dancewithjoy

These are the last days before I move and will I ever be grateful when it’s all over and I’m on the other side of this move. There aren’t other things that I have to be so focused on that I don’t enjoy doing as much as preparing and packing for a move! Since I live alone, I have no one who’s sharing this burden with me. So one feels isolated in a sea of boxes and chaos (along with my two cats who wonder what is going on)! This has been going on for weeks with an occasional walk or small food shopping, or going in the yard to ground myself on the grass and earth. I can’t wait to have time to focus on other pursuits and have some variety in my days and some fun! My fourth grandchild will be born soon after I move and I have that to look forward to. I love holding and rocking a wee one and that’s what I need and look forward to after the ordeal of packing and moving. My two cats, Quipsie Daisy and Ana Banana, move with me always and this whole move is bit of a trauma for them as well. But we will all have more space and comfort where we are moving, and that will be a welcome change.

I’m trying to think about whatever progress I have made in simplifying my life and becoming more minimalist and a bit more frugal. I’m in temporary housing for quite a number of months to come, so most of my things are in storage. And I’m afraid I have much too much stuff in storage! My intention is to go through all when I have a more permanent home and give away or discard, recycle much of it. I only took basic things I need to live with me in the temporary housing I’m living in for awhile. I’ve given away all but the most basic furniture that I need and want and to me that’s progress. And this furniture is in storage. I’ve gone through my clothes and have given away to clothing bins clothes and shoes I don’t wear or don’t like and have with me now very few basic outfits and only 2 pairs of shoes. I’ve done the same with shoulder bags, wallets, backpacks, etc., that I used to keep and now have 2 shoulder bags, 1 backpack, 1 wallet, etc. When I have my permanent home I will give away any clothes and shoes not needed or wanted that are now in storage. The way I shop for food and the way I eat now is much simpler. I basically will cook a chicken soup with lots of vegetables in it and eat that for days, also will cook a lentil soup with vegetables and alternate eating this with the chicken soup. I’ve cut most meat out; eat fish and eggs a few times a week. I shop at Aldi and discount dollar shops and this plus not eating much meat has cut my food budget a lot. I did give away many excess kitchen items, gadgets and plates, etc. So the kitchen was an area I feel I did well in minimizing what I kept. I will give away my TV which is in storage; I hated the programs and the commercials on TV so stopped watching it. I only watch videos, films, occasional news on my laptop; mainly I watch them on YouTube and also free films elsewhere on the internet. If ads come up I sit close enough to my laptop that I can mute them or press skip ads and many films have no ads to interrupt them. I have a smartphone with a $30 a month plan (has internet) and use Wi-Fi for my laptop so don’t pay for internet where I live. So I’m finding different ways to save money. I got rid of a few subscriptions I had, that I basically didn’t use. So living on S.S. and a tiny pension and whatever small earnings from teaching dance classes at senior centers is more than enough to live on. There’s plenty of free entertainment offered by the City and also in the suburbs; get a local newspaper and also find out what senior centers, parks, and towns have to offer. Areas I have much work yet to do, to minimalize, is with the copious books I have saved over the years and these are in storage. When I move I will donate many of them to libraries, vets organizations, etc. I will keep the “treasures” that I love or feel I may not be able to locate again. The other area I’m quite deficient in is minimalizing the papers, children’s artwork, articles, you name it that I have saved over so many years. All these are in storage and again when I have a permanent home I will work on sorting, discarding, and saving only some very special papers with very special memories. Creating a simpler life through minimalism, learning ways to save money, thinking about what you value most in life, is an ongoing process and something I’ll be working on for some time to come!

I, like many, missed many things during the pandemic and even after the worst of it. Mostly I missed having some fun in my life doing things I always did to enjoy myself. I always loved parties, music, dancing, going to folk dance groups, meeting up with friends and family, social dancing at senior centers or a private club. Well after the pandemic, when things opened up once more, I again started enjoying doing some of these things. I also missed giving dance classes at senior centers as I had done for many years, and that I also started doing again. But lately I seem to long to add more to my life, like I’m wishing for a garden these days! I want a place where I can grow some flowers, some vegetables and herbs. A place I can sit barefoot and ground myself each day. A place to let my two kitties out to play and absorb those electrons from mother earth! A place where I can stretch and do some yoga in privacy out of doors. Also, maybe read or write while outside. Well, who knows it may happen that I have a garden at some point. In the meantime, there are parks to enjoy where I can sit and read, or take walks in nature, I can even sit with bare feet on the grass!

