Downsizing

For the last seven or eight years I have been on a mission to downsize my possessions, to have a simpler existence without all the "stuff" I have in my house. At home I have garage sales usually once a year and get rid of some things I have decided I can live without. However I still find myself having more than I need. I am tempted by store displays, catalogs, garage sales, etc. I am not an obsessive consumer by any means, but little things tend to catch my eye when I am out and about.
Living at Holden for the last two years has been a lesson in how much "stuff" I don't need. I have been living in one room with a minimum of possessions and have discovered how easy it is to get along without a lot of things. I don't buy books anymore, but get them through the mail order library in Wenatchee. I have written to the catalog companies that send me catalogs, asking them to stop sending them. That way I can't be tempted, plus it helps reduce the amount of recycling that goes on here. This year I made a pledge not to buy anything new. I am finding that kind of hard though as I have bought three Holden specific items from our bookstore (souvenirs, I tell myself), one inexpensive gift, and a couple of greeting cards. (Gee, I feel like this is confession time or something.) Anyway, I have rededicated myself to not buying anything else now. I'm feeling guilty enough about those things.
This weekend I am downsizing the stuff I have in my room here. I am sending some things home, putting some in our give away room, and giving some other things away. I am already making plans to have a huge sale when I get back to Texas next Fall and really get rid of a lot. And I am looking forward to it!

Gail