On the road
We have too much stuff. Our stuff ties us down. Whenever we go somewhere, we worry about our stuff. Will our stuff at home be OK? How will we carry all our stuff that we’re bringing? We want to own our stuff, but it feels like our stuff owns us.
We need to fix that.
We’ve been trying to fix it by getting rid of all of our excess toys and clothes, but that is just dodging the real problem. So we’ve decided to face the real problem head on. We’re selling our house.
I guess I should say that we’re putting our house on the market, and hoping to sell it. It doesn’t seem like there’s much certainty these days. But we’re starting the process.
Where will we go? We’re not too sure. The kids want to see all 50 states, so we may do an extended road trip. We want to go to South America for a few months. We plan to get really good at cooking camp food and cleaning out our tent. We have friends who live in nice places, and we’d like to find short term rentals and hang out with them for a while. We’re planning to be vagabonds.
We’re a little concerned about what we’ll do if we get tired of it. But we have to sell the house before we worry about that too much.
There really is something to be said for living in a small space. The less places to put stuff, the less stuff you have (and have to maintain, and replace when broken, and otherwise bend over backwards just to keep).
For years I’ve been complaining about needing a bigger house, because I don’t have anywhere to put anything. In fact, this post is very timely, because just in the last two weeks or so I decided the problem wasn’t the lack of space, but the overload of crap I don’t need. We’re not in a position to sell and travel, but I’m finding the purging of a lifetime’s collection of useless stuff to be refreshing, and thinking carefully about those things we actually *need* has had the remarkable outcome of putting our entire life outlook into perspective. Imagine, after complaining for the last 8 years, deciding I actually LIKE this little house. Who knew?
Good luck with selling your house
How exciting!
Heather
March 18, 2008 at 5:25 pm
See you in Paris!
Also, I should have an extra bedroom in April…
But dare I ask how you plan to drive to all 50 States?!?
Uncle Scott
March 19, 2008 at 10:38 am
Hi Heather, I just started seriously packing stuff yesterday so you are a bit ahead of me. I’m not sure how the travel will go, but I am pretty sure that purging our useless stuff and simplifying our lives will be a good thing. Whenever we settle again, we want a small and simple place. I don’t want to take care of anything unless I use it.
Scott — we may take you up on that extra room. How does June look? You might even get some home-cooked meals. Hoa made Pho yesterday and it was delicious.
As for the 50 states, I guess we can take the ferry to Alaska but you’re right, Hawaii will be tough. Luckily, Gunnar wants to visit the states in the order they joined the union so we don’t have to worry about that for a while.
See you in Paris!
Rolfe Schmidt
March 20, 2008 at 7:01 am
Woo hoo!!!! Fantastic!!!
Humble Woodcutter
March 24, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Hi Rolfe! This reminds me of my undergraduate years when I was a vagrant moving from one apartment building to the next around USC. I didn’t mind the move as much as lugging all the boxes around, especially the ones with my technical books, for they were the heaviest. At the end of it all, I “boxed” my life into two suitcases and three big boxes.
I am sure your trip is going to be fascinating and full of adventure. Good luck!
Bilal
April 8, 2008 at 12:42 am
Hi Bilal, We miss that feeling we had in school when we could easily make a move in one trip with a car. I remember following my advisor from Princeton out to Berkeley — my lease was expiring at midnight, it was 11 m and my car was full. I figured that if it hadn’t made it into the car yet, it must not be so important so I just threw the rest away.
I don’t even remember what I threw out, so it really wasn’t too important. Of course, there was just one of me then, and now we are a family of five. So I guess we get to fill five cars with stuff? That sounds like too much.
Anyway, we’re getting there. Maybe I’ll see you in LA this summer.
Rolfe Schmidt
April 8, 2008 at 7:58 am