Okay world,
the move into a historical home brings some shifts. Notice you are going to have some odd fixtures, as the house is updated from a 1935 American dream to a 2011 American-dream-circa-1935 remodel. The multi-car garage? Nonexistent. Pool-jacuzzi spa? Go back to your Henderson McMansion. Washer-dryer? Check out the wierd nook that passes for laundry.
At the same time, what you get: 1. The coolest house in the world. Slanty roof, hand laid Mexican foundation stones, with a particular one cut in the shape of the Silver State. Cool Trees. Roaring fireplace. Feel good everytime you come home, like marshmallows toasting.
The real barrier to moving into a historical remodel is coming to terms with an almost century-wide chasm in possessions. Apparently, Wal-Mart and Mall of America didn't exist in 1935. Now, I haven't confirmed this on the web, but it seems to give with my recollection of 10th grade American history. The result: 1935 had a different concept of accumulations. We were attempting to stuff a 2010 two car garage with two extra bedrooms track home style possession mindset into 1935.
Long story short: we were gonna burst. Or have no where to sleep. Gotta downsize.
As a reformed minimalist who used to have the everything-in-a-suitcase dream - you will know who you are if you have it - This wasn't going to be tough for me. But with a family of people who do not let go of 'stuff' - we had to set a few groundrules.
philosophy: Make things room for the things that really matter.
To do this, we used the following rules:
1. Is it sentimental or functional? Sentimental stays. We want things that matter.
2. Is it functional? You'd be surprised at how much wierd stuff is not really one or the other. If you can't let go of the copper fondue set yet because it seems remotely functional, then...
3. Has it been used in the last two years? We decided to go with this one because we'd lived in the previous track home for exactly TWO years. If somebody moved it in, and then we'd moved it out, and nobody had used it in that time....Yeah. Catch my drift. Junk it.
4. And a final question - primarily for kitchen gadgets: does it have more than one use? Fondu pot goes, small crock pot stays...the better for fondue anyway.
