…to find it weird to have so little to show for my time yet feel incredibly liberated!

[NellesVilla]

Hello,

Due to mental health issues, I’ve had many a stop start working life and have lived all over, mainly house sitting my way through my 30s to save on bills and to hopefully save up to buy a little home one day to live in with my wonderful dog.

I’ve also lived in my car before (by choice, and it was fine).

I’ve realised , I don’t really own any furniture, well nothing of substance. I literally own a table, a beanbag and a stool (one you sit on ha ha!). Then, bedding, cushions, clothes and art hobby stuff. This is all at my delightful mother’s house which she says she’ll chuck when she downsizes soon. Tbf, I don’t really care.

That’s it really, and isn’t that odd for someone on their late 30s? Not in a bad/sad way, but really liberating. I don’t want any crap to be fair and have always been on the minimalist side; love the thought of packing my car and driving off into the sunset with no ties.

Have any of you any experience with this? And if you think it sounds awful or weird , why? I do find it weird I’m some ways but I honestly don’t know why because I’ve never had my own home and when you house sit obviously it’s already furnished.

Just me musing my so called life on a Sunday night. As a kid I thought I’d be maybe coupled up at this age with a sensible career and won home. Well, no!

Excuse the typos- am tired!

As you allude to, if you reframe this, and call yourself a minimalist, you have absolutely aced life!

if you go one further and say that philosophically you don’t believe in home / land ownership, you’ve done even better!

Its only by the narrow modern western standards that you might be found wanting.

I hope your MH is better and you’re happy.

Not weird at all, kind of cool actually! Sorry to hear about your m h 💐

You do you. Isn't what I want - I love having things around me of / from / reminders of the kids and family life such as books, pictures, photos, etc - but I can see how others may prefer not to have those things.

You sound amazing 😊

Each to their own as long as you're happy. I'm all for being minimalist. My house is very minimal as is my wardrobe etc. After growing up in a cluttered house, it's what I need.

But I do also like having things that are special and specifically mine (again goes back to chaotic environment I grew up in).

Sounds wonderful :) reminds me of Eckhart Tolle’s life

During one of our many house moves we had to put almost all our stuff into a storage unit for a few weeks. It felt great when it was in there and I realised that everything I needed for about four weeks was in my car!

It’s amazing how little we need isn’t it, @VioletInsolence- keeps things so calm and simple ☮️

Sounds like you own a car?

This is so lovely and so true! Xx

It sounds a liberating way of life.
What about people though -
You mention your mother- what about friends and other family?

The older I’m getting the more I have the urge to minimise the number of possessions and simplify my life.

I’m in a Facebook group with a lot of older women who following divorce or becoming widows, now live (by choice) pretty much full time in campervans or motorhomes, and a lot of the time I think it sounds like bliss!

Have you seen Nomadland?

Sounds fab, @ZaraSizeMedium- in the US it’s v common to live like that and it’s ‘accepted’ as standard in some places like LA where housing is unaffordable to many or people want to save dosh.

I’m naturally a solitary/loner/lone wolf type rather than a free spirit, @KylieCharlene , but I seem to have made a nice and diverse group of friends over the years. All women from a range of ages, backgrounds and cultures/some of who also have unorthodox living situations.

And @Stopsnowing , it’s actually
on my Amazon rent list- as an ex actress, I’m a huge fan of the excellent Frances McDormand.

And @MeanMrMustardSeed and @TastelessMiserySand (fab usernames btw), both of your posts are lovely 🥰