Therapeutic Trauma of Moving and Cleaning Out

Minimalism and No Buy Challenges

In August, I'm going to be moving to Japan for a year. In a few days, my co-parent is heading to Morocco for the summer to spend time with her parents. So, I'm going to be living in our old place with our daughter for the next two months - which I'm really excited about.

What I wasn't excited about was moving out of my apartment but since I won't be sleeping. here, I won't be using it as an office, and I won't be eating or showering here - it just makes no sense to pay for it through the summer and then move out. So, I've been in the process of putting my most important (or liked) things in a small storage locker and finding ways to get rid of everything else.

It has been a kind of therapeutic trauma. I will be coming back to Hawaii so it doesn't make sense to get rid of the things I use the most and that process itself was pretty fun. I designated a large closet as where things I don't use would go (a garage would have been better but I don't have one) and began the sorting. Lots of clothes I'd been hanging onto, a lot of books, tools, some collectibles and decor, extra kitchen stuff. The closet filled quickly.

Next I packed up the things I like and want to keep but don't use. There was far too much of this - especially books - but also family treasures, and other cool old stuff. What can I do? I put them in the storage unit.

I used most of May for this process and then this last weekend I did a 3-Day garage sale. I really should have done this when I moved in. I met all my cool neighbors (but soon not to be neighbors ; sad). I got rid of so much stuff - but at the end, I still had some old surfboards, a few bags of clothes, a lot of books, a desk, a shelf, several chairs, some art work. I'd listed that stuff on Facebook Marketplace as well - some of it went - but most of that stuff takes time and in truth - this is the time when students are leaving - so there is no shortage of cheap or free furniture.

At the end of the three days - I had converted my unwanted stuff to a few thousand dollars and honestly, I won't miss any of that stuff! The rest I put neatly in the driveway with a free sign and published it to Craigslist and Marketplace. 24 hours later what was still there got put in the dumpster.

Through this whole process, I've felt lighter. That stuff really weighs you down. I can still feel those heavy books - maybe when I come back to Hawaii after Japan, I will do a move-in sale and let that stuff go too.

I thought I would have plenty of room in my 5 x 4 x 8 storage unit - but I managed to pack it as full as possible.

Right now - my apartment has some basic clothes, basic food and cooking stuff, a folding table for a desk, a small stool, a mattress, and a fan. It's really all I need and frankly - it feels good to be so light. Also, it's nice to have done some inventory and sorting.

I'll be sad to leave this neighborhood. I was going to say it was my favorite place I've lived on Oahu - but then realized - I've loved so many of the places I've lived here. Lanikai, Punalu'u, Manoa, and now Kaimuki/Kahala.

All of this has me thinking about the joy and benefits of minimalism and also the joy and benefits of doing 'Buy Nothing Challenges' - I recommend reading up on these things.