#decluttering journey

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 81

I sort the ways a home can be in disarray into the following categories:

Dirt- stains, disrepair, shower grime, dust, trash etc.

Clutter - things that are most likely usable, but you gain nothing (logistically or emotionally) from keeping them, and will gain peace of mind by removing them.

Jumble - things that belong in the house but are simply not in their designated place.

It can take some effort to discern clutter from jumble... and it's also subjective, of course, so finding where that line even is, is more difficult when you don't live alone. Fortunately my partner and I are of similar minds in this regard, so we haven't had massive arguments about it the way my parents had when I was younger.

Today I had a surprise day off, so I used it to tidy around the house a little, something I haven't had a chance to do since rejoining the workforce. There were a lot of empty packages lying around, and the floor needs a thorough mopping from all the food Son keeps spilling on it, but I was relieved to discover that most of the things I put away were just jumble, the kind you usually get with a toddler that has only partial understanding of where everything should go.

I did get rid of a few toys that we got from well-meaning relatives/friends/neighbors. The sentiment is appreciated, but Son just wasn't interested in some of these items! No use keeping all kinds of battery-powered gizmos when we 1. don't have that many batteries to use and 2. he prefers simple toys anyway: plush dolls, a ball, a little plastic traffic cone, dad's foam roller and resistance band...

So yeah. Peace and love. I'll work on the house a little more during the weekend.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 80

On the topic of tables, today I surprised myself by removing anonther one from our home. It was a bedside table with wheels - the sort used for the comfort of bedridden people - but over time it became less and less suited to our life. Furniture didn't have a high enough space to tuck the rolling legs underneath, the table started to droop a bit to one side, and now Son was starting to climb on it (and he did nearly topple the thing on himself once). I was a bit sad to see it go, but again, we have folding tables now that we didn't have when we bought it.

I left it outside; maybe one of the neighbors will find use for it.

Peace and love.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 79

Last night the stools we've had in our living room for ten years became too worn out to support us, and so we tossed them out. Straight into the trash, so nobody would try to sit on them and risk injury. My initial instinct was to look for replacements, but then I realized we had more folding stools lying around in a drawer, so we could bring them out for now. This morning, my partner's belt buckle broke just as he was ready to get to work. He only had one belt, but I had two and he had lost a lot of weight recently, so I offered him one of mine. He can keep it, or use it temporarily until he finds a new belt/buckle for himself, I don't care either way.

Another thing we threw out recently was a table we had kept around with the plan to "eventually" put new legs on it. It only took us a few months to realize it wasn't going to happen and that we already had two folding tables in storage and ready to be used as needed.

I must say, having folding furniture that you can set up and put away as needed is a blessing in a small apartment!

Now to find the motivation to look under the beds for all the toys Son poofed out of existence.

Peace and love.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 78

In the end, Partner didn't want the simpler multicooker either. We left it outside (someone took it for themselves within the afternoon) , and he went and bought himself his dream appliance: a single induction cooktop. All out pots and pans were induction-compatible already so it worked out great. And me? Without a multicooker, I stick mostly to the toaster oven and the microwave when I need to whip up a quick meal for Son. He doesn't mind either way as long as he is fed.

Peace and love.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 77

I actually bought some new things, but they were all purchased after months (!) of thought and deliberation, and so far every one of these recent purchases has been a real win. And a thing that I bought on impulse (another drinking cup for Son)? Turned out to be not so great. Who would have thought... ;)

Some of them were replacements for things that needed replacing. Others were replacements for things I had that were... fine, but they didn't suit my needs so well, to the point where the cumulative discomfort from all these small frictions was starting to be felt. This is where I show my not-minimalist attitudes; I WILL buy something new instead of forcing myself to use something that gives me grief just to be frugal about it. But it works for me.

Tomorrow I will try again to look for all the lost toy parts Son buried in every odd corner of the living room.

Peace and love.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 76

I can't believe I did that!

And by "that" I mean that I gave away my miniature army, which I haven't even finished painting, to one of my friends (who is significantly more active in the hobby). When she asked me why I'm doing this, I said: "painting every mini takes a lot of my time, and the amount of joy that I would feel from finishing a paint job... I realized it doesn't justify the effort, especially while also taking care of a child. So I'm happy to give my minis a new home that will prize them a lot more."

I'm surprised with how swift I was with the decision, once I realized I don't enjoy painting the models the way I do painting on a canvas. I had truly believed the thought of the sunk cost (in time and actual money) would make me hesitate... but it didn't. I suppose that's progress made.

Peace and love.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 75

Today we replaced our shower chair with a model that takes up less space. A much needed change because the chair we had took up too much of our shower stall floor.

Speaking of the shower, I'm trying to streamline my wash routine, and I discovered that shower oil (the unscented, ultra-sensitive sort) pretty much covers all my bases other than shampoo. I don't have the patience to put on lotion - shower oil keeps my skin from drying out so I can skip lotion some times. I don't want a separate cleanser for my body and face - shower oil works great all over. I buy a big bottle because it's also Son's body wash. It's great stuff.

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One of my friends said he needed money for a new laptop. He also said he was looking for a wallet, so as a birthday gift I gave him a wallet I bought a few years ago and ended up not using - with some cash inside for good luck :) (It was well accepted because it was thoughtful.)

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Son got a second-hand toddler trike, and the stroller we bought (also 2nd hand) is now in storage and will be gifted to any of our friends who might become a 1st time parent in the near future. Turns out Son was ready to go from the carrier straight to the trike, and the stroller wasn't needed at all... oh well. You live and you learn.

Peace and love.

[iamnotaminimalist]

Entry 74

Yesterday I threw out a lot of expired medicine. That's it, That's the post.

Peace and Love.