About five years ago, I began feeling somewhat overwhelmed by "stuff." My five bedroom house in Denver really didn't look stuffed, but somehow I had the niggling feeling that I was experiencing "stuff creep!" To make myself feel better, I took a few boxes of "stuff" to Goodwill and patted myself on the back, and then promptly realized that there was still too much "stuff" in my house and garage.
When, approximately 3 years ago, I began preparing to make a move to Wisconsin to be with Wayne full time, the huge task ahead of me became all too real. As I began sorting my clothes, I found that I had lots of lovely things....lovely things that were never worn for one reason or another or had just been forgotten. As I started going through the rooms formerly occupied by my sons and querying them about their "stuff," I initially got "Mom! Don't get rid of any of my "stuff," however when I presented one or the other of them a box of their "stuff," to take to their homes, I got "Mom, I don't have room for this "stuff!" When push came to shove and I was really packing boxes to move, I got "Mom, I don't want any of this "stuff." "But it's yours, I replied." and I got "I don't see why you think I would want it!" The end result was that the only things they cared about were a few of their photos, their old Atari game system and the original Nintendo game system, and stacks of baseball cards. Wayne and I took at least thirty loads to Goodwill! And I was free of "stuff" for the most part.
As we settled into couples life in Mequon, Wisconsin in the house where Wayne has lived for more than forty years, Wayne kept telling me that he was feeling overwhelmed by "stuff." The attic was full of "stuff" and the basement was full of "stuff." The crawl spaces had abundant "stuff." We began pulling out boxes a few at a time and going through them. About 75% of the "stuff" ends up going to Goodwill or into the garbage can. We pack up boxes of "stuff" that we think his kids will want and find that they feel about the same way my sons did. Since there are girls in the mix here, they like mementos somewhat better and are sometimes happy to have what we offer. We've resorted to slipping a box of stuff into their cars when they come by the house. It's going to be a long slow process!
Wayne's son lives in California and we have begun packing a large suitcase with "stuff" that belongs to him and taking it to California when we travel there to give to him. You probably know that the look we get isn't one of happy excitement. To be fair, Buzz did ship a pile of "stuff" via rail to California on one of his visits, but I think he will be getting suitcases of "stuff" for the foreseeable future.
It feels good to begin this process and I think our offspring will be grateful in the end since they won't have to sort through the huge volume of "stuff" when we are gone. We also have this opportunity to mark valuable "stuff," photos, and keepsakes so that they won't be discarded by accident when we aren't here to save them.
Most of you probably have the same problem unless you have lived a minimalist life or unless you have moved and downsized recently. Our advice is to start now....most of it is just miscellaneous "stuff" with not of much value to anyone....it's just accumulated and multiplied over time. We say "Free yourself! It's makes one's soul lighter!"
On the other hand.....we had to sort our parents' "stuff" so.......perhaps we should just leave it for the kids!! Some sort of poetic justice!!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
On the Road Again....
Wayne and I "reluctantly" hit the road again on May 30 heading for Colorado for our yearly trip to my family's ranch in the high country of Western Colorado. I say "reluctantly," because we were only home from our European adventure for a couple of weeks when it was time to pack up and go again. We had tons of yard and garden work to do and would have loved another week or two.....
The reason for traveling so soon was a family memorial for my brother Tom whose daughters wanted to scatter/inter his ashes on the "Ranch" where he grew up and lived for the greater part of his life. It wasn't possible to access the area in January when he passed away and my nieces chose the weekend of his birthday in June to bring him "home." It was a intensely personal gathering and just the right way to remember his life.
It was a beautiful time to drive across the heartland....the sky was blue, fields and trees were greening and the rivers were full. We actually enjoyed Iowa and Nebraska AND even eastern Colorado! We saw many wild turkeys in the plowed corn fields as we drove through central Nebraska. They are strange, ugly/beautiful birds!
After brief visits with some good friends in Evergreen, we spent one night with my sister and then headed over the mountains on Monday, June 1. The Ranch was in process of bursting into Spring with early flowers blooming and trees leafing out. Lots of rain in the month of May made everything fresh and brilliant green. Wild sunflowers were blooming, wild iris ("flags") were just starting to pop open and giant dandelions were everywhere. It is my favorite time of year there. We spent mornings with coffee on the deck enjoying the beauty and quiet. My soul is always restored when I return to my childhood home.
My sons Ryan and Ian (and Ian's handsome dogs) joined us along with Ryan's partner Jennie and daughter Allie. It was so good to spend time with them. I miss not being close.
We put out several little hummingbird feeders and were swarmed with dozens of the little birds....ruby throated, purple throated, brown...all with iridescent green feathers that shimmered in the sunlight. They slurped up about 2 quarts of sugar nectar per day and were very vocal when the feeders were empty. Some were in full courting mode, doing a strange swooping flying act above the object of affection. Some were little bullies, guarding several feeders and chasing any hopeful intruders away. We had to buy two larger feeders to keep up with the demand. The word spread!!!
Each evening around 8:15 we made a driving trip down through the property to look for wildlife...we were never disappointed. Usually we saw numerous deer who would generally just look at us and go on grazing. Most evenings we saw herds of big elk who were easily spooked and disappeared in a rush if we moved to quickly.
