A few weeks in...

There's something pure about this process.

At a personal level, I've effectively taken it down to close to almost no material possessions from where I was 60 days ago. I think I can make the list from memory here:

One car
A twin bed
1 sitting chair and 3 stacking chairs.
1 desk and 1 deskchair.
1 desktop computer
1 laptop computer.
3 plants
A Senseo coffee machine
A tea kettle
A blender
Silverware/plates/glasses/cups
Food
Cloths (shoes, shirts, pants, socks, etc.- all fit me, all useful)
Towels/razor/electric toothbruth

I think that's about it. There's other stuff here. (Fridge, W/D) but they're part of the place I'm renting, not mine.

Sparse would be the operative word. Nothing on the walls. Large open swaths of floorspace.

This is very different than how I've tended to live. I'm neat but cluttered by nature. I tended to pile things around me, stick things up on the wall, stuff items in drawers. Stack layers of things on bookshelves and fill rooms with 'stuff' because, hey, I have the room.

No drawers, bookshelves or extra rooms anymore. And the walls: clean, empty and white.

You'd think this would drive me slightly nuts being so different but it's interestingly calming. Peaceful.

I'll start to add things back in as I need them. Little things at first. A few days ago I had to add 'salt and pepper' to the list. I didn't bring any along from the old place. It's an incredibly useful exercise in defining and identifying what's really needed in your day to day life.

I no longer just buy something if I like it (or want it). I really can't. I have no place for it without consciously thinking through what I'll use if for, where it will go when I'm not using it and why, really, I want it.

I'm keeping a list of things I need on the kitchen counter. The first few days it filled up fast (oh yea... dishsoap), but that only lasted a few days. It's been pretty close to empty the last week.

I think I have all the basics nailed down.

Yea. I do.

Now, to slowly, carefully and consciously start to bring back into my life the things I only need to live comfortably and happily, and no more.

I'm smiling as I write all this.