20 Comments

When we last moved, we got a 10 yard dumpster and a 50 foot moving truck. It should have been the other way around.

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I’m sorry, I stopped being able to absorb any other words after “vintage Frye boots.” 👢

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Lmao

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Am rereading your post tonight as I sit watching the returns in abject fear... Your openness, adventure, appreciation, and tenderness amid all of your transition is such a balm--as is your gorgeous pear clafoutis. Ever since my diagnosis with epilepsy, I've felt like a refugee in my head, but also in my home. I've become almost too good at letting go of 'stuff'. Seeing the process of your move to Portugal gives me such vicarious thrill... and makes me long to nest, but maybe not in the US after tomorrow :( Hoping all is ok with the scope!

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Thank you for your kind words. I started seriously planning the Portugal move when Trump was elected. I can’t fucking believe we are here again. The concept of home and how it nurtures us is interesting. I wonder why your diagnosis makes you let go of stuff rather than retreating into a well-feathered nest.

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Honestly, I think it may be that, with this diagnosis, I feel like I’m always about to die, and so GenX girl that I am, I don’t want anyone to have to clean up after me? Lol…

I might need to get over that.

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Oh man, I wish I were in your Buy Nothing group!

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I did a purge about a year ago; I’m a bit of a packrat and find myself holding onto random items with sentimental value. Lots of random items, like my parents’ old telephone list, a precursor to the Rolodex

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It sounds like an intense and challenging time. It’s all building to THE MOVE. I hope all went well with the colonoscopy and the renovations are settling down.

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All is well and my colon is as smooth as my new floors!

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Well, that’s a picture! Congratulations! One more challenge overcome. I’ve had to get a colonoscopy every five years since my diagnosis; my oncologist thought there was some sort of a connection between colon and breast cancer. I have no idea if that’s still a widely held belief.

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I had emergency intestinal surgery three years ago. I’m pleased to learn that all is well and I’m back on the 10-year plan.

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That’s a big deal—congratulations!

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Take one day at a time, one thing at time, one feeling at a time. Cheers to you for acknowledging all the layers of emotion that purging of a cherished house brings. It's tuff stuff, for sure!

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It's a lot, isn't it? I hope things begin to settle down soon. Kudos to you for doing the hard emotional work of letting go. I've decided recently there's no one way to handle it all. Each situation unfolds in its own way. Much purging/decluttering of elders' lives ahead of me. Sigh.

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What a beautiful post Alison. I always feel so inspired by your honesty, bravery and creativity. Good luck and hope the colonoscopy was uneventful.

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Thank you for those kind words, Rebecca. I’m going to reach out separately to see how you are doing.

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That's a lot going on there, sister!

I'm a big fan of the purge. I've moved a few times, and I purge every time. What's the point of carting a bunch of boxes from one state to the next with stuff I don't really want anymore? Plus, I feel like every time I declutter, my life changes in a positive way. So, I'm hooked on the transformational aspects of it as well. I think it's that when I let go of things from my past, it helps me to accept and look forward to a bright future.

And you know I'm a big fan of Marie Kondo...

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I've been thinking about you! I even thanked some of this stuff for its presence in my life and that felt surprisingly good! Looking forward to a bright future for us all :)

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So glad to hear that! Yes, thanking the things you let go of and appreciating them for what they brought to your life. So important. Hang in there. Big hug.

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