looking forward, moving on
My heart is concerned with here right now; the beach, our home, the daily comings and goings of children on holidays. But within a few months we’ll be packing up and moving on and I can’t help but look forward and make plans. I’m already hunting down cardboard boxes and thinking about what I can pack.
Moving house – it’s always catalyst for a mammoth purge. I find myself looking around each room, bracing myself for the upheaval and wondering if I really do want to move everything we own. And you know what, there’s actually a lot that can be left behind.
What can we do without for the next three months? And if we can do without it for that long, do we need it at all?
Decluttering is never a once-it’s-done-it’s-done scenario. It’s more of an evolving process and it does, in my experience, require constant attention. In other words, you can’t get lazy with a simple lifestyle because if you do, clutter starts to creep back in. Your belongings and your habits need to be observed and critiqued on a regular basis; picking yourself up when you’ve slackened off is part and parcel of the experience.
I’ve been so caught up in work and motherhood these past few months that the house has got a little, shall we say, rough around the edges. Clutter has accumulated, things haven’t been returned to their rightful place and the aftermath of Christmas has left the toy baskets brimming with all-sorts.
So now that the cool change has swept through with vengeance (it was 43 degrees here today…it wasn’t pretty!) I’m sitting here with a pen and paper and writing a plan.
There are three cupboards in my kitchen that haven’t been opened since we arrived. It’s time to assess those shelves with a critical eye. I also own about 12 vases and yet I never have more than three vases dotted around the house at any one time – time to purge. And the toys – eight years, three children and many beautiful toys but perhaps, just perhaps, a little too many all at once.
Tomorrow will be cool and cloudy so I’ll get started early. Accompanied by coffee and music it won’t be all bad.
I always like a good clean up to herald the new school year. You?
We just recently moved into a much smaller space so had to cull. It has been the best thing we have ever done and I feel so much more relaxed now without having the excess stuff. I too loved some beautiful toys and "things" like vintage cake tins but we didn't have room or a need for them so they went. Cleaning is easier now and we try to just have what we love and need. I've gone too far with some things so need to get some new items but because they are needed. Moving is so exhausting but change can be so good. Good luck with your move!
I can't wait to downsize from our current house, so that I can get rid of all the things we don't use. But since we have the room for them where we are now, my husband insists they all stay. Sigh. I will have to dejunk vicariously through you.
We just downsized – quite drastically – and moved to a house with not a single cupboard outside the kitchen (not even the bathroom). We culled madly before the move but there's still more to follow. How is your house hunting going? Will this be the big move to your own place? X
As soon as this silly thesis is done and dusted my house will pretty much be tipped upside down and shaked! All the clutter that drops out will be assessed and I suspect barely a third put back. I honestly can't wait, I believe it will be a much needed cleanse after what has been a crazy last 5 years. Good luck with your purge!
Absolutely! And I quite miss the moves to really make me clear the clutter. We've been in our home for eight years now and it really shows… good luck with the clear out. x