Condensing a Life Into One Room

Condensing a Life Into One Room

Dec 13, 2015

I have been a stay-at-home mother of three, a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, a singer, choir director, guitar player, a published author, an avid sewer, a professional organizer, a seminary student, graduate student, pastor, and office manager.  I have lived in a four bedroom house, a townhouse, a mansion heated by an external wood-burning stove, and an apartment. 

As my marriage ended I shed many things.  As my kids grew up and moved out, I shed many more things.  I am now needing to find a way to live in one bedroom with access to half a storage locker. 54 years of life and resources must condense down until it fits into these two spaces.

I am culling files and recycling reams of paper.  Music projects, memories, records, receipts kept in case of an audit; sewing supplies, former drafts of writing projects, dishes, kitchen appliances, and all sorts of decorations from a home full of walls and shelves.  I have art with no place to hang it, sculptures with no display shelf available, and more books than you could possibly fit on one moderate shelf.

It is a terrible discipline, and yet feels freeing too.  It is just stuff.  Yet it is hard---very hard to let some of it go.

I realize as I do this the plight of so many refugees who have nothing of their original lives to carry forward, and of the victims of natural disasters who lose everything to a flood or fire or quake,

and I am appreciating the time to say goodbye and the good fortune of being able to hold on to my most cherished pieces.  I am grateful for family and friends and a safe place to live.

I will have access to a living room, bright kitchen, and spacious bathroom.  I am in a lovely neighbourhood.  But I may need to learn to live without a car.  

The new love of my life has lived mostly in one room in extra expensive NY City for all these past years.  He shares a kitchen and bathroom.  He has had no need of a car for over twenty years.  If he can do it, I can do it too.

I believe in small and simple living and living more environmentally.

Actually pruning my life down so as to be able to do this, however, is turning out to be quite the discipline!

Thoughts? Comments?  Suggestions?  Prayers?