It’s official: I now have more plastic storage bins than actual possessions. (although I guess plastic bins are possessions too?)
All those were once full. In the last two months I’ve gotten rid of over 5,000 pounds of belongings. Sorting, selling, weekly trips to charities. It’s quite embarrassing actually. And it’s been an extensive process because I just don’t want things to end up in a landfill….so I have to get creative. We built our house to have unlimited storage….and now all that storage is empty. I can’t imagine anywhere close to that much stuff ever again. I will write about this process soon….it’s been a very long one and I can tell you it’s changed me. It’s changed our whole family. Our closets are empty. Our shelves and storage rooms are empty. Of course we still have work to do over the next 2 weeks still. We’ve started to say goodbye to friends here in the desert and it’s becoming more real that we are making such a huge change. I have more to tell you about all of this but there are still things falling into place and I will share very soon. I’m off to the Elevate Conference this weekend in Newport. Excited for a short weekend break before my last two weeks of wrapping up all loose ends. And then I can get back on my regular blogging schedule!
We plan on being at the Hemlock Inn by Brett’s birthday, June 9th (his 40th). We’ll be celebrating my birthday probably at the Grand Canyon on the 2nd (I’m envisioning a candle in a chocolate Ding Dong…that would be so awesome.) Thank you for all the recommendations along the way…we will be making quick stops. (and maybe staying with a few of you who happen to be on the route…wayfarers on our way to a new life!)
All that hard work is going to propel the three of you into a wondrous journey. I’m excited to watch it unfold! What a great way to spend birthdays! I’ll eat a dingdong in your honor on my birthday on the 3rd!
Happy Adventuring!
Oh LBB…I feel your pain! We are a military family and last summer we moved after being in one place for 7 years. It was difficult to say the least…my husband had already moved to his next duty station and I tried my best to get rid of things. And my 40th birthday was in the middle of nowhere, without all of my dear friends. But…I survived, and our new place is great. Home is where the heart is! Or where the Army sends you… 🙂 Hang in there, wishing you well!
We live in a little house (by US standards!) and I used to complain about my one tiny closet, no laundry room, small garage… And then one day it hit me — when you have less space, you’re forced to have less stuff. While less stuff can be less fun at times, it can also be much more freeing. So now, instead of trying to figure out BETTER storage — I’m just giving in, clearing out, and going with what actually fits (comfortably) in my little house. What a concept, huh?! You’re inspiring me. I can get rid of so much more! I’m excited for you and your next adventure. It’ll be a good one. 🙂
Ashley, I just discovered your blog this morning. I’m only bummed I didn’t find your sooner, as I’m here in SoCal too. I’m a ‘maker’ too, and I wish you continued success on your new journey. You’ve done a great job all around, and I like that you’re not afraid to speak your mind. Keep it up girl!
Downsizing is a good thing. Edit, edit, edit. My mother-in-law passed away last year. She was my partner in crime when it came to sewing. I’ve spent the past year with about 25 20 gal tubs of fabric (in addition to my own) in my garage. I couldn’t bear to part with them. But, once I started, it got easier. It was nice to know it was going to eager stitchers. I look forward to reading about your process. I think I know a little of what you went through.
Good luck on your new journey. And how lucky are you to be celebrating your birthday at the Grand Canyon. It always makes me feel small, and that’s a good feeling. Have fun, and safe travels.
Tears, so excited and thankful you are taking us along with you on this journey. Thank you!
So excited for you! Too bad you can’t detour to Michigan! We are in the Royal Oak/Madison Hts/Troy Area. We have a cabin way up north that’s just too beautiful not share!
i just discovered your blog, spent days reading it backwards. i am so grateful to have discovered it for so many different reasons, which i won’t go into now. i wish you and your family a beautiful trip across the us and lovely times and learning in your new home.
This hit home. I just pulled out my summer clothes that I don’t have room for. The dresser is full, the closet is full, the sliding under the bed bin is full….and so i stuffed the rest in to a laundry basket! I got rid of a very small bag—obviously not enough. I just don’t know how to choose what to be rid of!
I look forward to you being able to blog regularly again. So excited to read about your adventure and new life!
Looking forward to hearing about the “process” of getting rid of stuff. I have such an emotional attachment to things and I don’t know why. What if I need it? What if I regret donating it? I can’t replace family heirlooms. etc. I’v never been lacking for anything my entire life. Well, anything for a lower middle income, hard working, family loving women. Happily waiting to hear about your experience of ridding yourself of stuff and moving forward. You are awesome!!
Wow that’s a lot of bins! I could really use those! Things are changing for me and my 2 kids next also. Next month we’re going to be moving and starting a whole new life as well. Very scary and exciting both. But I know this is the best choice for us.
Good luck on your travels. I would sure like to see the Grand Canyon! I think I’ll set that for a goal for next year. My kids would love that too!
Ashley ~ I’m on the Kansas side of Kansas City (Shawnee, in Johnson County) if you need to stop here!!
Now it’s time to sell the bins!!! Are those big clear ones from the Costco 3 packs? Man I wish I could buy those from you, their new style has the closures on the top and the handles fall off ALL the time!
I’m so excited for you! How wonderful to be FREE from all that *Stuff*! Safe travels, Ashley, Brett & Boo. Vaya con Dios!
We just did the same thing! Donated/sold/gifted our entire 5500 sq. foot home to move to a small town in Hawaii. I can’t tell you how freeing the entire process was (well, you know). We shipped an 8 x 5′ UBox over and are now living in a darling 1200 sq. foot furnished rental. We love this new simple life. So do our two kids! Wishing you blessings on this new adventure. FYI-now that we are here, we wish we brought less “stuff”. People and memories over stuff is our new motto!
Hi Ashley!
I’ve followed your blog for quite awhile now and love your writing, your Boo-isms and how you find and spread the joy! I don’t often comment, but have always enjoyed your posts…..and although I knew you were moving to N.C., I hadn’t actually taken the time to look on the map. Today I discovered you are only going to be about 80 miles from where I am, in N.E. Georgia! So now I am super excited, because I definitely want to plan to take a mini-vacation to the Hemlock Inn. In fact, I would really like to get some of my girlfriends together for a girl’s weekend! I am an artist/crafter and several of my friends are too….so it would be fun to do a craft weekend with them.
I look forward to doing that and having a chance to meet your beautiful family! Have a safe journey! You are all in my prayers, that everything will fall in place the way it should! Blessings!
LOL – that looks like my attic! A graveyard for empty storage bins after eliminating so so much last summer. Funny – I can get rid of the stuff but not the bins 🙂