If I designed a fun day what would it look like? I may have lunch out with a friend and then go to an art museum. Or I would explore (and take photos of) a new area of New York City or a new (to me) suburban town, and eat at a new restaurant and write a review of it. I might stay at home and learn to bake a healthy bread or cook a new meal! How about a day where I go to a great thrift shop or antique store and discover treasures! When younger I enjoyed going to a yoga center for a class and then would sit in the library they had and read books on all kinds of interesting esoteric subjects. Something I loved doing years ago, was to go to health food stores before they were run by corporations; I delighted in learning about organic foods, and health in general. I loved finding interesting and informative books on health. I even saw Angela Lansbury years ago at a health store in Manhattan! A way I found to make working 9 to 5 more palatable was to spend my lunch hours browsing a Barnes and Noble book shop nearby and finding fantastic and stimulating books like “The Joy of Not Working” (really about learning to love one’s leisure time and learning how to create wonderful leisure time and activities for oneself) or another book I loved was the classic “Voluntary Simplicity” by Duane Elgin. A fun afternoon I enjoy with my younger son is to play a couple of ping pong games with him and then finish up with a scrabble game. Or have coffee at starbucks with my older son, then take an enjoyable walk (sometimes to Bryant Park), and end up having lunch at a diner. With my grandchildren I love dancing with them, painting or coloring with them, or taking them for a walk with them ending up on the rides in front of the pizza place where we get pizza after the rides, and then on to the ice cream shop. With my older granddaughter when she was little (and another dear toddler – I was nanny to both) I always loved taking her to Washington Square Park as she was growing up, and listening to the musicians, loved going to Scholastic for story time, or to Music Together for a really fun time, and we enjoyed swimming in a pool. I love working with color and enjoy crocheting with various colored yarn, or creating an abstract drawing and filling it in with colored markers. And binging on good or great films is always a delight. A picnic at a park, or a walk near the surf by the ocean, or a moonlight walk on the boardwalk are always fun. I’d go to a folk dance group and enjoy the music, dancing and the friendly folks. Or I’d go to the fun Elk’s Club D.J. dance with the oh so friendly crowd. I’d take a Qi Gong, yoga, or stretch class. If I had a garden, I’d enjoy planting flowers, herbs, fruit trees and berries. I’d lead a dance class at a senior center and then meet my friend afterwards for coffee and catching up. Learning something new, or doing a crossword puzzle is stimulating. Or I might work on a memoir that I started a while back. Creating a playlist of music I love and/or creating a new dance to teach at a senior center is great fun too. So many ways to create a fun day for ourselves. As many ways as there are people. What does your fun day look like?

If I designed a fun day what would it look like? I may have lunch out with a friend and then go to an art museum. Or I would explore (and take photos of) a new area of New York City or a new (to me) suburban town, and eat at a new restaurant and write a review of it. I might stay at home and learn to bake a healthy bread or cook a new meal! How about a day where I go to a great thrift shop or antique store and discover treasures! When younger I enjoyed going to a yoga center for a class and then would sit in the library they had and read books on all kinds of interesting esoteric subjects. Something I loved doing years ago, was to go to health food stores before they were run by corporations; I delighted in learning about organic foods, and health in general. I loved finding interesting and informative books on health. I even saw Angela Lansbury years ago at a health store in Manhattan! A way I found to make working 9 to 5 more palatable was to spend my lunch hours browsing a Barnes and Noble book shop nearby and finding fantastic and stimulating books like “The Joy of Not Working” (really about learning to love one’s leisure time and learning how to create wonderful leisure time and activities for oneself) or another book I loved was the classic “Voluntary Simplicity” by Duane Elgin. A fun afternoon I enjoy with my younger son is to play a couple of ping pong games with him and then finish up with a scrabble game. Or have coffee at starbucks with my older son, then take an enjoyable walk (sometimes to Bryant Park), and end up having lunch at a diner. With my grandchildren I love dancing with them, painting or coloring with them, or taking them for a walk with them ending up on the rides in front of the pizza place where we get pizza after the rides, and then on to the ice cream shop. With my older granddaughter I always loved taking her to Washington Square Park as she was growing up, and listening to the musicians, loved going to Scholastic for story time, or to Music Together for a really fun time, and we enjoyed swimming in a pool. I love working with color and enjoy crocheting with various colored yarn, or creating an abstract drawing and filling it in with colored markers. And binging on good or great films is always a delight. A picnic at a park, or a walk near the surf by the ocean, or a moonlight walk on the boardwalk are always fun. I’d go to a folk dance group and enjoy the music, dancing and the friendly folks. Or I’d go to the fun Elk’s Club D.J. dance with the oh so friendly crowd. I’d take a Qi Gong, yoga, or stretch class. If I had a garden, I’d enjoy planting flowers, herbs, fruit trees and berries. I’d lead a dance class at a senior center and then meet my friend afterwards for coffee and catching up. Learning something new, or doing a crossword puzzle is stimulating. Or I might work on a memoir that I started a while back. Creating a playlist of music I love and/or creating a new dance to teach at a senior center is great fun too. So many ways to create a fun day for ourselves. As many ways as there are people. What does your fun day look like?

