For a year and a half, I’ve watched YouTube videos of couples living in vans I did research, read articles, even rented a Class B (Van) RV to take out for a test “live.” I knew I was going to have to downsize drastically when I moved from 4500 square feet into a van that is somewhat less than 100 square feet. What I didn’t realize is just how much I would need to leave behind.
To give you a sense of what I’m going trough, my van could completely fit inside my pantry. No, REALLY! I could literally park my van in my current pantry. That should give you some idea of what I face in deciding what items in my pantry are important enough to go into the tiny shelves in my van. The fridge in my van is small. College dorm-room small. If I took all the condiments in my house fridge, they would not fit in my van fridge. Condiments! So how much harder is it going to be to decide what real food can be brought along in such a tiny refrigerator.
I started downsizing a year ago. Marie Kondo became my virtual friend and I listened to her audio book “Spark Joy” a couple times and watched her in action on several videos. I followed her advice and I sorted through all my clothes and much of my kitchen gadgets and got rid of easily a third of what I owned. I probably took over 50 t-shirts to Goodwill. Some of them “sparked joy” still, but I am no longer skinny enough to fit into a boys size 18 t-shirt! As much as I may have loved my shirt from 1990, I had to admit I would never squeeze into it again. Likewise with size 29 inch waist jeans. They went to a new home with a much thinner man living in it. I sold all my power tools at auction. I threw out junk I’d been saving for no apparent reason other than I have 4500 square feet, so I had lots of room for junk!
And yet, as I try to move into my van this week, I am having to make some hard decisions. Half of my t-shirts will have to be left behind. So will about 3/4 of my long pants. I’ve collected quite a few pairs of underwear over the years, not because I needed more, but most likely because I thought if I bought this or that particular pair, I’d look like the model wearing them in the ad that convinced me to purchase them in the first place. 80% of them will go to Goodwill.
I have enough plates, bowls, glasses, cups and baking utensils to fill my large kitchen. I have many plates and bowls that I made in several pottery classes I’ve taken over the years. Most spark joy. I love most of my kitchen gadgets. And yet, now, I’ll have to figure out which THREE plates I like the most. Which three bowls, glasses, mugs are my favorites, because that’s all that I can possibly take with me (To be honest, I may have to cut it down to my TWO favorite of each item…If I have more than one guest for dinner, someone will have to bring his or her own place setting!)
I can do it. There is no doubt in my mind that I can do this. It’s just going to take a little time to decide which things in my life are things that I really like and which are necessities for me to live on the road.