space of a tiny van, and still be minimalistic and clutter free! I guess I won't know exactly what I can put into the van until I get there. And the van isn't coming until springtime.

Meanwhile, this is one of those downsizing times for me. When I moved out of my three bedroom cabin in the Klamath National Forest I downsized for a couple of months in advance. There was plenty to do. I'd lived there 13 years raising 2 children and the yard had more loose kid stuff than I was aware of because it was spread out in little sections, over more than an acre. So glad I don't have that to do again!

What took the most time was paper clutter as that's an issue for me, and I was long past due for clearing out my files. I threw away bag after bag of stuff, and gave books to the library book sale, and gave a lot of odds and ends to a local thrift store charity that was starting up. They were glad to get it and I was glad to get rid of it. Lots of clothing went to them too.

That was almost six years ago, and I don't have nearly that much now. I think if I gave away all my furniture I could probably fit the rest of what I own into a van. Not sure if I could sleep in that, but it surely would somehow fit.

Well, the time is upon me. I must organize and make decisions about what to keep. I have from now until March. The furniture will go to a charity that can pick it up and save me the trouble of moving any furniture out of here. I'll offer these things to my neighbors in this senior apartment place I'm in, first. It will all work out.

I appreciate this thread about downsizing and minimalism in preparation for travel.

 

[QinReno]

I own several 1000 books, accumulated to be read in retirement. If those and the 10 bookcases disappeared from my tiny apartment, it would almost be bare. Except for one corner where I keep my hobby toys.

So I've started using the ideas mentioned above - assigning books to categories.
- those I'll never read, so donate immediately to the library used book sale.
- those that hold some interest, so I scan them quickly, or read parts of.
- those that I will read.

Then, repeat and drop more off the bottom 10% each time round. So maybe 200 books go to donation every year.

 

[ByeBye]

Around 2004 or so I started selling books as an Amazon Third Party seller and before it was over had a huge personal library, mostly  esoteric type stuff. There are SO many  books available I no longer have a library other than about 5 I keep as touchstones. Books were a refuge for me as a child many times, I've always, and still do, loved them but they no longer fill the same purpose. 

Same way with vinyl records, I love them. Some of that is simply nostalgic but I also made a living buying and selling those for years and have had literally thousands and thousands at times. Just the other day, whittling down the pile, I donated about 1500, the last of an inventory I had accumulated. Such a sweet/sour exercise but it was healing to 'let go' of old ways. I'm no longer buying/selling or have a need for a collection/inventory.

 

[QinReno]

LOL, several years ago I donated a large box of probably 200-300 vinyl records to Goodwill, old 60s and 70s rock, plus a lot of classical, my other interest. The guy who worked there looked in the box, and I swear, he started crying - wished he could keep them himself.

 

[MrNoodly]

Long ago I looked at my shelves of books and realized there was no point holding onto 90% of them except to keep my shelves from looking empty. I'm not the type who can read a book more than once. So I hauled what I had to the public library for their fundraiser. After that I either passed the new books onto friends or donated them.

Years later, my brand new nomad self was visiting a friend and he brought out a hard drive filled with nearly a thousand e-books. So now my library is all digital. I've added about a hundred new purchases over the years.

Above I mentioned fitting all my college possessions in the back of my VW. That included books, a pile of LPs, a record player, stereo and speakers. Now I can fit all that in my pocket. Digitization is a blessing for nomads.

 

[QinReno]

You will notice that Cyndi has a Free E-Book stickie thread in this section.

 

[WanderingRose]

Ebooks are so much easier when you are living small and/or spending a lot of time on the road.

If you are near a library, you can often check out ebooks for free. I haven’t done it, but have friends who have, and the lend time is a couple of weeks, I believe.

This is a great site for cheap or free ebooks. I only let it send me selections once a week. Ha!

https://landers.bookbub.com/covers/...MIw-K7zISY3gIVQp7ACh2UjAjwEAAYAiAAEgIVSPD_BwE

 

[ByeBye]

Relapsed, big time...been online almost all day. Hmm...

 

[Almost There]

If you are near a library, you can often check out ebooks for free.  I haven’t done it, but have friends who have, and the lend time is a couple of weeks, I believe.

You don't need to be near a library at all! All you need is a library card and internet.

I borrow books from my library no matter where I am in the world. The system that my library and I use allows me to make a wish list of books I'd like to read, sort that list between what's available 'right now' and what isn't; put a limited number of books on 'reserve' so that I get them automatically when it's my turn; borrow up to a certain number of books at any one time (varies by library system) and return them when I'm done. I  can also set my automatic return to either 7 or 14 days. The libraries often have audio books and movies that you can borrow the same way!

I switched to e-books when I started back in to canoe tripping and backpacking - when weight is an issue, taking along a 6 ounce e-reader makes more sense than hauling 5 or 6 books in to the bush with me!

 

[WanderingRose]

Cool! I had no idea!

 

[travelaround]

But books are so pretty!

Seriously, I love real books, but I also read my Kindle. Whatever works.

I like books well enough that I know I'm going to take some with me in the van.

On YouTube, my channel is "Book Lady" - so I cannot be without books.

That said, I do have a lot of books to give away. I gave away most of my books when I moved in 2013, but then accumulated more here in Idaho. Another purge is coming.

 

[RoamerRV428]

It is hard sometimes and I so get that.  Letting go of something that was a treasure in your life.
Selling/giving away my horse saddles, halters, lead ropes, saddle blankets, headstalls, extra reins and leather side equipment for saddles etc was the hardest thing I ever did.  My horses were my life.  Ride all the time with my friends for over 35 yrs.  When my last horse sold about 3 years ago I still held onto all my horse saddles and more.  I just recently worked on this and now have no saddles left etc.  Selling my fav saddle was the hardest.  It meant I was done riding at this point in my life, no more horses in my pasture.  But it is ok.  Life goes in phases and my horses in my life was ONE LONG phase of about 35 years LOL, but I am now done with that phase, my focus is changing and it feels hard to do but ok to let it go now

I so get your sweet/sour experience with letting go~!!

 

[Gardenias]

Just before I came across your thread, I'd been specifically thinking about my online presence. Fortunately, I'd not engaged in the major social media sites. I have no idea how people have the time! It seems to take me so long to compose a post. So, I guess I'm not surprised that it seems to be taking forever to clear out hundreds of boxes of stuff (mainly books). I'd been gradually whittling down, though not fast enough.