I'm back from Tucson where life was so pleasant and so completely different in every way from KC. And I returned to a home where the downstairs and part of the upstairs is in the process of being painted. Everything had to be removed and put away for awhile. Since I am a bit of a collector, it had been a long time since I had seen bare walls and I have to say that I kind of like the serenity. The new paint is a light buff which is between yellow and tan. It is a color that holds the sun and makes the rooms calm and light. It is also pretty feminine and not a color I would have thought of when Ed and I were one.
My feeling is that this may be the time to rethink possessions. I don't even want to put curtains back up right now. I have a collection of textiles that used to occupy a living room wall - they aren't going back up. I have many paintings that I love, but I don't want so many on the walls now. The china cabinet is too big and I wish I could find a new home for it. This may be my best opportunity to edit stuff, make breathing space, and enjoy the peace of less.
We have lived in the same house for four years -- a long time for us since we're renters. Since we started talking about moving east, we've been talking about what we can get rid of. We bought a lot of used furniture when we moved to this house because it was the biggest place we'd ever lived in, and it was almost empty when we moved everything in. So we filled it up. Now, we have way too much stuff, especially since we have two young kids and their toys take up so much space. We'll be culling a lot of our possessions as we pack up.
ReplyDeleteOur walls, too, are covered in art. Part of me thinks that it's time to get rid of some of it. I have a sentimental attachment to it, but it also feels almost claustrophobic to have every inch of wall space covered. Once we've packed it all, I bet this house will look skeletal -- like bleached bones in the desert.
This is a God-given opportunity to edit, Fie. After the paint was dry I waited for weeks before I put anything back. It's pleasant to have some blank space around what I kept. And everything is in a different spot.
ReplyDeleteI have been following your thoughts about moving to the Boston area. There is something so exhilarating about picking up stakes. But I love everything about moving - fresh starts, new sights, culture, people. There is always the possibility of finding your heart's home, too. Mine was Moorestown, NJ just outside Philadelphia, but we were transferred after two years. Boston is horrendously expensive -so be prepared, but the job market is sure to be better and the east coast has a lot of energy.
I will be eager to hear how your next adventure unfolds. Best of luck!
Kay