Don't Buy A Couch

One of the video blogs I check out has a great saying of "Don't buy a couch". The thinking is that if you buy a couch you need a place to put it. Once you have that couch in a place, it will need end tables, coffee table, lamp, etc. Now that space needs a house around it and on it goes into the rabbit hole. You get the idea. If you don't start down the path of possessions, you can be free from the shackles that comes with this lifestyle. If the internet and alternative means of making a living were around when I was younger my path would have taken a very different track.

Our family recently moved my mother-in-law to assisted living. I would under no circumstances say my mother-in-law was into possessions but she sure had a lot of stuff to move! Boxes upon boxes and furniture given to her children and grandchildren. In spite of this, we still filled up her storage locker. The treasures we accumulate during our lives become something someone is going to be throwing out after we die.

My goal this year is to take a strong inventory of what Ruth and I (Drew) own and start to downsize even more. We've done a good job of this so far, but we still have too many things. New rule: If you haven't used it in the past year it's got to go! Also, we have a net zero policy, if something comes into the house at least one thing needs to go. This is not easy to work towards, but I think it's possible to start living the "Cruising Lifestyle" before you even get on your boat. More to come...