Making the big decision to live in an RV full-time we are faced with the fact that we need to get rid of stuff. A lot of stuff. Which means we have to decide what exactly we can keep. We don’t have a lot of room so we can’t keep a lot. We’ve been looking at things a little differently lately. If an item only has one purpose and we only see us wanting to use that item every once in a while, is it worth the space it is going to take to keep it?
I don’t consider myself a hoarder but I do have a tendency to want to acquire and keep things. I find worth in everything. I see a beat up bedside table on the sidewalk and I am already imagining it all cleaned up with a fresh coat of paint and new knobs. I find the treasure in trash. I’ve even boasted being a dumpster diver. Wow! I do sound like a hoarder… So you can imagine that me getting rid of a lot of my stuff is going to be quite a challenge. I am excited about it though. I think it will be freeing in a way. Letting go of the things I don’t need.
Ariel Hoarder
Writing this I am pondering this monumental task ahead of me and I don’t know how I am going to do it. I have like a zillion bottles of lotion, body sprays and body washes. They all smell amazing, but what does one do with all of them? I have many pairs of shoes and they go with specific outfits. How does one learn to live with only one pair of wedges? I have at least 4 pairs of peep-toe, sling-back, wedges that I don’t want to even think about parting with. Jackets – I LOVE jackets. Why couldn’t I have an affinity for something less bulky?
There are bigger things to deal with too. The bedroom furniture I used growing up that was passed on to me from my grandmother. My dads trumpet he used as a kid, his treasured ukulele signed my several musical artists, a gorgeous long board signed by Robert August, my dads old Hawaiian print shirts, home videos and old photos… I realize these are just things and some of the memories can be made into digital and put on the cloud, but still…
There is the option to put things in storage. That’s expensive. We’ve already thought that one through. The average price of a 10 x 10 foot storage unit can cost up to $300/month, equaling $3,600 to store stuff for a year that we literally never use and probably won’t ever miss.
We do plan to gift a lot of things to our lucky/unlucky friends and family. We are donating to a friends garage sale. We anticipate there being several drop-offs at the Salvation Army and we plan on filling up the nearest dumpster – but I don’t know how I am going to decide what to keep and what to part with.
Let us know your thoughts/suggestions!!!
Oh… I am a size 7.5 – 8 shoes and size medium to large in clothes. Want to go shopping in my closet?
Omg!! How in the world are you going to part ways with your shoes?!? I wanna shop in your closet please 🙂
It ended up being easier than I thought, but then again I still brought with me 10 pairs of shoes. 2 booties – one brown and one black, 2 flats – one black and one cream, 2 heals – one tan and one black, athletic shoes, water shoes, hiking boots and my uggs (or course) – do sandals count? I brought 2 pairs – my havianas and my rainbows
Super fired up for 365camper to get underway! You two are about to put the talking and planning aside and put the rubber to the road so to speak. The open road, the freedoms to stop where and when you choose- the people you’ll meet, the places you’ll not want to leave and the places you can’t wait to see in the rear view mirror. Being on the road on and off for roughly 5 years myself, I’ve learned many of the things you are discussing and its fun to watch. One of the rules I have: if it doesn’t fit in this ONE bag….I don’t need it and it stays behind. Scotty is your bag. Be sure to leave plenty of room for things you’ll pick up along the way, because there will be plenty. So excited to see the adventure unfold!
We appreciate your words of wisdom. It certainly will be a journey that we will never forget. We are looking forward to the road ahead and the adventures to come.