So once again I was lazy when it came to posting to the blog.  Perhaps busy as hell is a better term.

We moved from Virginia Beach 6/18/17.  All but a few things are in storage (two 10×10 units).  I was hoping to scale things down enough to only need one unit but that just wasn’t in the cards.   There is plenty in those 10×10 units that won’t make it to the next cut.

We found a beautiful loft apartment in the center of Roanoke, VA.  It is located in an old food warehouse and still being refurbished (all green construction).  It won’t be ready until 9/1.  Polished cement floors, high ceilings, exposed brick and beams.  It actually has the original vault door as one of the closet doors.  So cool.  I’ve always wanted to live in a loft so figured this would be a nice transition until we get the RV.

It is smaller than we are used to (2 bedrooms) but they are super pet friendly and it will be good practice.  There is a movie theater for residents in the building (shows 2 times a week and Super Bowl parties), along with 2 gyms, conference/party room, two restaurants and a brewery.  Place comes with free cable, Wifi and bike rentals.  15 minute walk to library and art museum.  There are very few apartments that have two bedrooms.  The majority are single bedroom units which means children are scarce.  Hooray!  I’ll take pets over little humans any day.

Needless to say that leaves us with a housing gap until then.  We have been traveling back and forth from Virginia to NC to Maine with and without the animals – staying at Jeff’s parent’s house in Wells at the moment.  We are very grateful for that.  Ashley got stuck with all 5 of our animals at one point.

I’ll be in Maine for a bit then in Norfolk for Lisa’s surgery and some of her rehab, then in NC.  We will be staying in a pet friendly hotel in NC for the last two weeks of our homelessness.  Jeff will be in Maine for the majority of the time until we head back to NC.  Destinee is in FL at the moment then she’ll be in Norfolk then to Maine then to NC.

So far I’ve lost my bathing suit bottom (Jeff’s fault) and Ipad charging cord and brick (stolen by granddaughter I believe).  That’s what I’ve noticed missing so far.  Who knows what else I’ll discover I’ve lost in my travels.

The mosquitos are ferocious but the lobster is delicious in Maine.  The water is freezing.  Jeff said an iceberg melted right off shore and that’s why it’s so cold.  You know…..global warming and all.

Things removed from my life:  One bathing suit bottom and one ipad charging cord and brick.

25 days trying to live as a minimalist.

It has been 77 days since my last posting.  I’ve been consumed with checklist after checklist.  Simplifying your life takes great organization plus a trip to the dump, 2 single day yard sales (made $1400), many requests for bulk pick up to the city (free in Virginia Beach), many items just thrown in our trash cans, one trip to Ashley’s to drop off things she wanted, and many hours going through all the stuff we have accumulated and deciding if it has a space our new lives.

As I type this we have one kitchen table with 4 chairs, a sofa, 2 chairs, 2 ottomans, 3 TV’s, a coffee table, 2 end tables, the huge TV table, Destinee’s bed, side tables, dresser, huge room shelving unit, our bed (going to Ashley after our last night of sleep in it), our dresser and two side tables.  It seems like a lot and far too much for an RV.

Jeff’s truck arrives next week and we say goodbye the BMW.

Our plans have changed a bit as the move out date has drawn nearer.  We are doing a bit of traveling separately for a few weeks this summer (I still need to work a few sporadic days in an accounting position in Chesapeake after the move on 6/18 so will need to fly or drive back here every now and then).

We have reconsidered our RV length and decided we don’t need the space of a 44’.  Plus it allows us a smaller truck so less of a hassle.

Everything that is left will go into storage (already rented a unit and insured the contents).  We will hop in our respective automobiles on June 18 and drive away from Virginia Beach and start our adventure.

Our plan is to find a small house or cabin to rent in the Salem/Roanoke area for a few months or at most until next spring.  That will keep us close to Destinee for her first year of college so we can be sure things are going smoothly for her.  We will have more time to search for a smaller RV that meets our needs and towing capacity.

Wintering in the Blue Ridge Mountains is not on my bucket list but I have planned at least 3 short tropical vacations to warmer locations to get me through.  Hahaha.

It has been very liberating getting rid of all the things we have manage to accumulate.  It has definitely changed the way I shop.  I don’t buy things that take up permanent space any more, well except for that French butter crock I bought about a month ago but it only takes up a 4”x4” space on the counter and keeps the butter silky smooth and spreadable.  Hahahaha.

Even grocery shopping is not the huge chore it used to be.  I no longer feel compelled to have 50 rolls of TP in the linen closet “just in case”.  Just in case there is a TP shortage???  What ever do we say to ourselves to consume so much as Americans?  I’m done listening to that voice.

I only buy just what I need.  Of course my idea of what I need is a bit convoluted and needs trimming down but my needs have certainly taken a change for the better.

The last few things that are still around are going into storage, to Ashley’s house or CHKD will come pick it up and it will go to help a good cause.

As for our travel plans I’m keeping those pretty close to the vest.  No sense letting people get their hopes up of seeing my smiling face.  My email address and phone will remain the same.  Mail will be forwarded to Ashley’s until we settle into our new temporary home.

