I'm not sure if anyone would be interested, but I just returned from well over two years abroad. A year of travel, and a year of working in Melbourne, living in a small room. Without this being a direct goal, simple living has become an important part of my life. When you're always on the road, it makes no sense to carry around a lot of stuff.
It was not my plan to return home, but due to my mom being diagnosed with cancer, I was forced to return, which has been quite a struggle for various reasons. It really made me think about the stuff and things I find important once again. I am helping my mom clean up her house, which is just full of clutter. She has irrational attachments to so much of her stuff, she just kept it around. I left nothing but a few boxes of stuff when I left, and I'm throwing away at least 50% of it.
I find it almost alienating now, to walk into someones home and look at all the shit they managed to fill up their oversized homes with. I've lived on 15-20m2 for about 10 years now, and the idea of having more space feels like a burden.
Most important thing I need: good speakers! I know this sounds fairly materialistic, but when I moved in to my room in Melbourne it's one of the first thing I bought. I love music.
Most nonsensical possessions: gifts! Trinkets that you put in your room because they were gifted. They are not tied to any specific memory (like travel souvenirs). I'll never give someone an item again, I'll just give money, or something to eat/drink/do.
Glad I kept: when I returned, I was glad I kept my expensive cooking utensils, some plates and mugs I've had for a long time. Objects you literally use EVERY day. My toolbox, a small box of stuff from my childhood.
Don't understand why I kept: furniture/lamps/decorations. Once you settle in a new place, it's amazing how fast you feel at home with completely new stuff around you. The flat in Melbourne I spent a year in felt as much as my home after a month, as the flat back home I used to live in for 7 years.
Feel free to ask me anything about struggles you may have letting go, or whatever.
Submitted September 28, 2017 at 08:26AM by Noedel http://ift.tt/2fTfCEo
