Then there were different homes with foster families followed by three moves before I got married. Then moving to various locations in five states, sometimes only staying in a place a month. That is lot of moves! I moved to Nebraska in March 2008 and have moved six times. I feel like a nomad, most of the time staying one year in a place. This is not a listing of all the moves, just a condensed version.
Over the years I had convinced myself that the moves were a benefit in that I did not hoard things. I can't tell you how many new refrigerators, new washers and dryers, and other new appliances have been in my life. Cars were traded in for a new car often, sometimes annually.
The lesson I learned from the nomadic life was to not get attached to material things. Ever. If I have something and someone else likes it or wants it, the natural thing for me, with my background, is to give it to them. No problem, no attachments. I can't say I had favorites, not homes, or cars, or any thing. The way I feel is that things belong to all of us. Some people give me things. Nice. Some things I give to others. Also nice. Things are just things, I either have them or I don't, not that important. The important things in life are how we treat each other and the lessons we learn as we travel through this life. This is just my opinion, others may not agree with it.
13 comments:
Lovely, lovely thoughts, dear CiCi. I agree totally about not holding on to things, since they don't really last. But I've got favorite clothes I wear until they fall apart, then search for replacements. :-)
the important thing i n life is how we treat each other...for sure...its hard, the nomadic life...work moved me around a lot before we have kids...i appreciate the lasting connections we can make staying in one place now...
I don't fell like I keep a lot of things....that is until I start cleaning out a drawer or a closet :)
I like the idea of giving away something I have that someone else wants.
It's a fine way to be, CiCi. I must admit that I do have things to which I'm attached - mostly things that have been in my family for a few generations and some gifts.
I am a dreadful hoarder and have loads of stuff that I will probably never use again. But I know from experience, that if I do have a clear out I will suddenly need something that is no more...
I wish I could be more like this. I rarely get rid of things. My things and my sentiments attached to them is strong. My things have never deserted me, or let me down, unlike my attachments to people. I do understand they are only "things", but the thought of not having them is too stressful, because the people they represent are no longer here.
Mrs. C. and I are at that stage in life where we're trying to prune down our possessions, but I do have a handful of things that mean a lot to me, like the old iron key I took from the crystal doorknob to my grandmother's house after she passed.
I love the way you think.
Spot on.
I am the opposite of you. I spent most of my years growing up in the very same house. I got married and we lived in a duplex for six months before we moved into our house where we've been for 26 years now. I look around at all of our stuff... too much stuff ... and think what a chore it would be to move, but what a great way to purge through all the unnecessary things we've kept.
I had a huge turnout of stuff when I moved 3 years ago. But I still have things that I don't use and I know I should let go and someone else could use them. BTW I have lived at 11 addresses my whole life..... and that includes going to boarding school and 3 or 4 apartments shared with girlfriends before I got married. I can't imagine moving house more that 100 times.
You are the closest to a Buddhist monk or nun that I've ever encountered. You walk that philosophy.
Hi CiCi, a beautiful post and I so totally agree. I am such a homebody I can not imagine moving so many times, but we are all on our own journey. I admire your willingness to continue on. I hope all is well, sorry I have not been around much, hopefully that will change. hugs,
The message in the heart sums it up very well.
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