We’re in the process of moving from Germany to New York State at the moment. As you can imagine, this is quite a project, complicated by the fact that we’re under a very tight deadline.
We’ve had to sell or get rid of a lot of our stuff. That’s partly because we have limited space in our sea container, but also because we can’t use most of our European equipment in the US (here in Europe we have 220V instead of 110V, have different outlets and are on 50Hz instead of 60Hz).
As a result, we’ve sold our cars which we named Bruce and Dory (bonus points for those who recognize the movie they’re from), our wonderful food processor called Kenny (yes, we have a tendency to name things) and practical items like our coffee machine, our home trainer and our hand mixer. Basically, we’ve gotten rid of almost everything that’s big and/or power driven.
This has also given us an opportunity to reflect on living with less.
We also sold or gave away loads of furniture, including many bookcases. And we had to demolish the jungle-themed changing table my husband built for our son. We’ve thrown away books, magazines, old clothes and towels.
As a result, we have a lot less than a few months ago. And I have to admit: it’s liberating to have less.
As Christians, we so easily say we shouldn’t be attached to things. But when push comes to shove and we really need to let them go, it’s not that easy.
To see a complete stranger walk away with my brand new dryer my husband gave me for Mother’s Day this year, that was hard. To see someone drive away with our Dory, our wonderful Volkswagen, that was hard. To give away all of my garden equipment to my neighbor, despite her being the best neighbor in the world, that was hard.
But it was also liberating. In making a list of everything we needed to buy again after our arrival in the States, we realized we don’t need it all. We can make do with less. We certainly can make do with less junk, less stuff.
We’ve also realized what really matters. There’s a chance our container will get lost at sea. It’s a small chance, but there’s a chance nonetheless. So what is so important to us that we take it with us in our own luggage? What matters so much that it’s worth carrying personally?
We discovered what matters most to us: our memories. It’s our photo albums, the first drawings of our son, the Morther’s Day and Father’s Day gifts he made for us. It’s pictures and memorabilia, silly gifts our friends gave us, reminders of vacations and special days. That’s what matters most.
Memories, reminders of those wonderful moments with family and friends, that’s what truly matters. In the end, stuff is just stuff. And it’s truly liberating to be living with less.
Simon L Smith says
Finding Nemo!
I love that movie (Reel Parable) also…
(http://www.reelparables.com/finding_nemo_part_1_expectation/)
Good luck with your move.. what exciting times.
FYI – our black Suburban is the Black Pearl and our blue Yaris is the Tardis…..
Rachel Blom says
I’m partial to people who name their cars. Even more so when they choose really cool names. You sir rock 🙂
Eric Dye says
AMAZING names. Love’em! 😀