Every time I move, I am forced to think about STUFF. My stuff. All the stuff I have to pack up and tote to my next home.
Although I consider myself to be a thrower-awayer and not a keeper when it comes to things like receipts, knick-knacks, ill-fitting clothes, and things I don’t truly love, there’s still just so much stuff.
Minimalism seems to have become a trend over the past five years or so. I’m always seeing videos and shows about people who pared down everything they had in order to have a perfectly curated capsule wardrobe or to move into a “tiny house”.
Now that I’m a freelancer, I read all the time about digital nomads – people whose jobs are entirely internet-based so they can and do work wherever they want.
In addition, I dated a guy once upon a time who was a minimalist in every sense of the word. He had a mattress on the floor in lieu of a bed, a pair of meditation cushions instead of a couch (???), and like two pairs of shoes.
Even though it was unusual, I also found it admirable and considered whether I could be as much of a minimalist as he was. I’d often wonder whether it was materialistic of me to be so attached to “things” when other people seemed to thrive with just the bare minimum.
For example, I love to travel, but packing and unpacking stresses me out because it means that all my stuff is in disarray; not neatly put away as I like it. And living out of a hotel room is nice at first, but after a while I crave all the creature comforts of my own home.
It took me a while, but I finally realized that it’s not materialistic to want to feather my nest and keep beautiful and comforting things around me. It just makes me ME.
Everything I put in my apartment to make it my own has a story. When I look at each item, I remember how I saved up to buy it, how I found it for a song at a thrift store, how my brother gave it to me as a gift, how I found it discarded in an abandoned closet at my old workplace, or how I picked it out of someone’s trash (#shameless). And when I see it all put together, it just feels like home. It’s warm, it’s comforting, and most of all, it’s mine.
So rock on, digital nomads, capsule wardrobe-havers, and tiny house owners. You are badasses and I’ll keep watching YouTube videos about you. But as for me, I’ll be here with my cat on the IKEA couch I bought for $75 on Craigslist covered in one of my seven fuzzy blankets, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Nicole escat says
I feel you. I love your story! This makes me have an idea. I really need to organize my things too.
Nicole Escat says
I hate moving, but traveling is something really I want. But most of the time, I miss everything in my house especially when I’m not home 2 days and up.
Cassie Tucker says
Sometimes having that stuff just makes you feel like you doesn’t it? I have so much stuff that I would hate having to move to another place but I couldn’t let it go either.
Kelly says
I have way too many “things”. I would really benefit from doing a move and forcing myself to go through it.
Alissa Apel says
I need to go through and eliminate things. I keep too much stuff!
Janella Panchamsingh says
To be honest I didn’t even know digital nomads existed I guess I need to read up on that little more
Linda says
Hi Chanelle!
I met your mom not too long ago and was instantly charmed by her. Totally align with your viewpoints on wanting a home base.
MJ. L says
Love this!! I love the comfort of my home and I do enjoy traveling but to a minimum.
Jenni says
I love traveling but I am far from being a digital nomad! I love being comfortable in my own home and as much as possible I love bringing lighter baggage when traveling.
Amanda says
Wonderful thoughts! I think there is a small number of people who do not need a house in the classical sense. But most people want to have their own cozy space, where you are well and calm and where the cat is waiting for you 🙂
Our family world says
I really like this post. This is very me. But go home at the end of travel is so feel relaxing. Especially when you lie in your bed. Lol
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I love this post! You’re not alone, I am far from being a digital nomad too! I love traveling but I also love the comfort of my own home!
Marielle Altenor says
Love it! Lol, I’m nowhere close to ever becoming a digital nomad. Not sure that I want to either. But I do have a slight hoarding problem that I need to get under control. Usually, a few episode of Hoarders will get me in the mood to purge useless crap.
Chanelle says
LOL watching that show is like shock therapy.
Kathy says
I don’t care to much for moving around like that either. I do enjoy traveling though. I just wish I could do a lot more traveling.
Louise Bishop says
Ever since my family had a house fire, living small became an automatic thing. I realized that stuff doesn’t hold the memories, we do.
Felicia says
I get what you are saying. I feel like I have to keep things simple just for my own sanity.
Tami Qualls says
While I would like to own less stuff, I could never be as minimal as the guy you mentioned. I am a lot like you it sounds like.
