Over the past two years, I have traveled to 16 different countries. I've experienced different styles of living, and have come to the realization that I have too much. I have too many books that I don't read. I have too many clothes that I don't wear. I have too many sports items for sports I haven't played in years. I have two wet suits, one never used, and one used once over a year ago. I have a trombone that I haven't touched in five years. I have a paintball uniform, hopper, and mask that I have never used. I have motorcycle equipment that I didn't use when I had a motorcycle...and beyond that, the bike was sold a year ago.
None of this is needed. It's all a waste. Why? Why do we accumulate such things, and not see the problem it creates? If you just carried a notebook with you for one month, and wrote down everything you used that month, how would it compare to a list of all the items you own? Ten percent? 20? 5?
When I travel, I carry one bookbag. It holds all my clothes, toiletries, electronics, shoes, etc. Everything I NEED fits in that bag. In all honesty, I actually took TOO MUCH on my 6 week trip around Europe. All that I left behind in my house is useless and wasteful. I live in a house too big for me. It's 768 sq ft, and for me... that's just too big. I eat, sleep, and hang out on my bed when I am home. My dogs actually use more space than I do! I don't cook, unless you count french fries, hotdogs, macaroni, or microwave broccoli as "cooking." I mean, realistically, I probably use twenty percent of my actual home's square footage. That includes the space that the shower and toilet take up as well!
I'm making a change. I want to get rid of a lot of my stuff, and live more simply. I'm building a house, on a trailer. That's right. It will be a whopping 130 square feet. It will be constructed on an 18 ft trailer. It includes a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a small porch, with a queen size loft. The entire thing is 8'x18'. My current home is 24'x32'. My new house will be less than 1/5 of my current home.
I've created this blog to keep track of the construction process, as well as my progress. I want to share this experience with all of you. I want you to think about what you have, and what you think you need... and just figure out for yourselves how much of it is really necessary. I am not against buying things that you want, or having a lot of stuff that you don't need, just because you have the room for it all... I just want my friends, family, and everyone I meet to know that those things are not "needs." Air conditioning, heating, washers, dryers... Living with that stuff is great... but living without it isn't the end of the world! If you can be content with little... then you will find yourself constantly thankful for the extras.
"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."
- Gustave Flaubert
"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."
- Gustave Flaubert
