We are getting ready to move again, and as we prepare for our next adventure, we are getting rid of more stuff. And it feels amazing. Like so damn good. We got rid of a lot of things when we moved from our last house and I have actually continued to lighten our load over the last 4 years, but now, before this next move, I’m taking it even further. I feel lighter and more alive with each item I part with. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m serious, I feel so good having less and less stuff crowding my house. And let me be frank, my house was honestly not very crowded before getting ready for this move. We have never had a ton of furniture, but home decor, art work, knick knacks, plants, etc. were more my thing. Our home isn’t super large, and with kids and animals running around, having space to move around has been important.

Seven years ago when we moved into our first home in Alabama, we didn’t have much. We bought this big house and spent 3 years, and lots of money, filling it up. With lots of stuff that it “needed” to look good and not sad with sparsely furnished rooms that we probably didn’t need in the first place. But growing up in this fine country, we are told that bigger is better and so we were excited with our big house. We had a huge backyard for the kids to play, dogs to run and to throw parties, barbecues and fires, and we used it. We were always out back playing. However, when it came to the inside, I felt like I was forever cleaning this huge place. I felt like a full-time maid. It was exhausting. It took forever to clean the floors and dust, and hairballs just seemed to pop up in every damn corner, and there were a lot of freaking corners. When it came time to move after 3 years, I was totally ready for a smaller house. I was completely over the big house dream. Nope, not my jam. Could care less. Was ready for less. Because I had a feeling that less was going to be a lot more when it came to living the life I really wanted.

Our next house, the one we are getting ready to leave in a few weeks, is the sweetest southern cottage style house in Coastal Georgia. I simple adore it. We lost about 600 square feet and a 2 car garage when we moved into this one. And just to give you an idea of how much crap we had, for the 3 years we lived in the AL house with the 2 car garage, we never once were able to park either of our cars into it. You want to know why? It was full of stuff! Completely ridiculous, right? I don’t even know what all was in there, but it was full and always a big mess. More stuff, more mess, and that’s the truth! So when we moved here, we got rid of a lot because we now have only a shed and a carport. I was actually really happy to find that out when we moved, because I was beginning to feel that minimalist itch begin to take hold. I was beginning to see that all our belongings did not make us happy or better people or more liked. It was just more stuff. I actually began to feel heavy with so much around me and have spent the last 4 years here, getting happier and happier with having less and less. My spirit feels lighter. I feel more freedom. There is less clutter to organize because there just isn’t that much around. Looking around and seeing cleared surfaces and more space just allows me to breathe more deeply and relax. Clutter makes me nuts, so if we have less, there is less clutter. Now, of course, getting rid of stuff is hard because we get seriously attached to our shit, and that’s totally normal. I have a hard time getting rid of some things, but I know that the items don’t bring me joy, the memories do. And those memories are in my mind, and when that fails me, there’s always my hard drives with over 50,000 photos of the last 9 years. Thank God for cameras and iPhones and facebook to capture it all!

So in the last 7 years in which we’ve been homeowners, I’ve gone through a rather big shift when it comes to what we should own and what will take up space in our precious lives. I was so proud of our large Alabama house, but the energy to fill it up and keep it up, wore me out and the thrill was not long lasting. Our current home has been perfect for us, although my boys would love a bigger house and they tell me this all the time. Stinkers. I tell them this house has enough space for us and we have all that we need. And, since I am the one who cleans it, I am fine with the size and do not wish to go larger next time around. They argue me on this, but they won’t win. I tell them I like us being close. Smaller houses bring families together. At least I believe that. That, and love, of course.

So what next? Well, from what the hubby has told me, we will most likely be getting a 3 bedroom duplex in a military housing community. We may lose another 300 square feet. Good, I say. Let’s get rid of more shit and live more. Since we are moving across the country to California, all I can think about is all the things we will do and see and experience while we are there. This is our time for travel and exploring. The house we will live in is the least of my concerns. We will only live in CA for about a year, so I want to make the most of our time there. I plan to be out of the house as much as possible, which is a mighty bold statement for this self-proclaimed introvert and homebody. I love my current home immensely, but I feel ready to get out more and explore new places. The Army has kept us in the South for quite a few years now, so I am eager to drive cross-country with my family and experience life on the west coast. This is truly a dream come true. My heart is bursting with gratitude. Army life has definitely been challenging, but this new adventure has me pumped and ready to go. The Gables finally get to see some more of this beautiful country. Yay!

I know one day we will be on the search for our forever home, and we will find something that suits us. It will be not be big and it will have a porch for hanging plants and rocking chairs, and that’s all I know. I crave simplicity more than ever the older I get. Simplicity. Space. Adventure. Fun. Laughter. Beauty. Nature. Love. Creativity. Family. These are signs of wealth and abundance for me today. Not the size of my house. This is just my personal experience and preference. I have nothing against you or your lovely large home. If it brings you joy, then that is what matters. We are all different and want different things and that is 100% fine and good. Find what makes your heart sing and do that.

Life is short. Do what lights you up!