More about stuff...

We have been ridding ourselves of stuff for some three months now and it is finally starting to look like it.  For the last three months we have been throwing stuff away every Thursday.  You see on Thursdays is our trash day and before I put the trash out to the curb I look around the house for something to fill up the remaining space.  This has worked really well because it has allowed us to prioritize what is trash and what isn't. 

Now understand the stuff I am throwing away is truly trash and not something useful or recyclable.   But by ridding ourselves of this trash piecemeal like this there is this slow ridding of items such as papers, magazines, rags, wood scraps etc. that have collected over the last 15 years we have lived in this house.  By tossing all of the true garbage it started to reveal items that were not garbage but that we really hadn't used in years and were just taking up space.  This is where Craigslist came in handy.  So every now and then I identify several items to photograph and place an ad on Craigslist. I have sold many items and still have many for sale.  The trick to selling on Craigslist I have learned is to search for similar items on Craiglist and price below anything comparable.  Then when someone searches for that particular item yours will be the first one they call about.  Granted I won't make as much money but my goal isn't to make money it is to get rid of stuff (well more money would be nice but...).  The money we do make will be used later to buy neat stuff for our RV.  After all we will need some new stuff to replace all of our old stuff ;-).

I have also set up an Ebay account but have noticed there are a lot of fees associated with selling one Ebay.  However, I will take the items I can't sell on Craigslist and see if they are being sold on Ebay and if so I will place ads there as well.  Then the last part of selling my stuff will take place at local garage sales and consignment stores.  We aren't there yet but then that will be another story...

The Mrs-Part 2...

As I read the blogs of full time RVers, many of them warn that full timing isn't for everyone. It caused me to wonder why in the world a life of freedom and travel could ever be negative.  I guess there are things that can go wrong.  Breakdowns in equipment or mixups in reservations.  Smaller accommodations might feel "confining" to some.  I guess it all depends on how well you and your partner handle adversity.  In life's twists and turns my DH and I have had several trials which could have broken our relationship. Living through the teenage years of both our children was a challenge, my breast cancer was a big one.  Moving and garage sales have set off some fireworks.  However, our SURVIVAL of these challenges actually brought us closer together.  Living with someone you love and respect for 35 years forges you into a team. My DH has strength in being logical, performing careful analysis of situations; I am an organizer but I never want to analyze (just do it!).  I also don't mind making the phone calls he dislikes. We are very different but yet an interesting mix. At the heart of it, we have the same core values and I guess that's what makes it work.

Now at this stage of life it is interesting to note we spent most of our working lives trying to achieve....acquisition of STUFF and achievements,promotions and accolades at work.  Well our priorities have changed drastically.  What we value now is quiet time with each other, appreciation of nature, savoring our conversations, our morning coffee, a glass of wine, sunsets.  None of the "stuff" matters much anymore.  Yes, i want to keep a few cherished things, but I find it funny that it is easier than I thought it would be just to let it all go.  Maybe fulltiming isn't for someone that has a lot of expectations. I feel we don't have expectations so much as an excitement and a commitment and A PLAN that it WILL work.  We'll see in less than 12 months and counting!