The first post of a new blog about a new life.
I always start a new post and then scrap it half way because I don't like where it's going. But, I'm determined to carry on with this one because writing is something I really enjoy.
If you read my previous blog, you'll know that I relocated to Juneau, Alaska last October. I wrote about our preparations and travels, at some length, with my wife-to-be (Hannah) and canine companion (Specks (or Speckerus Deckerus)). Now, we find ourselves happily adjusted with an agreeable life in an agreeable part of the world. We came crawling out the winter months with low morale, but the sun has returned and we're in lifted spirits. Right now, enormous cruise ships are coming and going downtown and spitting out/sucking in scores of tourists with cameras. This hasn't changed anything for Hannah and I, since we rarely go downtown.
At any rate, my initial job when I got to Alaska was a Customer Service Associate with Home Depot. The work was adequate, but the pay wasn't. I got hired a few months ago at a non-profit organization in Juneau called Juneau Youth Services. Essentially, I provide classroom support to children (grades K-5) with behavioral issues. My clients are in Kindergarten and first grade and they're very cool kids. I can't go in to much detail, due to confidentiality agreements. But, it's safe to say that I enjoy my job and those kids impact my life more than I do theirs.
The reason for starting a new blog isn't to carry on where I left off with the previous one. I can feel changes coming on and they're in a different ballpark than my move. Shifting viewpoints in my life are leading my down paths that I didn't imagine I would take. Most notably, I've begun to read up on and embrace the prospect of 'minimalist living'. Essentially, this is exactly how it sounds. It's living with less and only keeping what you need. It's finding an inner power to detach yourself from your belongings, finding more happiness in experience rather than objects. The concept of the philosophy makes sense to me and I feel excited about. Something exciting me is a big deal. The simplification of your life extends beyond just your possessions, but reaches in to your food, thoughts, and morals. Embracing frugality is a large part of my current efforts. The principle being that you should only spend frivolously on things that you love. Becoming rich in experience, rather than possessions. Today, I donated about two shelves of books and a few articles of clothing. I LOVE my books, but I have read them several times over. I took them to a bookstore that does donations called 'Friends of the Library' and left them on the shelf. It feels good to know that someone might pick up my copy of Vonnegut and get the same amount of satirical enjoyment out of it that I did. Parting with the clothes felt wonderful, too. Homelessness is surprisingly prevalent in Juneau, so I hope they keep someone warm for the next winter.
The goal of this experience isn't to be self-righteous. It's about shedding my cynical, selfish, consumerist shell. It's about letting go of the notions that clothes say something about who you are or having a library for the sake of display. The ultimate goal is to be able to pack everything I own into a suitcase when I leave Alaska.
I don't know anyone currently practicing this lifestyle. I've read books, articles, and blogs on it, but I think it would be interesting to have a conversation about it, so please talk to me.
I think I'll leave it at this for now. I'll post again sooner than I have been.
