#8 The hardest part of purging

This post isn't very light hearted and I think I'm being redundant since all I talk about is getting rid of stuff.  I also think I'm beginning to stress a bit.  Isn't the whole purpose of this adventure to de-stess?  So far not working.  It seems time passes quickly and I feel like I'm going to run out of it.  Then there's now when it passes like molasses waiting for things to happen.  We've had a few people look at the house...no takers yet.  One couple seems really interested but no offer.  We have good prospects coming this afternoon and more this weekend, so, fingers crossed.  No moving forward until the noose called a house is sold.  I've been told to be patient.  I'm more like a kid wishing Christmas would hurry up and get here.  I want to write about our travels!

So in the meantime I keep asking "Are we ever going to get on the road"?  This adventure is waiting and we are stuck in limbo.  Stomping my feet like a three year old because I wanna go and I wanna go NOW!  Like that really helps.  Makes me feel better though.

So we wait.  And wait.  And wait.  And as we do  I continue to go through "stuff".  It's a much longer process than I imagined.  I have no problem getting rid of everyday stuff.  That's the easy part.  It's the stuff that I treasure I am having the most difficulty with.

A friend of mine posted an article about how no one (family) wants your stuff when you're gone.  While the article made sense, it makes me sad.  For my whole life I have treasured items that belonged to my family, including heirlooms from those long ago.  I enjoy looking at old pictures of relatives I never met...they are a part of me.  I like holding those little treasures knowing it belonged to a loved one.  It's sad to know that this and future generations no longer care about those things.

With that in mind, what do I do with it all?  Throw it away?  Keep it and store it?  To what end?  I have decided I will check with the kids first.  Maybe they aren't the norm and will enjoy having things that belonged to relatives past.  I have a cowbell and .22 rifle that belonged to my great grandfather.  They are over 100 years old!  Seems a shame to just dump them.  Surely our son would want those.  I have my great grandmother's hair comb.  It, too, is over 100 years old.  I have pins and broaches from my other great grandmother.  Those, too, are very old.  Surely our daughter will want those.  My dad's favorite belt buckle; model planes he built from scratch.  Wouldn't the kids want a remembrance from their grandfather?  And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  But it's important to remember the kids aren't me.  So in the end, if they don't want it, maybe someone else in the family does.  If not..guess I'll  be filling up that storage unit.

I also have pictures galore.  It seems in this digital age no one cares about those anymore.  I hope my kids are different.  If not...they'll just have to dump them when I'm gone.  I don't have the heart to do it.  Some of those pictures are older than me!  I thought about gathering them all up in to piles.  These go to Jeff...these Rachelle... these other family members, these we keep.  But then we circle back around.  Do they even want them?  Good Gravy this is hard.  A lot harder than I thought it would be.

We have made some progress, though.  LJ sold his side by side atv and his atv trailer.  Still working on selling the Toy Hauler.  Almost all the furniture has been spoken for.  Once the house goes into escrow things should move quickly.

Taking forever it seems, but again, it will be so worth it in the end.  As each decision is made, the weight on our shoulders gets lighter and lighter.  Keep our eyes on the prize.

Any suggestions you all have out there, to help us get through this part of the process, is welcomed.  In the meantime... where's the vodka...

#7 Things just got real...

Well we did it!  The house is finally on the market.  While we wait we will still purge and pack.  But for now it's mostly a waiting game.  I find myself getting impatient.  As each day passes I look more and more forward to this new chapter in our lives.  Funny how important possessions really aren't all that important any more.  We just wanna get this show on the road.

It's a little bittersweet since once again this was going to be our forever home.  I hadn't quite finished putting my touch on this place, but that's okay.  I'll get over it.  Now the whole U S of A will be our home.  But in the meantime we wait.  Some say the house will go fast.  Others say it will take awhile.  Either way is fine with us.  If it takes awhile, we will have an easy time packing and purging.  If it goes fast, that's ok too.  The move out will be a bit more stressful but worth it because we will be on the road sooner.

