Where did all the stuff come from?

These were made by my sister in 1993.  
I put them in a box in 1997.
I reopened the box in 2013.  
This is what happens when you, your family and friends
have large basements or garages.

This whole downsizing and moving to an island in the middle of the ocean thing has put me face  to face with everything I own.

Everything.

Scary porcelain night light with pink roses that has been in a box since my freshman year of college,  I'm looking at you.   

Awkward photos from all phases of my life including junior high mission trips?  Check.  

Coffee cups that I didn't like but hadn't bothered to give away?   Double check.

Animated singing, stuffed pig from a white elephant exchange?  Checkity check.

Having a garage is great for extending the life of your car.  Not so great for living in a more minimal way.  Instead of getting rid of it,  you put it a box in the garage.   Out of sight, out of mind.  Until later.

Friends,  later has arrived.  

My company will move a max of 3000lbs of my stuff.   After that it gets really expensive. 

Next Tuesday the movers come to pack my stuff.  It's either coming with me or going to a new home. Possibly your home.

Over the weekend when friends came to visit they left with additional door prizes.   

Thanks for taking my couch, would you also like an ice cream maker?   

What?  You like those floral prints on the wall?  They're yours!

For a long time I've considered myself a person more focused on experiences than things.   

I was really sure that I gave away more than I accumulated.  

Who was I kidding? 

Should my new motto be more sea turtles and less stuff?  

More mai tais and less material?   Less fleece, more fun? 

I can only hope I learned my lesson after living in the same townhouse for 7 years.

The lesson?  Love it or leave it

Do you have any downsizing or moving advice? 

Moving 3300 Miles Away (and the ensuing panic)

It's been almost a month since I posted here on Traveler for Good.    In the 5+ years that I've had this blog, I don't think I've ever gone that long.    I love you.   I love to write.   I love travel.    It all works together for good.

And then it happened. 

I went to Wisconsin in mid September.    

Ahh, Wisconsin

I happened to be scrolling through Facebook, as I'm known to do.   

I notice that a friend who works for the same company as I do posts that her family is moving to Florida.

If she is moving to Florida, then her position will probably be open.   

She works in Hawaii.   

My mind starts to race.    

I've been in Colorado for 8 years.   

I love Colorado.   

Every day, I'm like "damn, I'm lucky to live here."  

My mind continues to race.  Hawaii? Me?   Living and working there would be the experience of a lifetime. I'd get to experience and learn about a place that many people only visit for a week's vacation.  I'd be halfway to Asia - opening up a whole other part of the world for easier exploration.  It would be my first time living near the ocean.  My first time living on an island.   An island 3300 miles away from Denver, Colorado.

Had the job been posted a year ago or two years ago, would I have given it a second glance?   

Would I have been ready to go?

I went from contemplation to action.    

I talked to my family.  

I talked to my Director.   

I threw my name into the ring.

And in three weeks time, I'll be living in Maui.

Until then, I move at lightening speed.     My mind is constantly racing and my body follows.    I can't sit still. I have to de-clutter.   I have to purge.  I have to clean.    I have to drink the wine because the moving company won't take it.   I have to make my second trip to Goodwill in two days time.  I have to breakfast, brunch, lunch and happy hour with friends.  I have to cross-train my awesome co-workers.   I have to get my house ready to put on the market.   I have to determine whether I take my well-loved high mileage car or if I get something smaller and more efficient since gas is $4.23 per gallon.   

I need to buy a one way plane ticket to Hawaii.     

And I look forward to sharing my adventure with you.