Living with 50 Things

Good morning from Berlin!  I am just over halfway through my 2.5 months travel excursion through Europe.  Two posts ago I talked about how I was getting rid of all of my stuff to live a lighter, freer existence.  I got this idea from my two favorite blogs by Everett Bogue and Leo Babuta.  In the month before leaving, I ended up getting rid of an entire VAN full of stuff: I made $200 in garage sales/used clothes shop, donated 7 boxes, and gave a lot of my favorite things from my childhood to my adorable neighbors.  I still have a lot more to clear out upon my return (took longer than I thought!  no surprise here, really) but my mind is already decluttered.

These things that I no longer use or don't consider an absolutely necessary (and favorite) item are not taking up space in my home or mind any longer, and have found new loving homes.  It was really satisfying to see the little girls across the way so excited to have my old rollerblades, favorite hello kitty stuffed animal, board games, etc.  I'm not giving away a memory, just a physical possession.  If I felt really sad to let go of an item, I simply took a photo and put it in the to-go pile.

Its been a pretty f#$%ing awesome feeling letting go of all these things that I thought I needed.  Giving myself the PHYSICAL space has in fact given me MENTAL space to think.  Clarity. 

In the earlier post I also mentioned that my trip was going to be a trial period to see how I liked living with under 100 things.  The outcome of the experiment would help me decide if I wanted to carry on the experiment onto a larger scale and make it a full time commitment. 

Here's my list of belongings:
Blue jeans
Black jeans
Black leggings
Grey vest
Flower dress
Pajamas (now lost! i've managed quite easily)
Tan shorts
Black shorts
Stripey sleeping shirt
Grey tee
White tee
Stripey red shirt
Tan striped vest
Grey striped vest
Black vest
Black 'wife beater' shirt
Black skirt
Spotty skirt
Brown belt (works around the waist AND hips!)
Bag of toiletries
Towel
Green longsleeve
Blue longsleeve
Orange vest
Purple vest
Blue cardigan
Winter coat (newly acquired at flea market, its COLD in berlin!)
Black blazer
Ipod
Cell Phone
DSLR camera
Point and shoot camera
Daypack
Rainbow flip flops
Shower shoes
Walking shoes
Brown Boots
Black Flats
Reusable water bottle
Two books
Sunglasses
Hipster hat
Wallet
Journal
Socks (5 pairs, counting as one item)
Undies (8, counting as one)

So that's 47.  (Or 60 if you'd like to count my socks and undies.)  I am living with 47 items and I can hardly begin to describe how good I feel without getting all choked up.  I wanna get up and dance.  In fact I did already today and its only 11 am.  I'm sure part of my joy is attributed to the awesome things I'm seeing and the people I'm meeting on my travels, but if my mind wasn't clear, I wouldn't be so open to these experiences.  I feel light, like I can go anywhere and do anything.  My bag is light (well, maybe not after an hour wandering the streets of barcelona looking for my couchsurfing host's house, guess that's another story) and my state of being is light.

Forty seven things might be an average or excessive amount to bring on a trip for some, but for me its been the perfect amount for my purpose.  After a month and half on the go, I've found:

- I am prepared for (almost) every situation and climate: but not because I brought EVERYTHING I wanted.  I didn't bring 3 extra tubes of toothpaste, a working phone, or even a coat, because I trusted that if I needed something, it would be available.  When I needed these things, I got them.  And it was fine.  I didn't have extra weight on my back the whole trip, and when I don't need them any more, I will give them away.

- Organisation is easy.  No, scratch that, its non-existent.  Everything fits in my bag easily.  I didn't stuff it to the brim, so its not overflowing and messy and falling out everywhere.  I fold things (usually... no one's perfect and i'm no except to be sure) and that's all the maintenance I need to do.  Simple. 

- Going in with the mindset that I don't need to (or better yet, don't even WANT to) buy anything has been probably the most freeing element of my minimalist adventure.  If I like something, I take a picture.  The memory is there, the weight isn't.  Not only is this wonderful for my wallet, but for my bag and mental well-being.  I fucking love it.  I'm not buying souvenirs either, I'm photographing things that remind me of people and writing to my friends and family--maybe this comes off as frugal to some, but that's not the reasoning at all.  Sure, I could buy everyone a stupid magnet or keychain, but its only going to clutter their life, and that's the last thing I want to do to my friends and family.

- Refocusing my money from spending from cute clothes I 'had' to have or five pairs of sunglasses or a snowglobe from a kitcsh shop in Rome to an artisan sandwich or a trip to a museum or a ticket to another country has been ultimately refreshing.  I am not wasting my money (and time) on junk, I am spending it thoughtfully on quality food, lasting quality items, and experiences.

- I am enjoying not being attached.  To things, people, or places.  I am with me all the time, and that is the only constant thing in my life.  I have never felt happier (read "content") for such a consistently long time, yet I have nothing and I am totally and completely alone.  Even when I am at a huge party talking to people, or in a relationship, or on a trip with my best friend: I'm solo.  I am appreciating all these special experiences, but letting them go as easily as they came.  Before, I would be easily upset if I lost my favorite necklace or if I had to wait in line or people were late.  Now I'm not focused on what's going on outside or annoyances, I'm still living, and I have myself.  The only thing I have is my mind (even my body is not under my total control--if I lost a limb I'd have to cope; if i get a cold, its a physical annoyance but im still in control of my thoughts and emotions) and so I am the only one who can let myself down.  I am also the only one who can make me feel good about myself or my surroundings.  No thing or person or place can do this but me.  Awesome!

So, the current outcome of this experiment is: success.  Can't wait to get rid of the remaining excess at home.

Having (almost) nothing is rad.  Try it.