Wednesday, May 20, 2009

My List of 100 Things

I recently saw a list like this on a blog about another couple who are downsizing their possessions too. Jeff and I will be calculating the total square footage available for storage before we move into our cottage but I thought this would be a great exercise to try before that.

Here is my tentative list of things that I'll keep:

jeans
jeans
dressy pants
shirt
shirt
shirt
shirt
shirt
dressy top
dressy top
cowboy boots
workboots
sneakers
dressy shoes
bike/helmet
bike shoes
coat (black leather)
coat (brown suede)
raincoat
fedora
purse
backpack
scarf
gloves
battery powered clock
cup
bowl
plate
silverware
mixing bowl
mixing bowl
manual juicer
manual veg. slicer
decent kitchen knife
spice grinder
antique speckle ware frypan
small wooden box from Jeff
handmade box from Kirk
mp3/headphones
toothbrush
digital camera/charger
cell phone/charger
rechargeable batteries/charger
bath towel
bed pillow
sunglasses
reusable shopping bag
reusable shopping bag
antique telephone
portable victrola
record
record
record
record
record
record
watch
sewing machine
roll of quilting bat
1 box fabric
1 box fabric
1 box fabric
deck of cards/cribbage board
1 toolbox
1 toolbox
book
book
book
book
book
book
book
book
book
book
#75+ undecided so far

8 comments:

  1. I remember seeing lists like this before. If I remember right, I thought a saw something that Dee Williams has a limit of 300 items and keeps a close count of everything. I didn't downsize this much, but I did recently get rid of a lot of stuff I didn't need so it's a good start. Good luck on finalizing your list.
    ~Dan

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  2. It may not be as romantic as the real thing - but I plan on downsizing books by an ebook reader. But to me I would far sacrifice my reading experience than trees, and besides you can get way more than 100 books on a reader. I thought I could get my reader bound like a book to make it feel like one.. Anyway good luck on this - it is something I will do in the short term.

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  3. I really like the idea of an eReader, I just haven't found one I like yet.

    I haven't made a list like Arlene has yet. I do know, the only books I'm keeping are going to be reference books. I don't need to keep my old copies of "The Martian Cronicals", "The Dubliners" or "The Inferno".

    Arlene is very good at using libraries, and I have always just bought books, but I'm going to start following in her foot steps.

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  4. Sewing machine? Quilt batting? Okay, now you have my attention Arlene because as much as I love the idea of these little houses just don't know how well I'd do without space for sewing! I've been watching your blog since the second post but you can bet I'll be watching a little more closely now;)

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  5. Elementsofmylife,

    I love to create welded sculpture but gave up my studio space a while back to redirect the funds toward more life changing things like building this house and more travel. If you ask me: life without art isn't much of a Life... so I will be bringing my fabric art into the tiny cottage. Uh, how much room can fabric take up?

    I really enjoyed your posts on authenticity (I'm there right now), the positives from having food allergies (loved your list; I've eaten mostly raw since last August and can now breathe) and the one called dare to change (I'll look for the book your recommend).

    AND I send my congratulations on your choice to do the Waldorf summer intensive. I don't know much about the program but you seem very excited to be on your way toward working at a job that you'll truly enjoy. I'll check back to see how it's going and to offer words of encouragement if you need them.

    Take care (and keep up the great blogging),
    Arlene

    PS- If we fit into the theme of your blogroll, please feel free to add us.

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  6. Arlene! I was a little slow in noticing the update to my comment; thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate all your encouragement and am really enjoying your posts. While I don't expect a venture into raw anytime soon I look forward to more convincing arguments from you and some more progress on the house:)

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  7. I think you're pretty gutsy considering individual records and such as single items. I would be tempted far to much to cheat with things like "Laptop Kit" consisting of Laptop, Bag, and the dozen or so cables and accessories that I keep with it, or my CD Collection as a single item. Maybe I would be somewhat more honest and only consider CD Wallets (I currently use 2, each holding 400 discs).

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  8. I have to dive hard in to my books when I move in to my tiny house. It is so hard to let books go!!! I only hae great books!! This is by far the hardest thing for me do downzise.

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