Fall came one cold night last weekend, and I am doing OK.
Have you ever gone away, stayed at a nice hotel or resort, and even though the space is limited, thought, "I could live like this"? The closets are empty, save for the clothes you brought along in that one suitcase and carry on, you have flip flops and decent walking shoes, and your toothbrush has been charged to last a week. What else do you really need? There is no clutter, few choices to make, and little or nothing to dust or clean. Simplicity, I wish I knew you better.
Even the word minimalism is too busy and cluttered. Maybe we could use a few less letters also.
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| Bird Rock Hotel, San Juan Island, WA |
Have you ever gone away, stayed at a nice hotel or resort, and even though the space is limited, thought, "I could live like this"? The closets are empty, save for the clothes you brought along in that one suitcase and carry on, you have flip flops and decent walking shoes, and your toothbrush has been charged to last a week. What else do you really need? There is no clutter, few choices to make, and little or nothing to dust or clean. Simplicity, I wish I knew you better.
Even the word minimalism is too busy and cluttered. Maybe we could use a few less letters also.
Thoreau thought along very similar lines when he went into the forest to "live deliberately", with the possible exception of charging his toothbrush. Sounds like an idyllic and refreshing adventure. Most enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThere is very little we really need, but so much that we seem to want.
DeleteI call it 'living light' but I haven't quite gotten there yet.
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to purge my clutter, but I am not winning the battle.
DeleteYes I know exactly what you are taking about.
ReplyDeleteWe all have too much "I had to have that" stuff.
DeleteNo chance. 'Clutter' is my middle name. When I look around me; I despair!!
ReplyDeleteSo it is for most of us.
DeleteI love your new header. Spooky and evocative. Minimalism sounds nice - but two pack rats in the house (collecting different things) means that it is not going to happen.
ReplyDeleteI took that picture last Halloween after the surprise October snowstorm. Hopefully, we will not have a repeat of that this year. I accept snow in January and not one day before.
DeleteI have those same thoughts everytime we stay in a hotel/motel! Which is not as often as I'd like......
ReplyDeleteYep. I could really live like this! Dream...dream...dream
I don't want to live with my stuf anymore, but I would like to visit it every now and then.
DeleteI find new ways to make storeage.
ReplyDeleteYes,me too, but don't open the closet doors.
DeleteI know exactly what you mean. Pare down the possessions--I promise I will do that, next week.
ReplyDeleteThat's my plan also. It is always good to start everything next week.
DeleteFirst of all and for no apparent reason, I know of San Juan Island and when I lived in Vancouver, Canada, I watched ads on TV about such a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, keep it simple. And speaking of furniture, I have an 'occasional' table. Makes me wonder what it is at other times...
Enjoy your weekend,
Gary
Arleen, you've said it in one. I loved you reply to Linda's comment, so Yes I think that's what I would like to do too.
ReplyDeleteArleen, When I travel I always pack trying to cover any possible need, then end up wearing only a few things that I packed. I really need to work on this. I love clothes so I can't pare down in that area, but I could be happy in a smaller place as long as a couple of the televisions disappear.
ReplyDeleteAnd somebody else comes in and does the cleaning and leaves you a little piece of chocolate on your pillow. YES! By the way, that was 8 pounds, not 80. No bikini for me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited NY and stayed in a Richie Rich hotel last year, i got not only chocolate, but also some cookies. They know how to treat guests in NY. I wish I ould have stayed longer.
DeleteIt is nice to get that little break from all the stuff at home, and dusting all the stuff at home.
ReplyDeleteIt is always GOOd to get away from dusting.
Delete"Tis a gift to be simple" sang the Shakers. It is indeed.
ReplyDeleteWe are almost living minimally, and I still think that we have too much stuff. But, no, I'm not making plans to get rid of most of this any time soon.
When we travel a we don't really see the world the way it be if we were to live in those new places.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what you say is really appealing but I know that, if it were me, I would start to accumulate again!
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Dear Arleen, I loved the simplicity of this posting. It so spoke to me. Peace.
ReplyDeleteSimplicity is good, so much better than fuss, in all its connotations. (there’s a long, fussy word for you) But I do need some of my prized possessions around me to feel happy, books are very important.
ReplyDeleteOh, I KNOW I could live like that! I'm definitely a minimalist. My Husby on the other hand . . .
ReplyDeleteHello Arleen:
ReplyDeleteTry as we might, and we have to confess that we do not try very hard,we cannot be by any stretch of the imagination be called Minimalists. More is definitely better as far as we are concerned and even more is even better.......BUT, we could definitely picture ourselves purged of all but the essentials in your wonderful hideaway....just for a week, of course!!!
We do so hope that you had a wonderfully relaxing time away. You deserve it!
I have started declutering a lot. Moving from a five bedroom house to a two bedroom apartment taught me a lot of lessons.
ReplyDeleteI got rid of my extra sheets and clothes 19 years ago...never missed the clutter and stuff even once. it is easier! it is true, less is more.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed at simplistic bed and breakfasts while in Ireland this summer. It was great. No clutter. I'm changing out summer clothes for winter and getting rid of a lot because I'll be retiring soon and will have no need for such dressy clothes. Jeans and tee shirts will be my standard attire.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you mentioned in your comment to my latest blog that you liked sports movies. Me too. My favorite movie of all time is "The Natural" followed by "Field of Dreams", "A League of their Own" and others. You're right. They are always so uplifting.
litlmarysunshine (iryshsmyle@aol.com)
I can definitely relate to this sentiment... though as a Maximalist and 'more is never enough' sort of Gal, I must say that Minimizing and Simplicity is definitely not one of my strengths... though I'm attempting valiantly to head in that direction. At this Season of Life if I don't absolutely LOVE it then I'm less inclined to want to have to clean it and take care of it! *Winks* I'm not ignoring your Sandy Posts... there are just no Words adequate to respond to such a terrible crisis.
ReplyDeleteDawn... The Bohemian