Now LJs kicking around getting a motorcycle to take with us instead of the atv.  I'm ok either way.  The motorcycle will be used more and he can always rent an atv for those few rides.  Funny how things change as you go along.  Heck, we haven't even figured out which trailer will be home yet.  My thought was it doesn't matter.  I'm ok with being truly homeless.  That's what friends, family and hotels are for.  We can always live in our current trailer, if it hasn't sold, until we find the right one.  Don't want to make the wrong decision since this will be our home for at least two years, so patience is the key...as long as it doesn't become procrastination.

The bad thing about selling our place is you have to keep it spotless.  I'm ok with that, except I'm married to the adult version of Pigpen.  It's like he leaves a trail in case he gets lost.  And he doesn't do it on purpose.  He is just who he is.  For example.  Ask any of his friends...when he gets done eating I swear there is more food on the table and floor than he actually ate.  Ok...I exaggerate but not much.  It's not so much food as it is salt, pepper and crumbs.  And I have watched to see why.  Can't figure it out.  It's like it just appears.  It's no wonder he uses so much salt and pepper.  Ninety percent doesn't make it to the food.  Of course he says it's because I don't season anything.  And sadly he's right.  He didn't marry me for my cooking, lol, hence the sign over our stove.  But when I do, he does need copious amounts of seasoning because I prefer bland.  Then there's clothes and shoes.  Is it possible you can hang that up?  Yes I know you are going to need it in five minutes but the tour might come through.  Did you make the bed?  You were the last one up.  Clean up the shower?  You were the last one in it.  Put your dishes in the dishwasher? Did you, would you, could you?  Pooooor LJ.  He hates this part, lol.

And then there's Scooter.  Love that dog.  He's very smart but refuses to put his toys away.  He leaves them strategically placed throughout the house in case I walk by and want to stop and play.  Damn dog.  And he likes to lay on the decorative pillow in his room, which squishes it down.  I have to remember to fluff it when we are rushing out the door so potential buyers won't be turned off.  Because, you know, a slightly squished throw pillow will sway a buyer.

And then there's me.  The cleanup nazi.  Don't leave that there! The dish towel has to be on the counter a certain way...Over the sink, angled slightly.  Yes I'm serious.  Who moved that pillow?   The throw must be on the chair perfectly placed.  New rules.  Shower time and bathroom breaks are before 8:30am and after 7pm because there might be a tour group.  Crap!  Showing in 4 hours.  Hurry! Must vacuum, mop, dust, wipe everything down, fluff and stuff before we leave.  Yes I know we just did that this morning.  I can't help it.  I'm my mother's daughter.

Fortunately this isn't the first house we've sold so our marriage should survive.  LJs used to it.  But I'm thinking it's gonna be a bit stressful while waiting for this thing to sell.  Blame that on me.
But then.....FREEDOM and the open road.

#6 Will It Never End?

Rich, Kandi, LJ and I on the cruise to panama

To be honest, I'd rather be cruising again with our besties, but too much to do.  So we've spent the last week going through the stuff in the garage and house, and we still aren't done.  38 years of stuff to go through!!

LJ took a trip to Sacramento with the neighbors trailer.  It was full of outside tools and garage stuff for Jeff.  I packed up a lot of my collectibles and memorabilia.  LJ asked what could possibly be that important I have to save it.  So I showed him the flattened cowboy hat from my time showing horses as a child.  And my 4H trophy and basketball trophy, along with my Camp Fire Girls vest with the beads I earned (I was seven and apparently not very good at it judging by the number of beads).  I also have letters from my long deceased grandmother and others.  And, of course, being the sentimental fool I am, there is so much more.  Fortunately it all fits in one box.  I even had a couple things that belonged to him, including cufflinks and a pen set given to him personally by then governor Ronald Reagan.  So being a smart ass, I asked if he wanted those in the "out it goes" pile. Judging by the look on his face I'm guessing that would be a no..keeping it.

So I'm thinking he gets it now.  He rented a small climate controlled storage place for the things we are keeping.  It was fairly cheap, a very clean place, and we agreed to revisit this at the end of our first year.  I can only keep what fits in the unit.  Shouldn't be a problem.  Better I think to hold on to important irreplaceable things than regret it later.

