It’s a time of change for me. After 22 years in the same house I am in the process of downsizing. Yep, 4000 sq. ft. to 2000. I’m excited, this house had gotten way to big for me since my children all moved out. But, holy crap, I have accumulated a lot of stuff!!! (hint, don’t ever live in a house for 22 years).  This house was great: lots of walk-in closets, a full basement and a three car garage, so many places to put stuff, lots and lots of stuff! I didn’t get rid of things-buy a new couch? move the old one to the basement; buy a new bed? move the old one to the basement; old work files? store them in the basement! What a nightmare. My house wasn’t cluttered, just full. And now it isn’t. After three months of countless trips to Goodwill and ARC, and the landfill and various recycle centers around town, I have started to make a dent in my “treasures”.

My moving date is fast approaching, two and a half more weeks, the roughly 590 pictures that hung on my walls are down. Things too precious to give up are packed in stacks of boxes and my house looks bare, so bare! Will the remains of my life really fit in a 26ft. moving van? I hope so. It was time–probably past time. We all need to declutter our lives once in a while. I feel good about the thing I let go-mostly.

I’m excited for a new chapter in my life. This time I swear I’m not going to accumulate anything I don’t need. Will it work? Time will tell. Check back with me in another 22 years!