Meagan says
I am the same way. I would prefer extra blankets if one of the kids spills something anyway.
Claudia Krusch says
I need to do a purge for spring cleaning. We had a busy winter and we have collected a lot of extra things we can donate.
Lisa Bristol says
I could never be a minimalist. I love to collect fun thrift store finds. I love to organize and have a big yard sale every summer.
Myrah Duque says
I love throwing away so MUCH, that I recently threw away the box to my new camera with all the accessories inside! I was so desperate to get rid of the box, that I thought I had taken everything out! THAT teaches me a lesson!
Lisa Collins says
LOL! I’m purging right now and that feels really good, but tiny house living with four kids is not my idea of fun, nor digital nomad!
Amy says
There is no shame in your game. It doesn’t make you a bad person to treasure your stuff. You seem to have a good balance going here.
Chrysa Duran says
I am totally not sure that I could be a minimalist. It is so tough for me to throw things out that may at some point have use. I applaud those that can do this!
Jamie says
I also enjoy reading and watching people live minimalist lives, but it is not for me. I am a crafter and I think crafters are by nature supply hoarders, LOL. I also love lots of SPACE so could never do a tiny house!
Chanelle says
Lol @ craft supply hoarding! I love space too, otherwise I get cabin fever.
Reesa Lewandowski says
I really have a hard time being away from my home for too long. Even two-three days tops is hard for me!
Pam says
I don’t think I could do it either. I love traveling and I do it a lot, but I also love coming home at the end of a trip.
Meagan says
I love your attitude! Sometimes I think though I get a little too sentimental with my things.
CourtneyLynne says
Hahaha I’m with you on this one!!! I have so many friends all about owning as little as possible. It’s like this huge goal to see who can own the least in the trendiest way. I’m not a hoarder by any means but I just like my pretty shiny things around me! Those things make me happy lol…
Neely Moldovan says
I love everything about this post. Its exactly how I feel too!
Kristina Paché Ferency says
I love traveling and yes after a while I want to come back home. With four kiddos I can’t travel as much as I would like but we want to plan yearly family trips. I hope when I retire to travel a lot and come back home to something small for hubby and I and it’ll be perfect!
Divya says
This makes my heart smile because it’s so similar to how I view my “things.”
If you’ve ever read that book about the konmari method, one thing she writes about is how you should hold up an item and ask yourself if it is currently bringing you joy.
Every one of my items does that for me!
Chanelle says
I’m familiar with it but haven’t read the book – I think I’m not far off from that, but could probably ditch a few of my extra t-shirts. 🙂
Shannon Gurnee says
I totally know how you feel! I feel the same way about everything in our home having some sort of story behind it.
Diana Rambles says
We bring so much with us when we travel. We have a smaller vehicle now, so we’ve had to cut back.
Jeanette says
I’m the same way. I would not say I throw out everything but I definitely don’t like clutter. When I travel I try to bring it down to the bare minimum but sometimes I pack more clothes than what I need
Mandee says
I’m with you! I could never do it! I have so much stuff! I definitely could afford to thin out some of what we have, but with a family of 7, it’s just hard!
Michelle Waller says
I am the exact same as you!! Everything I own has a story, and it just makes me who I am. Yeah I could declutter a little bit, maybe get rid of a few things and be a minimalist, but it would make me, well, not me.
robin Rue says
Same here. My belongings are all meaningful to me and I would rather have clutter than get rid of them.
Chere Coen says
People always tell me to purge, to declutter for happiness, but I love the things I have gathered as well. Digital nomadness does sound enticing, however.
Chanelle says
Yes it does. I guess I’ll just admire from afar 🙂
Jennifer says
OMG, I could SO do this for the rest of my life. I love to travel, and if I could do all my work while constantly traveling the world, that would be my dream.
Chanelle says
It really does sound like fun!
robin Rue says
Me neither. I have so much clutter and NO motivation to minimize it right now. I am happy in my big old mess of a house.
Bill Sweeney says
I am by no means a nomad. My family loves to travel, and we’ve been all over the world. I always like to come back to home base, though.
Chanelle says
Same here!
Jen Rattie says
Moving around all the time sounds hideous! I like to go on vacations, but I would never want to be dragging my entire world around with me all the time. Talk about stress!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I couldn’t do it either. I really do not like to move. I enjoy traveling, but I don’t want to have to bring everything with me.