Be Brave, Live on the Moon

Ralph and I have over the years accumulated and accumulated stuff. Ok not Ralph, that was all me. My wonderful husband wants us to live more simply. I'm getting on board in my mind, but have a ways to go. Right now now we live in a five bedroom house with three dogs, three living rooms and a library. I like stuff and lots of space to put all my stuff. Our stuff. I meant our stuff.

Ralph would like to see us get down to essentials only. I do too, but as a classic collector, I haven't had the courage yet to follow through with actions. I'm getting better in only buying things that we use up for example:  

1. consumables such as food, hygiene and cleaning products,
   
2. replace things that are necessary (example, my laptop bag and our soda stream bottle both broke, no really).
   
3. new things that will make us more sustainable (two berry pickers).
   

Just now realizing that I'll be in for a wild year of transition. Ralph calls 2016 my purge year (of a three year cycle). In 2013, we moved into a two bedroom condo from a five bedroom house and boy did I purge. Somehow though while in the condo we acquired five bedrooms worth of stuff because when we moved into our new house it was instantly full. Like full. We've had to sell couches. I like to think I'm just a master Tetris player. Ralph disagrees and calls me a hoarder.

Note: Art is not included in these future life altering changes, collecting art is as necessary as oxygen.  ​Can't wait for you to see my birthday present. I buy the art as a birthday gift to me and Ralph gets it framed as his gift. Christmas, we buy ourselves one gift and each other a book. Works well for us and I'm now noting it keeps the clutter down.

Earlier I was reading a blog calls A Small Life where Melonie and her husband George are living full time in an airstream. He is an artist so they have an area for him to work and a great nook for her as well. Check it out and tell me you aren't inspired to life small too! Now keep in mind that pinterest and cool blogs are like black holes and you think you can do that no problem. Pinterest fails are a rampant problem and I'm thinking that a transition to tiny living is a lot harder than it looks. Despite that understanding and clear mindedness, Ralph and I have been talking for awhile about what our plans will be when he retires and what type of lifestyle we want. He is a roamer while I'm a home body I like having a space that is mine. With those two key personality characteristics what would work best for us? A totally rocked out airstream! Cue: Moonage Daydream by Bowie. If you don't know the song stop everything you are doing (even reading this) and hit play below. 

You are welcome. 

Back to living simply in an airstream. Ralph is more than handy, he can fix, build or modify anything. Probably why he makes a living building highly complex things like hydrogen plants. No idea what a hydrogen plant is. When he first told me what he was working on (back in 2011) I thought he meant a helium plant and had a good chuckle thinking about all those oilsands workers talking in super high voices all day long. Whoa sidetrack. I think buying an airstream would be awesome! They are so spacey and sleek and would force me to identify the true essentials. None of this is solidified by the way. Ralph has yet to agree. Wish me luck! I'll play Moonage Dream while I make the pitch. Who can say no to Bowie?!?