The Downsizing Dream

Nov 19, 2015

3 min read

I have a dream

Picture this; it’s dark and getting late. There are remnants of marshmallow toasting paraphernalia lying to the side of the fire, and people have blankets over their shoulders to combat the cold at their backs, some are holding mugs of hot chocolate.

A group of diverse Christians have gathered, discussing what it means to follow Jesus; Praying for one another, sharing with one another, encouraging one another.

As the night deepens people start drifting towards their tiny houses, situated around the large property. Finally the small group remaining close their eyes and pray for a moment before slowly gathering their things, extinguishing the fire and getting ready for sleep.

This is basically a memory of my favourite camping trips, but what if it was possible to live like this, rather only doing it once a year on holiday?

Wouldn't it be AMAZING?

The first down-size

In January 2014 we moved to Whangarei and then in April moved to South Taranaki. This was so I could pursue a new career opportunity (which has worked out really well btw).

To move all our belongings from Nelson to Whangarei was going to cost around $7,000, and a similar amount if we put our stuff in storage and just moved it straight to South Taranaki later.

I was outraged!

We shifted to Whangarei with only what we could fit into our car. We sold or gave away literally everything we owned and it was incredibly freeing.

The inevitable up-size

While I think we were brave we did that downsizing with the knowledge that eventually we would replace everything we needed and wanted to be comfortable.

Now, almost 2 years later we have accumulated possessions again.

Some are necessities –but some are just things we picked up at second hand shops, like a sad little bookcase that doesn’t really fit books as the shelves are so narrow – this now sits in our lounge and accumulates newspapers, the mail, car keys, pot plants, miscellaneous vitamin bottles, jars, phone chargers etc.

Our 2 bedroom cottage is now filled with stuff and as our “stuff” increases, so does my stress level.

Every time I look at that bookshelf (see pic of offending bookshelf) I feel stressed, I see its clutter and untidiness and it reminds me of a life out of control, with no plan or purpose.

The more possessions we have, the more cleaning is required to keep them tidy and neat, to keep them in good repair, and the more pressure I feel.

I have always been drawn to minimalism. I see pictures of white rooms with one piece of furniture and I feel peace knowing that there is nothing out of place, knowing that that one piece of furniture is exceptional quality and it is all the room needs.

I know this isn’t for everyone, and I would not expect everyone to feel the same way I do. But the older I get the more I understand Epictetus when he said;

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants”.

As I look towards that dream of a tiny house community and people gathering to discuss spiritual matters I realise that by gathering possessions I am moving further away from that dream.

e-course

I want to lighten the load of my possesions so I signed up for an e-course on downsizing, in the hopes that it would help me gain control of my possessions and the clutter in our house.

One of my fellow downsizers said “I see the disconnect between my values and how I actually live” and that really resonated with me.

As part of our first assignment we were encouraged to write a personal manifesto on why we wanted to downsize.

My manifesto

I want to have a minimalistic lifestyle, with everything I need and nothing I don’t.

I want to be proud of the house I live in and to be able to look at all of it without feeling stressed.

I want to be free to connect with nature and with people, to focus on building character rather than building finances.

I want to spend my time learning and growing and enjoying the natural world, not stressing about a mess of clutter.

I want to have an abundance of the things money can’t buy like health, friendships and experiences, but with enough money in the bank to cover unforeseen circumstances and to be able to give generously to those in need.

I want an abundance of living, not just of stuff and money.

Finally I am starting to believe as Bertrand Russell said:

“It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly “