Downsizing By Half

I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend. It doesn’t seem possible the summer’s almost gone but it is—and I seem to have missed most of it.

In July I went to the RWA conference, held this year in Denver where I had an absolutely fantastic time! How could I not? Colorado is a gorgeous postcard everywhere, but that was the only travel I did this season.

After seeing friends and getting inspired to write, I came home to prepare for an upcoming cross-country move. In the past six weeks I did what I’d vowed to do for three years: downsize. I’m gotten rid of at least half of everything I owned and feel light as a feather. I must have spent fifty percent of that time sorting business files. 

Here’s a peek at my office right now. Notice the Heartwarming titles!



The closet has a lot more file boxes, cartons, etc., but at last I’m nearly done. Ahh, sigh of relief. I have a book due the end of this month, and slightly before that I also need to submit a proposal for the next book after that in the series. Busy days, but as it was when I moved before, the writing has been my escape, my retreat from the chaos that can sometimes surround me. I love getting lost in my characters!

On moving day in Connecticut years ago, my desktop computer was literally the last item to go on the moving van. I’d sent in a manuscript that very morning. Times have changed, thank goodness. No separation anxiety here. I’ll be taking my laptop with me to Arizona.

Do you look forward to moving? Or would you rather stay put? In either case if you’re thinking of plowing through the clutter in your home (assuming you have any), and you haven’t read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I highly recommend it as a way to get started.

And I suspect a big move just may play a role in some upcoming novel I haven’t plotted yet. In the meantime, look for HER COWBOY SHERIFF in January and, also in 2019, TEMPORARY COWBOY (working title), both part of my Kansas Cowboys series.

Farewell, summer (sniff). Hello to autumn. Cooler weather is ahead.

Happy writing and reading in your neck of the woods.

Comments

  1. Leigh, I'm so jealous of your downsizing accomplishments! I want to do this, but I think I need help. I've heard great things about Marie Kondo's book - think I'll pick up a copy. Best of luck to you with your move. Hope you'll be happier than ever in your new digs! And congrats on your upcoming releases.

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    1. Thank you, Carol! I didn’t have much choice but to downsize. No way was I shipping all that stuff. 😉Now the worst is done, I’m pretty excited about the new digs.

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  2. I've had to move fairly often and it never seems to get easier. But it's a great time to evaluate what I need and what I don't. Inevitably, there are always a few items that I say one of two things about: "Why on earth did I keep this?" and "Surely, I couldn't have discarded that!" But since I'm convinced that moving can produce a form of insanity, there's my explanation.

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    1. Ha ha. So true. At times we have no option but to laugh at all the goings on. I like Kondo’s question too: Does this item give me joy? Otherwise out it goes.

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    2. Someone once told me that she'd read advice on what to keep and what not to keep. It's like Kondo's question. This question asked whether there's a bad memory connected to a particular item? If so, no matter how much you like it on some other level, you should consider passing it to someone else. I followed that advice to my benefit when I considered a jacket I had always liked. But it was distinctive and I was wearing it on a day when I lost someone I loved. After that, whenever I wore it, I remembered that day, so I decided to let it go. Much better.

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  3. When my husband and I moved in together almost four years ago, we had to combine two houses and many years worth of accumulating items. It was a nightmare, and we both had to give up things we really wanted to keep. We pay rent on a storage unit to this day because of my inability to part with certain stuff.

    Leigh, can't wait to see you in Arizona. Let's connect when you get here and are ready to meet up with other authors :)))

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    1. Cathy, I can’t even imagine cleaning out two houses. We talk about a storage unit too but have so far resisted and I admit I have, um, packed some boxes that would not be approved of like my kids’ baby clothes. Will definitely be in touch. Can’t wait to see you.

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  4. Moving---ugh! After my last move I said next time I'm going out in a pine box and letting my family handle going through all of the things I saved thinking they were sentimental. My daughters both said "mom, all of this stuff can't be sentimental". At the time I judged it so. Now, I'm looking at things I probably should have parted with aeons ago. Good luck on completing your move and getting to your proposals.

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    1. Roz, I know. The sentimental things are the hardest to sort. But I’m glad that we have been able to send a lot to people in the family who want them. It’s been very satisfying—surprisingly so. Off soon to send bone china cups to my daughter in laws that belonged to my mil. Thanks for the good luck wishes. I wrote The End to the full book this morning.

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  5. When I remodeled my bathrooms, I got rid of any clothes I hadn't worn in the past year and gave away things I'd stuck back "just in case I might some day need it". :-) So glad you were able to downsize! And love your bookshelves!

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    1. Oh, yes. Tons of unworn clothes being donated here. I love those bookshelves too. Debating whether they suit the new house but I don’t think I can part with them.

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  6. I wish I was better at downsizing! On average, we move about every 7 years. My husband says we have to because it's the only way to force me to go through all my junk. I'm getting better but there are still some things I refuse to part with. 26 years and he's still never managed to force me to get rid of my books, lol.

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    1. LeAnne, I hear you. You should see the old backlist books boxes in my closet. I have to get rid of some but it hurts! Obviously I’m not that good at downsizing in the sixteen years in this house, a record in one place.

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    2. This must be in the air. Is it part of fall cleanup? Fall cleaning? I spent the weekend going through old files, grinding up a lot of papers. Finding things I'd forgotten and blessedly finding the files I desperately needed. Now, I'm going through the shed to gift my nephew and niece with Christmas and fall decorations that I'm tired of, don't need. Didn't put up anymore. (Confessing right here and now that I bought new autumn decorations...much simpler ones, I'll add.) I am so envious of getting rid of clothes you haven't worn in a year. I keep hanging on and hanging on. It's a mind set. I need to restart my brain computer! Great post!

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    3. Catherine, I found two book contracts buried in my files. Talk about the need to organize. I just gave Christmas decorations, including the big tree, away. Will use my smaller ones until I decide if another is needed. I wonder if I kept enough clothes. Happy fall cleaning to you!

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  7. I'm so impressed, Leigh. We've been eyeing our "stuff" here and wondering how we're ever pare it down when we're ready to move permanently to Arizona in a few years. It's overwhelming. Your story gives me courage that it is possible.

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    1. Yes, it is overwhelming. I tell my husband “One day, one task at a time.” We’re the tortoise and the hare. 😊 See you in AZ!

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  8. I'd love to move, yet we're 41 years in this house. I'm not sure I can face that process. And what if I hate the next house? And we can't even agree on where to go for dinner, much less where we would move. And... But getting rid of half our stuff--that would be good!

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    1. Forty-one years? That’s amazing, Liz. Good for you. Stay put. There’s a lot to be said for deep roots. 😉

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  9. Oh I love downsizing! I know that sounds weird, but I really do feel more relaxed and happy when I have less stuff. Except clothing. Cute clothes are a must! Congratulations on all of your hard work paring things down!

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    1. Thanks, Claire. Not weird at all. Downsizing is good—especially once it’s done! It does feel so freeing, and you can actually find what you’re looking for after that.

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