Minimalist living

We are in Oregon. Not for a short visit, but for the entire summer. Originally we decided to come so that I could be at my mom’s beckon call while she went through chemotherapy. However, she decided to do some alternative treatments, so instead of caring for an invalid, she’s kicking my trash on long power walks every morning. And baking bread for me and babysitting my kids so I can run errands and flit about the country.

Anyhow, when we were getting ready to leave I told the kids they would be packing in 12 ½ gallon tubs, 2 kids to one tub. And they would get one bag for the car trip. The point being, we didn’t bring much with us.

We are staying in a 3 bed, 2 bath home on a quiet cul-de-sac with a nice little fenced yard and a fish pond. I found a bookcase, table, some chairs and bar stools (for $10 total) at various garage sales, one brother gave us a couch and fan, another brother gave us a desk and rocking chair, and we are borrowing a vacuum, one big dresser, 3 little dressers, bedding, a queen bed, a port-a-crib and sleeping pads from my parents. That is the sum total our household items.

Our kitchen-ware includes a pot, pan, sauce pan, cookie sheet, 9 x 13 pan, rice cooker, blender, toaster, mixer, 7 cups, 18 plates (6 each in three different sizes), 5 kid bowls, 6 serving bowls, 2 spoons, 2 forks* and 2 butter paddles, all borrowed from my mother’s kitchen. I have a couple of sharp knives, cheese cutter/grater, pizza cutter, can opener and some small cutting boards.

I’m probably forgetting some small thing, but you get the picture: I’m living with much less than I am used to.  But here’s the thing—I LOVE it! I mean, I do need to get some more forks, and a crock pot would be nice, but really, I’m just fine. The kids and I cleaned the house last week and we were completely finished—down to vacuuming the floors—in 40 minutes. Seriously? A deep clean that takes 40 minutes? I’m in!

As far as time goes, I seem to have a lot more of it with less stuff. I’ve also freed up quite a bit of mental space since we decided not to get the internet at our “summer house” (as Lincoln calls it). We can take our laptops to my parents place, but since I always have a time limit when I can sit around and do ‘nothing’, I am very particular with how I use my internet time.

Between Mom, Brett, me and garage sales, everyone in the family has a bike to ride/trailer to ride in. The other day Elise and Stephen rode home from the farm, which is about 4 miles away. My mom came with the fam on a 3.5 mile hike up Bald Hill one Saturday, and we have more hikes and bike rides planned.

When we get home I plan on sorting (again) with an even heavier hand than I usually do. For 3 months we’ll prove that we can live with less, and that is a lesson I’m going to carry home.

*since I wrote this a couple of weeks ago my wonderful grandpa supplied us with more silverware. :)