Since the house is actually on the market later this week, we started purging the clutter.  There is so much stuff set aside for the garage sale.  Thank goodness he cleared out the garage making room for sale boxes.  The entire one car side of the three car garage is garage sale central.  The timing is off, though.  Our neighborhood does a community garage sale that is heavily advertised with a lot of traffic.  It's in June.  If the house sells quickly, no problem.  Everything we have will be out there.  But if it doesn't, then a lot of nice stuff will just be donated.  We can't undecorate the house and expect top dollar our real estate friend tells us!  With any luck our abode will be in escrow just before garage sale day.  Fingers crossed.

We gave our neighbors our outdoor furniture.  They needed it and we no longer do.  That felt good.  but it feels like we still have so much more to do.  Still loads of stuff in the linen closets.  Gave away our fall and Halloween decor to a friend with little kids.  Nice to see someone continue to enjoy the witches, mummy and Frankenstein I made during my crafty days.


Spent the weekend going through the ridiculous amount of Christmas stuff I have.  Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't over decorate.  I mean 9 themed trees....9.   The memory tree, wine tree, dog tree, snowman tree, victorian tree.. well you get the picture.  Oh it's pretty but good grief.  Just going through all that took a full day.  Rachelle wants a lot of it.  I wish it wasn't so expensive to ship to the U.K. but since it is she is limited on what she gets. She only gets light weight stuff.  I love her but not enough to fully fund the post office for the next year with my shipping fees.  These photos don't even begin to show how much holiday spirit I have lol.  And this doesn't include the stuff I have up in the garage attic.  Are you sensing a theme here?

 Now I'm in my craft room.  Some of my craft tools and stuff I'm hanging on to, but not much.  A little will go in the trailer for something to do when I get bored.  The rest is just too expensive to replace should we get another house some day.  I will always have a craft room... call it my woman cave, lol.  My sanctuary.  I had oodles of fabric so the neighbor across the street got lucky.  She sews so it will be used and she was very appreciative.  I took my hundreds of patterns and bagged them up in sections for the garage sale.  I have to let them go.  I only held back my favorite few.  I'm still overwhelmed with the amount of crafty crap I have collected over the last several years.  Garage sale or donations.. someone, somewhere will be happy.

Next...the kitchen.  OMG I dread the kitchen.  That's tomorrow.  Oh yippee!  That will be a story in and of itself.  I'm starting to think I'm either a pack rat or a hoarder, albeit a well organized and neat one lol.

But I'm keeping my eye on the prize.  And so far, as each section gets done I feel more and more free.  Tired.  Cranky.  But free.  I get more and more excited each day.  I didn't realize how much the accumulation of "things" can weigh you down or just how freeing mentally and even physically letting things go can be.  This is a good thing.  Better than therapy!

#5 The Purging Begins

and We don't drink that much

We've decided the house goes on the market the middle of next month.  In the mean time we are going through our stuff, trying to decide what to do with it all.  I'll start in the kitchen; LJ the garage.

As I start going through the hutch I realize how much crap I never use is in there.  Oh there are a few items that are keepsakes or that I use regularly.  But for the most part it's "oh yea.  I forgot I had that".  I'm honestly not having an issue saying adios to 95% of the stuff.  That leaves 5% of things I need to get over or store if I can't use it in the trailer.  Nobody needs this much stuff.  Imagine the amount of $$$ I have spent on everything over the years, only to store it.  You know, on the off chance I might use it someday.  And now I want to store it for the future?  Oh good grief.

Just Stuff that collects dust

Our son, Jeff, and daughter in law, Amy, came up today.  They staked their claim on some items.  Our poor Amy was trying to be nice while saying yea to that, uh, no to that.  I forget not everyone has the same taste as me.  Plus they don't have as much room to store excess stuff that they'll never use like I do.  Obviously she is much smarter than I am.  I'm glad we have the kind of relationship where they get stuff, we give stuff and no one gets offended by saying no.  I did kinda feel like my mom, though... she's always trying to make me take stuff when I visit.  That was me today lol...here do you want this?  Here, take that!  Surprised my son didn't start calling me Joye (my mom).  But I think it was successful.  Kids are getting things they can use and now I know what gets given away, sent to goodwill or sold.  Productive day.  But still overwhelming because there is SO MUCH STUFF left to deal with in the house.

Prime example:  I do have a lot of pampered chef stuff.  My sister sold it and I was always buying it.  Seems wrong to garage sale it but worse to donate it. So maybe I'll keep the stuff I really use...those very few things.  I can put those in the trailer.  The rest?  Bite the bullet and let it goooooooooo. Oh look!  there's that pampered chef dumaflatchit I paid a lot for that has never been used. I'm really not sure what it does, but it's cool!  Maybe I should keep that.  LJ once again just gives me his infamous "look".  Those who know him understand.  Those who don't, it's indescribable but effective.   Fiiiiiiiiiiiine. I'll part with it and it's brothers and sisters and cousins.  Remember..You are on a mission.  Failure is not an option.

Oh.  And then there's patio stuff, yard tools, yard art (i.e. Crap).  I sweet talked our dear Amy into putting some of the yard stuff in her yard...until we settle down again someday.  The rest?  I'm okay with that stuff going to the garage sale.

The purging has begun.  But there is still sooooo much to do.  I will admit... I'll be glad when this part is over.  In the meantime...just breathe and remember what's in front of us.  Freedom and the Open Road.

#4. The Why

Little man loves his campfires

I find this interesting.  When our friends and family find out what we are doing, inevitably the first thing said is "no!"  The next is "why?!?!  What about Scooter (our Yorkie)?"   Some are supportive.  Some just tilt their head in wonder.

ARE YOU CRAZY??????? Nope...well maybe a little...

Maybe we are.  But we are taking the chance and going for it.  There are so many reasons why we have decided to embark on this journey.   I'll try to answer those questions.

First...why?
Because we can.
We are not tied down to anything.  Kids are grown.  The kids think it's great and are behind us 100%. Grandkids aren't little ones any more, the youngest being nine.  They all live their own busy lives.  Just because we are travelling doesn't mean we won't see them. We are in good health mentally and physically.  But who knows what the future holds.  So we say we do it now, while we can.  Don't want to look back in a few years saying cudda wudda shudda.

The freedom.
Imagine being able to up and go when you want.  No encumbrances.  Talking to friends and strangers who have maintained their home while traveling extensively has enlightened me. Each and every one says they never felt truly free. They always had in the back of their mind how are things at home.  Others we have talked to who full time say there's nothing like the complete freedom it gives you when you get rid of everything.  Selling means no worrying about who's going to take care of the house/yard while we're gone.  We have great neighbors here at our home who would gladly take care of things, but we would rather enjoy the true freedom.  Another good thing about RV living.   What if your RV neighbor is a pain, or you hate where you are "living"?  You hook up and change spots or even parks!  You can't do that with sticks and bricks so easily.  Freedom.  Freedom to decide at a whim to move on.  So much to see in this great country of ours.  The point is we are free to do whatever we choose, when we choose.  Things to see/do on our schedule...nobody else's.

The cleansing effect.
By selling everything, only keeping those precious items, you clear your mind and soul.  Thirty eight years of accumulating crap.  How many times have I moved that knick knack?   How long have I had that thing, whatever it is?  Time to let it go.  Others who have done it say it's the most liberating thing they have done.  So we circle back to freedom, again.  I will hang on to those precious keepsakes...for now.  I don't want to have regrets.  I'll give the kids the stuff I have saved from when they were little.  I've had those boxes with their names on it for years.  It now belongs to them.  Now it's their stuff to have and do with what they please.  But the rest?  It's just things.  Replaceable things.  Garage sale / consignment time.

The money.  Yes.  The money.
When the house sells EVERY thing we owe will be paid off.  No bills.  Can you imagine nothing coming out of your check but those forever bills you can't get away from  (insurance, health care, cell phone bill, Onstar etc).  Other than that, our regular living expenses, such as gas, RV parks, food, incidentals will be it.  NO mortgage, car payments, utilities, credit cards...nothing else.  So the rest of our retirement checks go in the bank.  By our calculations the bank account will grow rapidly.  As suggested by our research, we have accounts at three different banks.  One our checks go into automatically.  We will transfer our monthly budgeted living expenses to another.  That's the only one we will use for that, lessening the chance for identity thieves accessing our money.  The other will be used to save for side adventures, such as cruises, entry into parks, etc.  A budgeted amount will be transferred into that one, too.  I certainly won't be buying stuff since we are living in a trailer.  No where to put it!  The key is to live within those budgets and watch the main account grow.  We should be sitting pretty by the time we revert back to sticks and bricks living...if we ever do lol.

