I've been downsizing too, though only in regards to what I carry around with me in my pockets.
I used to carry a lot of stuff (though nowhere near what some edc enthusiasts carry) and recently, I just got tired of having pockets full of stuff.
I got rid of my Leatherman Micra for edc, though I will still carry it if I'm going somewhere I'm likely to need it.
I stopped carrying a wallet, though I'm considering getting a tiny front pocket wallet to protect my cards.
I trimmed and modified my house keys and attached a suspension clip. My keychain now contains only keys, and tiny ones at that.
I retired my vintage Ronson lighter and now carry a Bic Mini.
And, instead of the various large knives I used to carry, I pop a peanut in my pocket
I admit that I do carry other knives just for pleasure, but my main knife, carried everywhere all the time is a peanut.
It's so liberating having very little in my pockets, I wish I had done it sooner.
But my pockets are a new thing, and not really the reason for my post.
I was forced to downsize my life a great deal two years ago.
I used to live in the UK, but I came to America to be with my wife.
I used to have a lot of stuff. Not quite hoarding, but I had a lot of collections of things, and several thousand books.
When I came here, I basically had to move house by plane. I had to fit everything I owned into a suitcase, a backpack, and a meduim sized cardboard box that I mailed to myself.
It was really hard letting go of all of the things that I had spent so much time and money collecting, but the worst part was my books.
I bought an ereader and managed to download all but 19 of the books I had to leave behind!
I thought an ereader would be a poor substitute for a real book, but now I could never go back, it's just so much better.
So, although I downsized, I was still able to bring a well stocked library (ereader) , a huge music collection (ipod/laptop) and a very respectable DVD library (ripped to an external hard drive)
The experience improved my life immeasurably. I no longer accumulate stuff I don't need, and I hate clutter, even thoughI used to actually like clutter!
My one regret was selling my knife collection, as it was physically small enough that I could have brougjt it with me if I had tried.
At the time though, I was thinking of the money that I needed for my new life, so I guess selling them was right at the time.
I think that the message that i'm trying to send to you is that with careful thought and wise use of technology, you can fit a surprisingly large life into a small physical space.
I used to carry a lot of stuff (though nowhere near what some edc enthusiasts carry) and recently, I just got tired of having pockets full of stuff.
I got rid of my Leatherman Micra for edc, though I will still carry it if I'm going somewhere I'm likely to need it.
I stopped carrying a wallet, though I'm considering getting a tiny front pocket wallet to protect my cards.
I trimmed and modified my house keys and attached a suspension clip. My keychain now contains only keys, and tiny ones at that.
I retired my vintage Ronson lighter and now carry a Bic Mini.
And, instead of the various large knives I used to carry, I pop a peanut in my pocket
I admit that I do carry other knives just for pleasure, but my main knife, carried everywhere all the time is a peanut.
It's so liberating having very little in my pockets, I wish I had done it sooner.
But my pockets are a new thing, and not really the reason for my post.
I was forced to downsize my life a great deal two years ago.
I used to live in the UK, but I came to America to be with my wife.
I used to have a lot of stuff. Not quite hoarding, but I had a lot of collections of things, and several thousand books.
When I came here, I basically had to move house by plane. I had to fit everything I owned into a suitcase, a backpack, and a meduim sized cardboard box that I mailed to myself.
It was really hard letting go of all of the things that I had spent so much time and money collecting, but the worst part was my books.
I bought an ereader and managed to download all but 19 of the books I had to leave behind!
I thought an ereader would be a poor substitute for a real book, but now I could never go back, it's just so much better.
So, although I downsized, I was still able to bring a well stocked library (ereader) , a huge music collection (ipod/laptop) and a very respectable DVD library (ripped to an external hard drive)
The experience improved my life immeasurably. I no longer accumulate stuff I don't need, and I hate clutter, even thoughI used to actually like clutter!
My one regret was selling my knife collection, as it was physically small enough that I could have brougjt it with me if I had tried.
At the time though, I was thinking of the money that I needed for my new life, so I guess selling them was right at the time.
I think that the message that i'm trying to send to you is that with careful thought and wise use of technology, you can fit a surprisingly large life into a small physical space.
