I remember long, long ago in my young adult life when I was visiting with an older couple and they wisely said, “Do you know how to tell when you’re old? You look around your house and you only have nice furniture.”
I understood what they meant, and I understand it better even now. When we moved to Maryland, everything we owned fit into a little pickup truck and a 5×8 UHAUL trailer. We didn’t own a bed! I made a ‘nest’ out of six cushions that I’m pretty sure we stole from Concordia. People in our congregation knew that we didn’t have anything, so our first sofa, chair, dresser, lamps and coffee table were all donated. I loved it. Thrift stores were a regular weekend destination. (This was before my bedbug trauma.) Part of the joy of those early years was the quest for getting the things that we needed. The first kitchen table I bought was $4, and it came with some rickety old chairs that collapsed after a while – but I loved it.
Looking around the house now, while stuff we got for cheap from auctions furniture we have isn’t all ‘nice’, it is certainly sufficient and there is no need to buy anything more.
*sigh* Rats.
So, if you visit this website, you most likely visit Brad’s site, and you know that he is off having this crazy whirlwind adventure by taking a long-term sub position in Hawaii. I am so jealous! Not because it’s Hawaii – I have a pretty advanced ocean phobia and so the location isn’t what makes me green with envy – it’s that he gets to temporarily start over and start fresh.
How do I express my angst? I have the whole Rich Inner World thing with the tiny houses, but I’m not kidding – I often think about ‘What would be the very least that I would need to live a happy, comfortable life?’ (In this scenario, it’s just me. Lloyd and the kitties weigh me down.)
I can pare it down to:
a recliner (I could sleep in a recliner), a pillow, and a blanket
a table (for my computer and eating)
a small set of dishes (two of each, because I’m not going to wash everything right away, plus I go through spoons like they’re going out of style.)
a way to cook food (it could just be an electric skillet)
a computer (also used as my television)
a towel & running water
a clothesline
…..see? I have given this thought, and this isn’t something sudden – I’ve thought about these things for years! I’ve googled ‘how to live in your car’ several times. This is a bit of an obsession. Almost any building/room I go into, at some point I think, “How would I turn this into a living space?”
So, Brad, I am so jealous of you. You have a whole experience ahead of you of ‘making do’ and figuring out how to make a ladle out of coconuts while still working at your job, and it makes me crazy! I’m sure it’s much more stressful than I’m romanticizing, but it’s sure going to make one heckuva story when it’s over.
*sigh*
Kris says
Are you and Lloyd going to go visit Brad?
Lauren says
Once they get that pesky ocean dried up, I’ll consider it.
Kristi says
A bathroom is a must for me. I don’t want to be the “rugged pioneer woman” who can take care of all that stuff outdoors. No way. Never.
Peggy says
Well based on the car my husband drives, I’m a youngin’! Like 16. (I HATE his car. It is embarassing)
Peggy says
But it runs great!
Brad says
I have to admit, it’s kind of fun. It’s a little stressful too. Making so many big decisions has made these last couple of days feel like a couple of weeks. I only got here just four days ago!
I think a nice mattress will be key. And a tv. The other stuff won’t matter as much.
Gretchen says
We get to try this out every few years when we move. It is fun at first (no clutter! No chores!) but it gets old pretty quickly. When we moved here I had an overwhelming longing for MY STUFF after about a month.