I will try to be more consistent about my postings but my time so far has been consumed with this change and I haven’t wanted to alter my momentum or deter from the path.  This has been no simple task to simplify our lives.

Things removed from my life:  Everything but necessary items.

14 Days and counting.

It has been a while since I’ve posted.  I handed my business over to one of my staff and walked away from it on January 31, 2017.  It is nice to be done with it.

Wish I could say I have gotten a ton of things done since but I haven’t.  I ended up coming down with the new and improved 2017 flu and then the new and improved 2017 stomach flu.  It has been just fabulous!  But it was nice to have time off work to recover.  I haven’t had that for 7 years.  Owning your own business is very tiring and unforgiving.

I started writing grants for a small non-profit organization located in East Harlem that offers free dance classes and experience in real life productions.  Their name is Keep Rising to the Top.

I started a new job in an office for a couple days a week.  Just to try the office thing again.  So far so good.  Hahaha.  It will be over by the time we drive off into the sunset in June.

I scanned in all our millions of books and shipped out the ones that are actually worth something and am currently working on cleaning up the guest house and prepping it for an Estate Sale.  No one has actually died so it isn’t technically an Estate Sale but in this neighborhood one doesn’t have a Yard Sale.  Hahahaha.  The guest house is a mess so it will be a while before I actually am able to start pricing things and placing them over there but it is a great place out of the weather to sell crap.   Alex did not leave it as pristine as I would have liked when she moved out.  Sigh.  Frankly I’ve never had much luck with anyone that stays over there.  Always a mess to clean up.  Another longer sigh.

I’m tired of selling stuff on craigslist.  People don’t show up and you end up living your life around when they can get their crap together enough to show up.  I don’t have that kind of patience anymore.

Things removed from my life:  Books.

91 Days and counting.

I’m so happy that the holidays are over!  They are exhausting.  Now I can get back on track simplifying my life.  It got very complicated over the holidays.

It’s a new year!

After spending half the day in bed recovering from the partying last night I decided I can’t waste the entire first day of the year.  I’ve concocted a rather rigorous schedule for myself starting tomorrow.   Why start today when you can put it off until tomorrow?  My motto.

Jeff always says “If you don’t have a plan, plan to fail.”  He’s so right!

So I figured I better have one.  A plan.  And maybe a new motto.  God knows I have some sort of plan for everything and am quite organized, but when it comes to myself personally I wing it.  Meditation, yoga, long walks in the woods, learning to play guitar, weekly pedicures, studying a new skill all go to the wayside when something more pressing comes along.  Something more pressing ALWAYS comes along.

I’ve downloaded a battalion of apps for my phone that should keep me on track with daily and hourly reminders as well as progress tracking.  My phone never leaves my side for long so it seems the best choice to monitor and keep me on the right path.  Jorte, Chakra Meditation, Down Dog, 7M Workout, My Fitnes Pal, Map my Fitness, Fat Secret, 500 Body-weight Challenge, Guitar Lessons by Guitar Tricks.   Now some of these apps will likely prove useless but I’m giving them a try.

Have a fabulous night.

Things removed from my life:  Nothing.

179 Days and counting.

I’m typing this while I am chatting online with Sheena W. from the Toys R Us help desk.  I placed an order with Toys R Us only after multiple error messages about my card not being able to be processed and a frustrated phone call my bank to get the card unblocked.  It’s Christmas so I’m obviously freaking shopping.  My bank is paranoid.   I received the dreaded html code screen after I had finally processed the order which of course in English means you are screwed and your order just went to Internet heaven.

I checked my current orders to see if hopefully it actually did go thru but alas that wasn’t the case.  I clicked on my cart to see if my items remained.  They had vanished.  F@&K.  I pulled up my previously viewed items and only some of the items were in there so I added them all back to my cart, plus the ones that weren’t in previously viewed items and processed the order.  It went through without a hitch.  I escaped to eat a very late lunch.

A few hours later my darling husband (obviously after reviewing my spending for the day) informed me that the Toys R Us order had posted to the bank account twice.  Sigh.

I went back to my F@&K*!G computer and looked up my order history again.  Two freaking identical orders were in there!  Placed about 15 minutes apart.  That is when I contacted my friend Sheena W.  She claims that they are already processing the order so she can put in a request to cancel it but it may go through any ways.  That after it shows up I can send it all back or bring it to a Toys R Us store for a full refund.  Jesus!  I was trying not to go in that dreaded store to begin with.  It is filled with screaming crying kids and tired parents!

Christmas is a Pain In The Ass!  I keep it simple by doing most of my shopping on the internet.  Thank God for Al Gore for inventing it!  Or is Donald Trump claiming he invented it now?  But this year has not gone smoothly so far.

Whatever.

On a positive and festive note I spent $10 on replacement bulbs for 3 lights sets that I have (since god forbid that all the bulbs last through a couple season!).  That is the only money I have spent on decorating this year.  Pretty good.

Now I must go have a glass of wine.

Things removed from my life:  My patience and sanity.