I, like many, missed many things during the pandemic and even after the worst of it. Mostly I missed having some fun in my life doing things I always did to enjoy myself. I always loved parties, music, dancing, going to folk dance groups, meeting up with friends and family, social dancing at senior centers or a private club. Well after the pandemic, when things opened up once more, I again started enjoying doing some of these things. I also missed giving dance classes at senior centers as I had done for many years, and that I also started doing again. But lately I seem to long to add more to my life, like I’m wishing for a garden these days! I want a place where I can grow some flowers, some vegetables and herbs. A place I can sit barefoot and ground myself each day. A place to let my two kitties out to play and absorb those electrons from mother earth! A place where I can stretch and do some yoga in privacy out of doors. Also, maybe read or write while outside. Well, who knows it may happen that I have a garden at some point. In the meantime, there are parks to enjoy where I can sit and read, or take walks in nature, I can even sit with bare feet on the grass!

I’ve been watching many YouTube videos lately on minimalism and essentialism as I’m drawn to living with much less of everything in my life. I’d like life to be simpler with more time for myself, for family, for friends, for work I enjoy, for learning, and for having fun! I don’t want to be tied down by having to care for things, and for caring for a large apartment and cleaning it. I’m in temporary housing at the moment, but when I rent my next apartment I’ve decided this is how I want, how I imagine, I will minimalize the furniture in it: I always had many pictures on the walls and I’ve noticed that bare walls give me a more peaceful feeling. So in one or two rooms I won’t have anything on the walls. BTW, I don’t want more than three rooms, as I live alone and that’s all I need or want. A kitchen would be nice, a living room, and a bedroom.

In the bedroom I want my big bed with a great mattress, as I value a good night’s sleep. One small night table near the bed to hold a table lamp, small air filter, and an alarm clock is something I want in the bedroom. I will put a sterilite with 3 or 4 drawers for my socks and undies in the bedroom closet and on top of that, neatly folded, will be my nightgowns, and a few other articles of clothing, the rest of my limited wardrobe will be hung up. In this closet will also be my hamper (I’m using a large plastic shopping bag at the moment for my laundry). Also in my bedroom closet, on the top shelf, I will keep some favorite books and a few magazines. In my bedroom I will also have a small table or desk with my laptop, journal or art supplies. Also a comfy chair, and that’s all the furniture I want in the bedroom.

In the kitchen I do want a microwave, small toaster, blender, toaster oven, burner (for cooking 2 pots of food), as well as a few bowls, a few plates and utensils, tray for food, 2 pots and 2 pans. I will store the rest of my plates and silverware on a top shelf and only use when I have company. I will keep a step stool in the kitchen to reach high cabinets. Also in the kitchen will be a round kitchen table and chairs. The reason I will keep my electric burner is that I don’t plan on opening up an account with the gas company, as I’m perfectly content with cooking on my 2 burners or in the large toaster oven with an air fryer, or warming things in my microwave.

