As I type this, I hear tile being ripped up from the other end of the house. It’s loud.
The kids, thankfully, are in camp this week and won’t have to endure the crazy. Eddie and I, on the other hand, will be here the entire time. Why, you may ask, do I not go somewhere all day? Because I can’t. I could hang out in a Starbucks, but the chairs are painful to sit in. Sitting is the most uncomfortable position I can be in because of my lower back issues. So, laying down at home is where I am. There’s another reason, too, but that’s a post for another day.
Packing
This weekend Stephen took the kids to cousin camp at his parents’ lake house. I was going to work on packing stuff up because the movers were scheduled to come on Sunday to move the furniture in the rooms getting the hardwood floors, which is half of the house. Except, I think I got food poisoning Friday night, so I was down for the count.
I sent out an SOS to Stephen. It went something like this: I’m sick. And overwhelmed. And I need you. And bring sprite.
He came back from the lake to pack everything up.
He hit his office like a man on a mission. Most of the stuff in there ended up in the trash! I wish I had a picture, but just imagine two large trash containers, plus a lot more. He’s finally sick of it, too. He even suggested getting rid of the bookcase in his office. And we are book people, so just imagine.
All of the furniture and boxes got moved to a large sunroom in our house that was basically empty (posts on that coming up).
Most of the House is Empty
Here is our half-done kitchen, our family room/breakfast room, dining room and the room formerly known as Stephen’s pit. All of the flooring was chosen by the previous owners and it’s schizophrenic. In one zone it’s off white tile, in another it’s red tile, and in another it’s really ugly, old, disgusting carpet. I am not sad to hear it being ripped up. Not sad at all.
The Crazy
It was a really stressful weekend to be sure. I’m actually quite relieved to be listening to construction noises. Because it means it’s getting done.
Revising the Timeline
And we’ve been thinking and talking about our timeline a lot. Now that we’re in the midst of it we see how much work there is to be done. And, as a couple of people have pointed out to me, July is too aggressive to get everything in the house cleared out and ready to sell. I agree. We’re all exhausted.
We need some time to just be in a house that isn’t half ripped apart. How much time? I don’t know. But we still have a lot of work to do inside the house and placing an arbitrary, crazy deadline on top of it is too much. Guilty as charged. I get impatient and want everything done yesterday. I need to focus on smaller parts, getting those done and moving on to the next, without getting too bogged down by the big picture.
The Packing Party Concept
But one other really good thing about this is that now all of our stuff is in the sunroom. It reminds me of the packing party concept that The Minimalists suggest. I never would have done that if it weren’t a forced thing. But now that all of our stuff is in another room, it will be easier to only bring back in what we need and use.
Stephen suggested that the sunroom be the staging room for things to sell. And I wholeheartedly agree. This process is bringing a whole lot of stuff to the discussion table. It’s painful, yet liberating at the same time.
None of which has anything to do with living a Simple Year. Most of us would at some point in our lives have moved house, so we all know how stressful and tedious the whole process is and I’m sure we all have stories just as, if not more, horrendous than this one.
This blog used to be funny (very funny) and insightful, and now it is neither. Read some of the past entries to see what I mean, the story of a family buying nothing new for 12 months was an excellent concept and was written to entertain as well as inform. Unfortunately this has no entertainment and no information. Count me as an ex-reader of the simple year.
I’m sorry you feel that way. This has everything to do with living a Simple Year – getting rid of most of our possessions, downsizing our house and our lives. Part of that is getting the house ready to actually sell. Not all of this process is going to be funny.
I’m sorry you feel this way. I know Kerry worked very hard, and was very discerning, on who she’d have replace her on the Second Year. Kerry and Kandaice are two different people, and as such should have two distinct personalities. I think it’s maybe a little unfair that you should expect the same of Kandice as you did of Kerry.
You may be able to get all your furniture moved included in your flooring installation cost!! Check into it!
Two different people, two different stories. While last year was about buying nothing new, this year is about a family trying to change their lives. It’s NOT simple now, but their story has just begun.
I’ve been simplifying for the past 8 months, and we’re just now getting to a point where things are getting sort of simple. So I see value in these posts because I’m trying to do the same thing (but with no ripped out tile, thank God!). It’s interesting to see a journey from start to finish.
Keep it up, Kandice. I’m looking forward to seeing what makes it out of your sunroom now that you’ve got a mini Packing Party going on. I’m looking forward to the posts where you start feeling better/less stressed because you have less to deal with. And I’m really looking forward to cheering at the end, when you’ve accomplished this (huge) goal.
Thank you, Trisha! I’m looking forward to being less stressed. 🙂
Hey now!!! I just read the above comment about being an exreader! Everybody has their jouney towards a simpler life & as you outlined in your plan, this move is part of getting simple. Don’t be discouraged by notes like that!!!
Thank you, Amy!
I really think that you are trying for a more simple life. Will you get there in 1 month or even 12 months maybe not but you are just starting out so it takes time.