207 Days and counting.

You know how when you put something off, then keep putting it off, then never get back to it?  It’s a terrible thing.  Every day goes by and I think “I really need to post to my blog” then I get distracted and before I know it it’s late and I’m too tired.

Although I haven’t updated the blog I HAVE stuck to my mission of simplifying our lives.  Although this is a hard time of year to stick to it, what with the decorating, cards, parties, gift buying and wrapping.

I have gotten rid of a lot of Christmas decorations and made plans for the ones I’m currently using.  Jeff has had to remind me several times that we have plenty of decorations and I don’t need that new bobble or glittery thing that I’m eyeing.  So I’ve been good.  I still have a whole large trunk of decorations that I haven’t put up yet and am on the about whether I even want to waste my time.

When buying gifts I’m trying not to clutter up other people’s houses.  That would go against the cause!  So I’m sticking to use-able gifts rather than decorative or stupid.  You’d think that would be easier but it’s actually quite hard.

I designed my own Christmas card this year.  I went to about ten stores looking through all their cards and found nothing that called to me.  I usually buy funny Christmas cards.  This year the shelves have nothing funny.  Every one of them seems to carry a serious note or falls just short of funny.  I guess it’s just the aftermath of the horrible election and the fact that we will have an idiot for a president soon.  Regardless that task did not simplify my life in the least.  I should have just grabbed any old box of holiday cards and been done with it.  I’m sure a few of you will not find my self-designed funny Christmas card funny at all, but many of you will.  More on that later.

I’ve made plans for Destinee and myself to participate in the Women’s March on Washington following the idiot being swarn in as president in January.  Finding a hotel is nearly impossible but we did it.  It will promise to be a fun, eventful and historical weekend.  Our first march together!

In addition to the holiday prep I’ve cleaned out a lot of things from the kitchen, the secretary and the game cabinets.

Things removed from my life:  My desk, one office chair, various kitchen items, 25+ games – given to family members.  Lots of craft items and flotsam from my secretary – given to the trash can.  My faith in the American people. – removed to the toilet.

210 Days and counting.

It has been a while since I’ve posted.  I was consumed by making costumes for the Carolina Renaissance Festival that we went to this past weekend.  We had a blast!  Our group consisted of one fairy, one huntress, one wood elf, one princess, one peasant and two UN-costumed but clothed men.  Now that that is over I hopefully will find time to throw more stuff out.

I have gotten rid of quite a few things over the past month, just not in the amounts I had hoped to.

Things removed from my life:  Pasta maker, small food processor, large wooded cutting board, karaoke machine, various small electronics, leg weights and 5 pounds of blubber.  Hahahaha.

227 Days and counting.

Today I typed in most of my hand written recipes into the Big Oven data base.  I only have one more recipe box to type up.

I finally cleaned the bottom of the linen closet!  Most of the stuff was Jeff’s so it is still there until he tackles it.

Before

After

He did remove the box he had in the attic so that is clean now.

The book shelf in the bedroom is pretty much empty and will be moved down to the garage for a makeover before too long.

I did notice that the top of Jeff’s office hutch is starting to accumulate things that he can’t seem to part with and that his hat collection which should have been getting smaller seems to have grown.  Sigh.

My next project will be to tackle the other hall closet.  It is a mess.

Things removed from my life:  A small pile of paper recipes, a small bag of garbage from the bottom of the linen closet.

243 Days and counting.

I worked all weekend long getting all the rest of my recipes into “Big Oven” and am finally done!  Hooray!

The refrigerator and freezer are staying pretty empty.  I’m bound and determined to keep it as empty as possible.  We waste so much I only buy what we need for a day or two and don’t replace anything until it is gone.  Destinee is not happy.  I’m loving how light and airy the refrigerator and freezer look!

Things removed from my life:  Another garbage full of loose recipes converted into electronic.

254 Days and counting.

We just got power back on late last night after wonderful Hurricane Matthew blew through the area Saturday night (October 8^th).  Only lost the Keurig coffee maker in the power surge.  I ordered a new smaller one.  We won’t need a huge one in our new life.

I was moving all my paper recipes onto an online database right up until we lost power.  I’ll work on it more this weekend.  I have thousands of recipes that need organizing into a place that takes up less space.  I’m using Big Oven.  It works great.  You should check it out if you want a place to store recipes that doesn’t take up physical space.  I can access it from my laptop as well as an app on my phone so my recipes are always on hand when I’m grocery shopping.

My loose stack of recipes.

These binders are filled with recipes as well!

After the loss of power, I cleaned out all my dresser drawers and was forced to throw everything out of the refrigerator and wash that all out due to the lack of power.  Sigh.  I told the kids I like it that way so get used to an empty refrigerator and freezer.  It looks sooooo pretty.

Other than that I didn’t get much done besides read.  Being without power sucks.

I still haven’t touched that stupid linen closet.

Things removed from my life:  One large Keurig coffee maker (replaced with a much smaller version), various old clothes, cards, other junk from my dresser drawers, one large bag full of paper recipes that have been converted to an electronic version or that I decided Jeff would never even consider eating so why bother keeping and 5 garbage bags full of spoiled food from the refrigerator.

259 Days and counting.