Decisions

So take a look around at your house and belongings.  If you had to run out of the house and just take a few essential things (not counting people or animals), what could you not live without?  Or alternately and more realistically, if you had to fit everything you were going to take with you in the back of small car??

What would it be?  These are some of the decisions I am wrestling with.  The yard sale last weekend made it a bit easier, in that I sold at least 3/4 of my possessions and all of my furniture except for 2 rocking chairs.  And most of what I have left will go in storage - books, cds, movies, photographs and some keepsakes that I didn't want to give up.  Mostly I'll be traveling with a lot electronic gadgets (to store books, cds, etc), some clothes, a vacuum cleaner, a few reference books for work, some files that I'll need access to, a yoga mat, a notebook of favorite recipes (if I don't get them loaded on the computer before I go), a case with my favorite dvds, a few kitchen gadgets and my new favorite toy, a Vitamix.  That's what I'm down to, plus or minus a few things.  The rest I can live without.

So....other decisions... I'm decided to base out of my old stomping grounds in Rock Hill, SC.  I've decided to let go of a lot of limiting beliefs.  I've decided to focus more on relationships with people than on possessions.  I've decided to leave the dogs with the Ex.  That's probably THE hardest decision that I've made in all this.  I've never been without a dog for my entire life - with the exception of a few years at college - but my dog was still at home for me to visit.  But it's too hard on the dogs to travel like I will be doing; and I need this time right now to concentrate on myself.  I'm taking a deep breath and leaping.  No telling where I'll land, but I'm sure as hell gonna enjoy the journey.

Breathing and stretching,
Jules

Getting ready to leave

Shedding a past life isn't easy.  I've been saying goodbye to a lot lately.  So if you're following my story, here's the plan.  In three weeks, I'm quitting my job, moving a small batch of things to storage in Rock Hill, South Carolina and hitting the road.  I'm taking three weeks between jobs:  one week to visit extended family in Columbia, SC, Roanoke, VA and near Washington, DC; one week of blissful, hysterically fun vacation with my sisters in Asheville, NC; and then....one week to drive to wherever my first work destination will be.  Hopefully I'll find out more about that soon.  I'll keep you posted. ;)  You see, I'm going to travel for work - as an echo tech (cardiac sonographer).  I'll be working for staffing agencies around the United States taking 3 month assignments in various places.  I'm really, really excited about it.  But at the moment, I'm in the getting ready stage....

This past Saturday I held a moving sale and got rid of most of my furniture and possessions.  I've encountered a lot of different reactions to this.  Most people are shocked.  I've heard comments that range the gamut:  "But you'll have to start all over when you stop traveling", "Go for it, honey", "Are you sure you want to get rid of this?", "Where will you sleep?  On the couch, OMG!", "I don't think I could do it.", "I wish I could get rid of everything and start over.", "I'm envious", "You're brave" and much more.

Here's my take on it:  I need a fresh start after my divorce.  The majority of my possessions held memories of my marriage that I'd rather put behind me.  I can't afford to store everything; and a lot of things won't store well - since I don't know how long I'll be on the road.  I am in a process of great change.  I may not like the same things or same designs later.  Plus how cool will it be to maybe pick up things from my travels?  Yeah, I got that chair when I lived in the wilds of Wyoming. LOL  And finally, possessions are just things.  I have come to realize that what truly matters most is not what you own, or how put together your house is, or what label or designer, etc - but who loves you, the quality of your relationships, the strength of your friendships, your family, and your experiences.  That is what lasts.  That is what will sustain you when the rest of the world is falling down around your ears, and you are hanging by the last tiny bit of willpower that remains inside of you.

So stay posted... there'll be more of the getting ready stuff soon.