If you don't judge my grammar, I won't judge your clutter.

Let's play to our strengths. I'm not a great editor and that has kept me from writing for a long time. But I am great at editing my life down to the necessities. Here's a preview.

I was recently connected with a writer from abroad, who wanted to interview me on downsizing. I convinced myself she worked for a major publication in London and soon my story would be enjoyed over pounds of tea. But instead, I learned she was just starting her own blog and my words may never be seen. Well, here’s what I shared with her, in hopes someone will see it. It’s a glimpse into how I got where I am today. Living life on the road.

Enjoy in a more American way by sipping whatever you damn well please.

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Her Q: How long was your downsizing process? Weeks, months, years?

Me: It all began when I signed a long waiting list of coworkers to read my boss's copy of the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Upon completion, I talked about it ad nauseam. My entire mindset had shifted. From 2016 on, I had a few major decluttering sessions. But never with the goal of downsizing. Until 2021, when my partner and I decided to hit the road, full-time. That's when all my 'practice' came into play. Still, downsizing our 600 sq. ft to 200 sq. ft was no small feat. It was a 6-month process, mostly because we were very intentional in finding most of our objects a happy home.

Her Q: What area of your home did you start with?

Me: Closets were the easiest for me to tackle. First, most of my attire was fast-fashion and once I understood the horrors of that system, it was easy to sell/give away pieces and learn from my mistakes. Second, utility closets that were filled with 'maybe somedays'. They were easy to purge, but somehow, stuff kept creeping in. I'll always wonder why we needed all those duplicates. Nails? Rolls of tape? Cleaning supplies? It's all pretty wild.

Her Q: Did you own any collections (coins, baseball cards etc) and what did you do with them?

Me: Here's how you'll know I'm a millennial - the only collection I had was around 30 houseplants. Large, small, striking, and simple, I miss them all. I loved watching them grow, so letting them go was extremely hard. But again, I found them a happy home. Today, most of them live with our Real Estate agent, so I sometimes get text updates. No joke. It makes me so happy.

Her Q: What was the hardest thing to let go of?

Me: The hardest objects for me to get rid of were objects from my family. I was strategic about what heirlooms I held onto. I kept one from each family member and my mother is storing each for me. Now, I imagine someone marvelous is out there rocking my grandmother's bowling shirt.

The second hardest thing for me to get rid of was my outdoor gear. After living in Colorado for 10 years I was an adventure addict and a hoarder of hobbies. I had to be honest with myself and how I wanted to spend my time. I downsized to those objects I knew I could use in most places and were easy to store. Again, it was easy to find my old gear a happy home.

Her Q: You say that finding happy homes for your possessions (clothes, plants etc) was a part of your process.  You have even imagined someone rocking grandma's bowling shirt (love that!).  How much does/did it help you to know your possessions have found good homes?  The post I'm working on is about the power of knowing our possessions have gone to good homes, (or even imagining someone appreciating our stuff if we give it to charity) and how that energy helps propel us through the entire process of downsizing.  Thoughts on that? 

Me: It may be hard to explain because I found caveats along the way. 

Ultimately, yes, I do think that the energy behind 'finding each piece a happy home' propels you through the entire process. However, like all things in life, you can't just hope it happens, you have to make it happen. And that takes time and intentionality. I now know there's a right way to declutter and downsize.

In the beginning, I was doing it all wrong. During my first major decluttering session my items went directly to my family or Goodwill. The problem with giving items to my family is I never asked if they needed them. Therefore, I could be contributing to their clutter. The problem with giving it to Goodwill is that they are always inundated. Also, like many others, I didn't consider the quality of the stuff I sent to Goodwill. Sometimes, it was like I was making the thrift stores decide for me. I simply couldn't answer, was my stuff truly going to a good home or the garbage?

When I decided to downsize, I set aside time to do it intentionally. First, I asked family and friends what was on their 'wish list'. This allowed me to match my items to their needs. I was no longer offloading. Second, I tried to sell my items on Facebook Marketplace. I know that when people pay for something, they often give it a better second life. Finally, with those items that were higher quality but not selling, I gave them away by posting them on my local 'Buy Nothing' Facebook group. Finally, what was left went directly into the garbage. I didn't feel guilty about this, because I knew I put in the time and effort to find them a happy home.

In the end, this process took much longer, but it was more than decluttering. It became my lifestyle. Now, I have more time and money to live fully. From the road.

Photo credit: Of The Wolves Photo