More - less - and a whole lot in-between.

Recently we put our home  on the market. Over the years we have moved a lot, particularly in the earlier years of our marriage. But, those moves happened during the years we were looking ahead to accommodating a growing family, a job change in another city, and a couple times simply because we could. We have also renovated some vacation or investment properties over the years, so the process isn't foreign to us.
But, this time is different. This time we are 'downsizing'. Yuk! The process was mentally and physically challenging from the onset. The reality of what we were getting ourselves into began when our Realtor insisted that we do CPR (clean, purge, repair) on the house as part of staging it. It is the 'purge' part we have had the difficulty with. 
Purge: is such a harsh word to process while putting away a lifetime of family pictures, collectibles, gifts, and other personal mementos that journal our life as a couple and family. The word "Purge" means "to purify" but I call it "sterilize". And, as I wrap and pack away each item I wonder when/if I will see it again, and that was because in the purging process we came upon a couple of boxes that got buried in our basement that were mementos from our last move, hidden and forgotten. And, as we purge, with each item we tuck away the house is less 'ours'. And, in its own paradoxical way, it is making the process of leaving easier.
This time our decision to move was deliberate and designed to accommodate a different season of our lives. The kids are grown, some have moved away, they have busy families, and we are back to being a couple.
It has taken us awhile to adjust to the thought of less being more for us. We are still struggling with how to downsize much of our 'stuff' - no longer as much from our attachment to it as the time and effort involved in getting rid of it. But, I believe we are ready. And, after years of acquiring the many things we no longer need, what is of greatest value are the priceless objects, such as the small hand prints our kids pressed into clay in preschool, and other things that have reminded us of how fast the years speed by and how important it is to seize the days we have left. Isn't it amazing how long it takes us to fully learn that lesson?
So, I think what I'm saying is, "Less, indeed, is more."

Fran Riedemann Books: An unintended sabbatical.

Fran Riedemann Books: An unintended sabbatical.: Four weeks ago began as a normal day. My husband brought me coffee in bed and then took our two Dachshunds, Larry and Lucy, outside, proceed...