Last updated on July 1st, 2016 at 04:20 pm
We passed the 2 year mark for selling our home this past July.
I can’t believe it’s been 2 years….
But recently we have been in negotiations to get the house sold. I don’t want to be too optimistic but this is the closest we’ve been to selling in the 2 years, so we began to sell off more of her contents…
Through this whole process we have been systematically paring down our possessions. Selling this or that on Kijiji or in the paper. Doing this has probably made it easier on all of us. What we have got rid of ,before the sale we had this past week, was stuff we hadn’t used and in some cases even seen in a year! Stuff for our business, toys Mak didn’t play with anymore, out grown. Nothing we had real sentimental connection to.
This past week we started selling the stuff that was our everyday life. As I began pricing “our life” Rob was telling me “Don’t mark the stuff too low. This isn’t a garage sale you know, this is a moving sale. This stuff isn’t junk. This is good stuff, quality stuff. We used it every day!”
Then the selling began.
And the reality began to set in.
No one is going to see the value in these things like we did. There is a reason we didn’t give away or donate these things, they meant something to us. They were a gift, my favorite mixing bowls, baby stuff for our only child. I am tearing up now as I write this. But now some more selling is done we are closer, again, to our launch date and I feel relieved. Relieved because the house is almost empty, less to move.
Relieved because some of the stuff I knew I would have a hard time letting go,
is now gone.
First On My Bucket List, Why Rome?
I’m half excited for and half dreading when we start selling thing for our travels (which we should probably start doing soon!) As you say, the more you sell the closer you are to the move date, but still it’s hard to let go of some items and you start to realize the attachments you have to things. For me, it’s my drum kit that was giving to me as an 18th birthday present. It hasn’t been touched in about 7 years and it’s time for me to pass it on, but I’m not looking forward to that moment! Best of luck selling your house 🙂
It may not be a garage sale but potential buyers won’t see it that way. Hence they will be attempting to bleed each cent from articles many to which you will add a personal value to. As expensive as it was, we kept all our things in storage for 18 months but then we weren’t making a permanent move. Loved the piece by the way.
Thanks Gary. We knew before we started selling our possessions it wouldn’t always be easy to see things go. I think, as the process to get on the road has been a lot longer than we had ever imagined, it served as a wake up call to what the travel life is. A reminder that was still accepted, gladly, knowing our future.
I’ve been right there where you are Tracey, I let go of things I never thought I would ever let go of. It was bittersweet to say the least BUT – as I look back 2 1/2 years into our “reduced” lifestyle I have never once missed anything I let go of. If I had not looked at or used something in over a year, then clearly I didn’t need it.
Funny, my husband, Abi, and I were just chatting about the same thing today. We have one more move in us and when that day comes it will be from Oregon to the Washington, D.C. area to be near our son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. I think about a cross country move (we’ve always lived on the west coast) and even the thought of moving a bunch of stuff makes me cringe.
Our grandfather clock, photos albums, home movies, our son’s crib and our collection of Peanuts Christmas tree ornaments will go with us. Everything else – meh.
Patti I have enjoyed the reduced lifestyle as well. I am amazed at how freeing it is and how much simpler life is without so much stuff. I know I won’t regret selling things I never thought I would let go. It is always reassuring to hear from people who have had the the experience when uncertainty starts to creep in, thank you so much!