OBL (One bag living)

[Ultralight]

I will periodically jot down on a sheet of paper the ways I have simplified my life and how these things have given me more joy or reduced stress or given me more time with Harlan. This helps me to keep my perspective when I think I am moving too slow or getting down on myself about having 158 things instead of the mythical 100 or how I still drive a car and such.

It is good to recount your victories from time to time; breath easy and enjoy the moment. Then when you get back to simplifying more, if you want, you might find yourself re-inspired!

[freshstart]

It is good to recount your victories from time to time; breath easy and enjoy the moment. Then when you get back to simplifying more, if you want, you might find yourself re-inspired!

more good advice, thanks!

the funny thing is becoming ill has in some ways simplified my life. I cannot drive. I basically only leave the house for medical reasons. I'm not spending much money because I am not out and about and tempted to spend. I am no longer wasting time on people who just bring me down because they won't be hurt if I say, "can't see you today, it's a bad day." I rarely use FB because I just cannot keep up and just use it to get messages from friends and message them back. Last month, after an MD appt, I went into a discount store to get a trash can, I realized that was my first shopping trip since January! I spent $7, lol. I am living on so much less, but I need less so it's balancing out ok-ish. I cannot put money in retirement vehicles anymore and that feels so wrong after so many years of doing that. And I should not be doing that anyway, I need a big EF for possible high medical bills. I am accepting help with some costs from my parents, like some groceries. After a few trips, I give my cc to my dad and tell him it's my turn to pay. I don't like that, I hate accepting help but they can do it and want to. I don't have to buy work clothes, don't even know office politics anymore. I miss the actual work, but I'll find something to do to serve once I get better.

It is very strange that dealing with 2 medically complex things that have completely changed my life and not for the better, I can see ways in which dealing with this has changed who I am and that might not be a bad thing

[Ultralight]

more good advice, thanks!

the funny thing is becoming ill has in some ways simplified my life. I cannot drive. I basically only leave the house for medical reasons. I'm not spending much money because I am not out and about and tempted to spend. I am no longer wasting time on people who just bring me down because they won't be hurt if I say, "can't see you today, it's a bad day." I rarely use FB because I just cannot keep up and just use it to get messages from friends and message them back. Last month, after an MD appt, I went into a discount store to get a trash can, I realized that was my first shopping trip since January! I spent $7, lol. I am living on so much less, but I need less so it's balancing out ok-ish. I cannot put money in retirement vehicles anymore and that feels so wrong after so many years of doing that. And I should not be doing that anyway, I need a big EF for possible high medical bills. I am accepting help with some costs from my parents, like some groceries. After a few trips, I give my cc to my dad and tell him it's my turn to pay. I don't like that, I hate accepting help but they can do it and want to. I don't have to buy work clothes, don't even know office politics anymore. I miss the actual work, but I'll find something to do to serve once I get better.

It is very strange that dealing with 2 medically complex things that have completely changed my life and not for the better, I can see ways in which dealing with this has changed who I am and that might not be a bad thing

Sincerely I hope you can get well.

Someone once said "life is a series of meaningless tragedy and near escapes."

I hope this all can be a near escape for you eventually.

[Teacher Terry]

I really hope you are able to get better too & find a new purpose for your life. One of the hardest things to deal with is the loss of a career we love & our physical abilities.

[freshstart]

thank you both. It's getting a little easier on the career front because I can acknowledge 100% that I cannot begin to do my job. There's no more questioning on my part, I've stopped irritating my doctors by asking when they think I can go back, my primary is very blunt and kept repeating, "never, get SSDI" and 9 months later, I finally believed I would not be going back in "one more month" and I applied for SSDI. In a way, she pushed me into reality, and I am no longer pushing so hard to go back. Letting go of that pressure was a huge relief. I miss it, but I'm realistic-ish now.

I also tend to ramble and get way off topic, kind of like now! sorry!

[Ultralight]

thank you both. It's getting a little easier on the career front because I can acknowledge 100% that I cannot begin to do my job. There's no more questioning on my part, I've stopped irritating my doctors by asking when they think I can go back, my primary is very blunt and kept repeating, "never, get SSDI" and 9 months later, I finally believed I would not be going back in "one more month" and I applied for SSDI. In a way, she pushed me into reality, and I am no longer pushing so hard to go back. Letting go of that pressure was a huge relief. I miss it, but I'm realistic-ish now.

I also tend to ramble and get way off topic, kind of like now! sorry!

Letting go of some things can be an amazing relief.

[shadowmoss]

Here is the blog from a few years ago where a backing travel writer took the challenge from Scottevest (who makes multiple -pocket travel clothing) to travel around the world with only what fit in the pockets of his Scottevest clothing. The guy is entertaining, and the blog was fun to follow. So, not even one bag!

http://www.rtwblog.com/

[Chicken lady]

Went to visit dd for the weekend. Took one bag - change of t-shirt and underwear, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair clip, hairbrush, essential cards (credit, ID...) phone, iPad and chargers, pack of gum, notebook, pen, two pencils, and the book I'm taking notes from for class. Really wished I had a sweater.

[pony mom]

A friend asked me to join her for a trip to a huge balloon festival in NY state next weekend. I'm tempted to go just to see how little I'd pack! It's only overnight and I think all my stuff would fit in my LL Bean medium tote.

[Ultralight]

As I mentioned in another thread, I have right-sized my life to be able to fit everything I own (when I get a new mattress and a bike rack) in and/or on my car.

Doing this made me realize just how difficult it would be to live out of just one bag/suitcase/backpack or whatever. Beyond the obvious things like:
-You probably would not live this way in the long term anyway
-You would probably have to use a fair amount of other people's stuff

I just think one's life would have to be so meticulously manicured and right-sized. It would take quite an initial investment of time and planning and possibly other resources to go OBL. But it might also take massive sacrifice...

What I have noticed is that there are phases to right-sizing.

Phase 1: Thinking it over and being intimidated or turned-off in some way by the task ahead.

Phase 2. Something happens and you are willing to take on the big task!

Phase 3: It starts to come easy. You can get rid of stuff without much concern because you are more skilled at deciphering what you need/love and what you don't.

Phase 4: You get to a "good place" and you just enjoy a life without much clutter or annoyances from "stuff." (Note: Many people stop here, and for good reason!)

Phase 5: You still kinda know you have things you don't really want or need but the issues surrounding them are murky for one reason or another -- "just in case" or sentimental reasons or you think you're going to find the time eventually and so on. So you struggle with these items...

It seems as though stage 5 feels a lot like stage 1.

I am moving back and forth across the border of stages 4 and 5.