My advice to you (we’ve moved a total of 9 times in 20 years of marriage) and it gets easier to get rid of things that you no longer need or want. I have learned this over time as we are thinking about another move out of state for hubby’s job. I figure if we haven’t used it in say 6 months and I don’t see using it in the next few weeks out it goes. If I am unsure I put it in a tote and put it away if I get it out in the next 6 months then I will keep it. I have been replacing somethings here and there as need be but over all we are getting rid of things I don’t want to take it with us this time.
My next project is to finish up the basement I am about 1/2 way there. It takes time and with you having back issues that means it just takes more time. Some days I just don’t care and hey lets be honest you will have days like that but over all I think that you will be able to slim things down in time it won’t happen over night cause you didn’t get this way over night either.
Good luck and I look forward to reading your journey and it’ll help me and my hubby get thru ours. GOOD LUCK 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
glad you are reconsidering your timeline.
how cool is that, with everything in the sunroom! lets see how little makes it back.
your honey seems to be on board. so glad you asked for help.
i enjoy sharing your journey.
Thank you! I appreciate your comments, too.
Moving to a smaller home IS simplifying! I know that reducing my stuff has helped me reduce my consumption, because after all the work of clearing out I didn’t want to bring more in. Sharing your journey motivates others. I especially appreciate that you continue to clean out even though your health isn’t perfect. Waiting to start when everything is “perfect” results in no progress. I know people who use all kinds of reasons why now is not the right time to clean out. Keep focusing on motivating others and don’t worry about making people laugh.
This is very well said. I agree when you get rid of things you don’t want or need it makes you want to keep thinks that way. It has for me at least (thou I have a kitchen gadget problem lol) guess we all have our one ro two things.
There is never a perfect time to do something that’s for sure.
Good luck with all of the packing and moving. It can be stressful, though it sounds like you have support and a game plan to succeed.
I would also like to respectfully disagree with your choice of the word ‘schizophrenic’ to describe your flooring. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness where a person often hears voices, believes delusional thoughts, and has difficulty with often basic cognitive processes – such as focus, memory, and problem solving. At my employer’s request, we don’t refer to people as “schizophrenic,” we say “a person with schizophrenia.” It is much more humanizing. Thank you.
Hi Sonrie. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I certainly meant no offense. I will try to be more mindful in my word choice.
It’s really wonderful that you’re sharing all the ups and downs of your personal journey. Loving that you have the courage to honestly communicate how stressful it can be. Life is certainly challenging at times and it’s very motivating to read how you’re dealing with all the issues (big and small) that people face when they’re working towards a simplier life.
Thanks Kelly! I tend to be an over-sharer who can’t hide what I’m feeling, so I wouldn’t be able to not be honest anyway. Thanks for your comment!
With somewhat fragile health I’d say you’re in for a hard job getting your house ready to sell by the end of July but, if you can outsource a lot of the chores, it is possible.
We’ve moved a lot in the last 6 years, including international moves, and I know how much of my “stuff” is strictly unnecessary. However I’m keeping the majority for the present (think 20 wine glasses when 6 would be sufficient) until the next move as I have room in our current home, and the time to keep it clean and tidy. But when the next move comes we will be downsizing which will mean freecycling/donating/trashing the majority of it, and to that end I am very interested in your journey. Keep on writing!
Linda- Thanks for your comment. We won’t be outsourcing other than to get the construction part done. We’re forcing ourselves to go through all of the stuff. It’s painful to do, but hopefully it will be a good motivator to make sure we never have to do it again. And to make sure we are more mindful when allowing things to come in. We’ve lived in this house almost five years now. It wasn’t full of stuff when we moved in, so this ridiculous accumulation happened mostly during that period, which is shocking to me to think about. We’re definitely reconsidering the timeframe. I’m still in physical therapy, too, so that doesn’t help things.
As another that moves often, I, too, share the shock at the speed at which things accumulate within a home. Add in boxes that were never unpacked, and you get a good amount of embarrassment. I’d love to just dispose of them, but I also struggle with what may be in them. Sigh…
Why would anyone bother to write in to tell you they are now an ex-reader! Just unsubscribe and don’t be mean, plenty of other things to read. I always pictured this community as a friendly one. Count me in as a happy reader.
Thank you Diana!
Ooh also forgot to say use ear plugs to block out noise. I bought the swimming type and I just plug in when I want to drown out noisy neighbours, teenage music and
even noisy birds that are lovely but wake up earlier than me. 🙂
You are important enough to get trolled! 😉 For the rest of us, our readers just quit (and say nothing) when they get sick of us. I think being trolled is a sign that you’ve arrived…
However, I do hope your back feels better soon. Moving is stressful enough, without all that!
Ha! That’s funny. 🙂 I never thought of that, but I guess now I can wear the badge of troll honor.
Lol, Bethany! Great perspective!
I know that its been over a year since the last comment, but I’ve just finished reading about Kerry’s year and I’ve really enjoyed both years so far. People are such haters. Goodbye exsubscriber. I’ve taken that person’s spot and I love it. Looking forward to reading the rest