There is a "rafter" of wild turkeys who live and roost in the giant evergreens that were fun to watch. This rafter is made up of four or five hens and one BIG tom turkey. The turkeys are very timid and disappear into the trees and bushes as soon as they become aware of watchers!
We listened to coyotes howling and yapping a night and heard hawks diving in the evening looking for prey. Friends who have visited over the years were sometimes terrified by the quiet and then by the noisy cacophony of the coyotes in the night!
On a mid-day visit to the Ranch reservoir, we were surprise to see many new and different "ducks". Happily enjoying the fresh deep water in the lake were Wood Ducks, Coots, and Merganser Ducks as well as a long-necked duck (definitely not a goose) that we were unable to positively identify. Unfortunately, all of the trout died late last summer, apparently of oxygen deprivation due to an unusual amount of algae that bloomed in the water. Some were over 18 pounds in size. Sad event. Hopefully, they will be restocked to grow again.
On Sunday, June 7, we hosted a pre-wedding dinner at a rustic lodge on Vega Reservoir. We enjoyed the company of about 22 of my family members and a couple of Wayne's who happen to live in Grand Junction in the same neighborhood as one of my nieces!! What a coincidence! Fun times for all.
On the last morning, we woke up to find all of the fields near the house filled with elk. What a beautiful sight!
After spending a week of quiet lazy bliss on the Ranch enjoying family and beauty, we (again reluctantly) took to the road again traveling back to Mequon over two long days.
On our way back to Denver, just beyond the Ranch, we saw a large cinnamon colored bear who quickly disappeared into the brush along the road. He/she was too quick for a photo.
We're home now until September and October (we think) when more adventures await us.
The reason for traveling so soon was a family memorial for my brother Tom whose daughters wanted to scatter/inter his ashes on the "Ranch" where he grew up and lived for the greater part of his life. It wasn't possible to access the area in January when he passed away and my nieces chose the weekend of his birthday in June to bring him "home." It was a intensely personal gathering and just the right way to remember his life.
It was a beautiful time to drive across the heartland....the sky was blue, fields and trees were greening and the rivers were full. We actually enjoyed Iowa and Nebraska AND even eastern Colorado! We saw many wild turkeys in the plowed corn fields as we drove through central Nebraska. They are strange, ugly/beautiful birds!
After brief visits with some good friends in Evergreen, we spent one night with my sister and then headed over the mountains on Monday, June 1. The Ranch was in process of bursting into Spring with early flowers blooming and trees leafing out. Lots of rain in the month of May made everything fresh and brilliant green. Wild sunflowers were blooming, wild iris ("flags") were just starting to pop open and giant dandelions were everywhere. It is my favorite time of year there. We spent mornings with coffee on the deck enjoying the beauty and quiet. My soul is always restored when I return to my childhood home.
My sons Ryan and Ian (and Ian's handsome dogs) joined us along with Ryan's partner Jennie and daughter Allie. It was so good to spend time with them. I miss not being close.
We put out several little hummingbird feeders and were swarmed with dozens of the little birds....ruby throated, purple throated, brown...all with iridescent green feathers that shimmered in the sunlight. They slurped up about 2 quarts of sugar nectar per day and were very vocal when the feeders were empty. Some were in full courting mode, doing a strange swooping flying act above the object of affection. Some were little bullies, guarding several feeders and chasing any hopeful intruders away. We had to buy two larger feeders to keep up with the demand. The word spread!!!
Each evening around 8:15 we made a driving trip down through the property to look for wildlife...we were never disappointed. Usually we saw numerous deer who would generally just look at us and go on grazing. Most evenings we saw herds of big elk who were easily spooked and disappeared in a rush if we moved to quickly.
There is a "rafter" of wild turkeys who live and roost in the giant evergreens that were fun to watch. This rafter is made up of four or five hens and one BIG tom turkey. The turkeys are very timid and disappear into the trees and bushes as soon as they become aware of watchers!
We listened to coyotes howling and yapping a night and heard hawks diving in the evening looking for prey. Friends who have visited over the years were sometimes terrified by the quiet and then by the noisy cacophony of the coyotes in the night!
On a mid-day visit to the Ranch reservoir, we were surprise to see many new and different "ducks". Happily enjoying the fresh deep water in the lake were Wood Ducks, Coots, and Merganser Ducks as well as a long-necked duck (definitely not a goose) that we were unable to positively identify. Unfortunately, all of the trout died late last summer, apparently of oxygen deprivation due to an unusual amount of algae that bloomed in the water. Some were over 18 pounds in size. Sad event. Hopefully, they will be restocked to grow again.
On Sunday, June 7, we hosted a pre-wedding dinner at a rustic lodge on Vega Reservoir. We enjoyed the company of about 22 of my family members and a couple of Wayne's who happen to live in Grand Junction in the same neighborhood as one of my nieces!! What a coincidence! Fun times for all.
On the last morning, we woke up to find all of the fields near the house filled with elk. What a beautiful sight!
After spending a week of quiet lazy bliss on the Ranch enjoying family and beauty, we (again reluctantly) took to the road again traveling back to Mequon over two long days.
On our way back to Denver, just beyond the Ranch, we saw a large cinnamon colored bear who quickly disappeared into the brush along the road. He/she was too quick for a photo.
We're home now until September and October (we think) when more adventures await us.
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