Moving On: Memories, Minimizing and New Missions
This weekend, after five years in this house, our family is closing one chapter and opening a new one, when we move into our new townhouse. This excessively large home we are spending our final days in has served us well, but the 3,900 square feet no longer suits the goals and direction we have; and it is time to move on.
When we moved here back in 2005, after selling another home in the area, it seemed the perfect place. It was close to the kids' schools, sprawling and grand. But through the years (and especially during this last one), we have become more aware of how wasteful we were being; with rooms that we never used (or even stepped foot in), utility bills through the roof, and a LOT more house to keep clean than we ever bargained for.
True, we had good times here. We filmed Wife Swap here, we watched the kids move from elementary school, to middle school, to high school. We grew our business, changed our mindsets, found new purpose. But alas, the new home is just much more suitable for where we are now in life and with the goals we have set. It's only a few miles from where we currently reside and the kiddos will still go to the same schools, so not uprooting things in that sense. But it is nearly half the size. Yep, half. And knowing that feels really great!
In getting our family ready to fit into half the amount of space, we have been busy little bees doing major purging of all things unnecessary. With all three kids now teenagers, they were brilliant at playing the elimination game. They whittled down their belongings to what they really dig (meaning: computers, video games, musical instruments, clothes, books, and a few other odds & ends) and Steve and I did the same. We called a charity organization out three times to pick up huge loads of donations: furniture, clothes, shoes, household goods, toys, bikes, you name it - we gave it.
In the 18 years that Steve and I have been married, I seriously can't remember when our belongings were so in order. It's been quite a phenomenal experience and taught us so much about focusing on quality over quantity. Trying to take out the non-essentials in life to make room for more of what really matters: time together, sustainability, learning, health, sharing life, finding joy.
We certainly still have much to learn and we understand that this journey to simplicity is a life-long one. But figuring out this little piece of the puzzle has been a big stepping stone for us. We are very excited to start accumulating more happy memories and less material possessions.
Now, if I could just zap my stuff all into place at the new house and avoid the moving drudgery. Isn't there a Harry Potter spell for that?
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 9:05AM
Reader Comments (12)
Best of luck moving, Jinxi! I can't wait to see pictures of the new place. You are taking such a bold and mindful step with your family in reducing the idea of a sprawling house is vital in order to have a fulfilling life. I wish you only the best of memories in the new house!
Good luck with the move Jinxi!.
i wish you and your family a good journey and a positive start in your new chapter =)
...also, i had NO idea you & your family were on wife swap! that must have been an "interesting" experience.
There's just something about giving away possesions that you don't really need to others that can really use them that feels great! Best of luck to you and your family in the new place Jinxi.
We've moved easily a half dozen times with kids and extra stuff... I don't envy you your task. I do envy your minimalist zen and ability to really downsize - we've been trying to do it for years. Good luck!
Good luck with the move!
Julie: that's my FAVORITE part about moving; giving things away that I know I don't NEED is so much fun. I especially LOVE it when I get a book collection going and then get to pass them along to people I know will be enriched by them:) Then you also have the fulfillment of getting rid of the old to make room for the new!
Jinxi, I think that the move will be great for your family. Sure, having that much space is nice, but I
think it inhibits family closeness too:) There's something to be said about being in each others faces all the time:) I've always preferred our smaller houses to the ones that keep us apart and encourages separate lives under the same roof:)
Sending you hugs and kisses, ... See More
Mary and Ted
Will be thinking of you guys! xo
What a lovely post and amazing, exciting times for you all! Good luck with the move, Jinxi !!! XXXX
Harry Potter spell: Movus quickuless! :D Hope you're doing great!
i think its funny that a 'minimalist' finds it necessary to buy a t shirt that says minimalist.. which is contradicting.
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o Hat’s off. Well done, as we know that “hard work always pays off”,
after a long struggle with sincere effort it’s done.
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