M/C trip to Glacier NP

Reconnecting.
LJ and I have always been close.  We are friends as well as spouses.  Without the stresses of "regular" living we can get even closer.  We are both on the same page with doing this adventure.  We both plan on having fun.  He always does what I want to do or says "go ahead, have fun" if it's not something he's interested in.  So now I plan to be the yes person, too, because I will no longer have to worry about what that side trip costs or do we have time to do it.  This will be a great adventure.  We plan to make a grand time of it, doing things together.  Like going to see the battlefields, those cadillacs buried in the desert, the giant ball of string.  Maybe we'll follow dives and diners or do the rest of Route 66.  The whole USA is out there (and parts of Canada) for us to see.  But when we need space he promises to park us near a casino because that will occupy me for hours while he watches tv in the RV lol.

ATV camping with Scooter

Puppy dog.
As for Scooter; he loves the RV.  He always gets excited when he sees the trailer hooked up.  As long as he's with us, he's happy.  And just think of all the new things he gets to sniff and pee on. He'll be just fine.

I hope that answers the "Why".  As for the "No", I don't know what to say.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder?  It's not like we're going to another planet or another country.  We'll be around.  Isn't that what FaceTime, Facebook, texts and blogs are for? To keep in touch?  Absolutely.  Ain't modern gadgets great!
Can't wait to get this party started!

#3. Getting started

Good grief.  So we've made this life altering decision but where do we start?  All the stuff we have read says do it, just doesn't say how exactly.   LJ and I have been married 38 years this December.  To put it mildly, we have accumulated a lotttttt of crap.  All of it must go.  What do the kids get/want...what gets sold...what gets donated.  Just the thought is daunting.

So, in my infinite wisdom, I have decided to start with clothes.  There's only so much closet space in an RV so we will keep only what's necessary.  When we sold our last house I got rid of bags and bags of clothes.  LJ got rid of the stuff he never wears.  His donations fit in a medium suitcase we donated with room to spare.

If you have the space, aren't you supposed to fill it?

Me? I used several 30 gallon trash bags.  You'd think I was a clothes horse or something.  Among other items, 50 t-shirts!  Who the hell needs 50 t-shirts?  I am truly a T-shirts and jeans kinda gal, but seriously? 50?  Ridiculous. That's what happens when you have a closet the size of a small bedroom.  In reality, 40 of those 50 t-shirts I hadn't worn in years....damn shrinking moths.  I tend to keep clothes I like long after they no longer fit.  You know...just in case I lose weight. Yep...I'm a dreamer.  I was quite proud of myself for having the willingness and sense to purge.

So now it's time to do it again, only this time nothing gets stored for later.  We decided we will need warm and cold weather stuff.  Must be prepared for changing seasons!  Then we discussed it.  Isn't the whole point of this to travel?  To winter in warm places, summer in cool places?  And honestly..Do we really dress differently for warm and cold?  Nope.  Fashionistas we are not.  We pretty much wear the same stuff each week.  T-shirts, jeans.  So after having an honest discussion, this is our changing seasons plan:  Cold weather: sweater, sweatshirt, or coat ON.  Warm weather: sweater, sweatshirt, coat OFF.  Ingenious.

So let's get started.  Closet first.  Why is it so easy for men?  LJ says "I'll keep 3 pair of jeans, one work/play and two every day.  I'll keep these four T-shirts, three long sleeved shirts, two pullover collared shirts, one work shirt, one pair of dockers and my riding gear".  Done.   He can be so irritating.

