I have a dear, sweet writer friend who's dedicated to Minimalism. She writes a great blog, Living on $500 a Month Or Less, about the art and pitfalls of reducing her worldly goods as far as possible. Since I've been couch surfing for the last few months, I've actually accumulated more stuff than I started with. I've gathered and made stuff I didn't have when I arrived in Sacramento, but, more important, I've been given stuff that allows me to make more stuff -- saleable stuff, or just stuff to satisfy my own aesthetic -- and this has caused a multiplication of raw materials, partly-worked projects and odd bits of scrap that have all but outgrown the one bin I bought a couple months ago to corral my clothes and keep all out of sight on the patio.
I am not sure what to do about the accumulation. A small sack of basswood cutoffs and a protective glove full of tools has expanded to a tool chest that's too heavy to move and the three changes of clothes I had have grown to two loads of laundry a week. Much of this is a good thing, but I'm feeling overwhelmed. I made a bag to hold my gaming supplies and to carry my crafting stuff -- a round-bottomed bucket bag that I've been using even as I finish up its details -- but I think a culling is in order, as well as serious work on the projects to get them done. I have too many pieces of wood, too many bits of cloth and so on.
I'd best I get to it. It's turning into a long, hot day already.
It's amazing how things just sneak up on you isn't it? Don't get in a hurry to just toss stuff, maybe set a rule to eliminate things if you don't use them after a couple of months..
ReplyDeleteWhatever you decide to do, good luck! I know you will do what is best for you!