I looked in our closet and thought...hmmmm.  I'll need regular clothes, semi nice clothes, dressy clothes, work clothes and casual wear. How am I going to fit it all in the trailer?  LJ just looks at me..."really?", he says.  "You wear the same four shirts every week.  You never dress up because you hate it.  You are a jeans, T-shirts and tennis shoes woman.  Keep one good 'dressy' shirt and move on.  You have a teeny closet in the RV".  Did I mention he can be irritating?

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.  I'll start with my t-shirts.  Oh look! I count 30 various colors and styles. Apparently I'm a slow learner based on the last move.  Fortunately these are not expensive.  I pick them up cheap at WallyWorld.   Only a third actually fit me now. Hmmm.  Apparently between the washing of the cheap shirts and those pesky shrinking moths that follow me around, the rest are too small.  So out they go.  I can always buy more.  Maybe having a dinky closet will break me of this obvious T-shirt fetish I have.  This isn't going to be that hard after all!

Same with jeans.  I have 7 pair of  "I'll lose weight someday" pants.  I think those acid wash ones might be out of style.  I've moved them three times.  Goodbye old friend.  Time to go.  I'll only hang on to my every day jeans and crop pants ( three each).  And dressy clothes? LJ's right.  I do hate dressing up.  It's just not me.  I will keep a couple blouses that go well with jeans.  If that's not dressy enough for the "occasion",  I'll be busy that day.  After all, we're living in an RV.  Who knows where we will be.  

Thank goodness I'm not a shoe person.  Two pair of tennies, one pair "looks good with jeans but not dressy" shoes, riding boots and some flip flops.  I'm good.  Same for LJ.

I don't wear a swimsuit for fear of being harpooned, so that's one less thing I need.  LJ will have his, along with some shorts for hot weather.  I have crop pants for that.  See...already making progress on my obsession with clothes I don't wear.

Socks, underwear are easy.  We have friends (who shall remain nameless)who, while on our motorcyle trip to Milwaukee (Harley 100th Anniversary), decided not to wash their undies.  Wear 'em, toss 'em, buy new ones.  Seemed a bit ridiculous to us at the time, but LJ just reminded me of it, which made me laugh.  Should we?  Naw, we're good.  The trailer has drawers for those things and I plan on having a washer dryer in the RV.  I will only take a couple pair of pajamas, though, which means parting with the other five pair...don't ask, but I've entered counseling.

As for Scooter... he's only got a few things, and they're small.  Besides...we are taking his closet with us.  It'll fit in the Toy Hauler garage just fine.

Repurposed cabinet LJ made in high school

So the clothing thing is settled.  Now on to the hard stuff.

'til next time.

#2 Decision made.... time to get on with it

So after a lot of talking, thinking and more talking, we have decided to go for it.  Why not? Life is too short and if not now when.  But where do we start?

We searched the Internet for articles on full time RVing.  One of our favorite books is "Motorhome and RV Retirement Living The Most Enjoyable and Least Expensive Way to Retire" -by Jerry Minchey.  It has lots of interesting info for the new guys...like us.  We got it on Amazon.  It's a quick read but informative.  There's a lot of information out there if you just look.

After a lot of thought, we've decided that to live full time in our trailer, we need a different one.  I want an additional half bath.  Sometimes at our age, waiting for someone to get out is not an option! We still need a garage (so a toy hauler) so LJ can take his atv.  There's a lot of areas across the country for him to explore.  And I need a useable kitchen because I am not eating out all the time.  The larger toy haulers give us abundant storage and the garage with it's own tv makes a great separate family room for some separation of space.  It also has extra beds in case someone wants to come see us while we are on the road!  So number one...sell the old one.  Find a new one.

We've decided to keep Nevada as our home base for now, so only a few things to take care of there.

The hard part is going to be getting rid of stuff.  I have gone from "I have to keep that" to "I want to keep that" to "get rid of it all".  I'll let you know how that goes.  More thinking and planning.  After all...what we keep has to be stored somewhere, so is it worth it?

Then of course..selling the house.  What fun...but oh the rewards.  Fortunately our house has gone up in value so in a way, our decision to buy was a blessing in disguise.  More $$$ for our adventure.

The transition from sticks and bricks to RV life will be stressful, but worth it.  Stay tuned for what we do to prepare.  We will share what we've learned.  I'll let you know how it goes!