The living room will have my futon sofa (which doubles as a guest bed should I have a guest stay over), with a small coffee table in front of the sofa and a comfy chair nearby as well. A small table or desk would hold a table lamp, laptop, and portable radio. In this living room would be a small eating table with 2 chairs (if the kitchen is small and there’s no room for an eating table), and a scratching post with high bed for my cats.

So I have eliminated the need for a bookcase by putting my favorite books on top shelf of my bedroom closet and passing on all the books I have hung onto over the years. I will donate my books to the library or family or friends that may want some or I’ll give them to the vets organizations or other charity organizations. I have eliminated the need for a dresser by putting small articles like socks in sterilite drawers which will be in my bedroom closet. I no longer want to keep a TV as I so dislike the shows that are now on TV and dislike the ads which have gotten more distasteful over the years. So when I want to watch anything I go to my laptop and watch films, watch videos, even old TV shows that I’ve enjoyed like Seinfeld and Taxi (and for the most part the films I watch on YouTube play through with no ads). When ads turn up (mainly on the videos) I have control and mute the sound and press skip the ad as soon as possible! When I shop now it’s at Aldi, Dollar shops, and thrift shops and occasionally will order on Amazon Prime. I no longer keep many articles of clothing, just a few comfortable dresses, slacks, short-sleeved blouses, sweaters, long sleeved tops, maybe 3 pairs of shoes, a winter jacket and light jacket. I have passed on many of my clothes to clothing bins or to friends; I give away any of my clothing that I feel is more than I need and I’m content wearing a limited amount of outfits. I do find I have to do laundry more often, so may rethink this and keep a bit more outfits than I had originally planned!

My food preparation and cooking I also want to keep to a minimum. And I plan to make one pot meals maybe twice a week like a chicken soup with lots of veggies and a lentil soup with lots of healthy vegetables in it – and I would alternate these meals during the week. I can be content living simply and it’s what I prefer.

I’ve been watching many YouTube videos lately on minimalism and essentialism as I’m drawn to living with much less of everything in my life. I’d like life to be simpler with more time for myself, for family, for friends, for work I enjoy, for learning, and for having fun! I don’t want to be tied down by having to care for excessive things, and for caring for a large apartment and cleaning it. I’m in temporary housing at the moment, but when I rent my next apartment I’ve decided this is how I want, how I imagine, I will minimalize the furniture in it: I always had many pictures on the walls and I’ve noticed that bare walls give me a more peaceful feeling. So in one or two rooms I won’t have anything on the walls. BTW, I don’t want more than three rooms, as I live alone and that’s all I need or want. A kitchen would be nice, a living room, and a bedroom.

In the bedroom I want my big bed with a great mattress, as I value a good night’s sleep. One small night table near the bed to hold a table lamp, small air filter, and an alarm clock is something I want in the bedroom. I will put a sterilite with 3 or 4 drawers for my socks and undies in the bedroom closet and on top of that, neatly folded, will be my nightgowns, and a few other articles of clothing, the rest of my limited wardrobe will be hung up. In this closet will also be my hamper (I’m using a large plastic shopping bag at the moment for my laundry). Also in my bedroom closet, on the top shelf, I will keep some favorite books and a few magazines. In my bedroom I will also have a small table or desk with my laptop, journal or art supplies. Also a comfy chair, and that’s all the furniture I want in the bedroom.

In the kitchen I do want a microwave, small toaster, blender, toaster oven, burner (for cooking 2 pots of food), as well as a few bowls, a few plates and utensils, tray for food, 2 pots and 2 pans. I will store the rest of my plates and silverware on a top shelf and only use when I have company. I will keep a step stool in the kitchen to reach high cabinets. Also in the kitchen will be a small kitchen table and chairs. The reason I will keep my electric burner is that I don’t plan on opening up an account with the gas company, as I’m perfectly content with cooking on my 2 burners or in the large toaster oven with an air fryer, or warming things in my microwave.

The living room will have my futon sofa (which doubles as a guest bed should I have a guest stay over), with a small coffee table in front of the sofa and a comfy chair nearby as well. A small table or desk would hold a table lamp, laptop, and portable radio. In this living room would be a round eating table with 6 chairs, and a scratching post with a high bed for my cats.

So I have eliminated the need for a bookcase by putting my favorite books on top shelf of my bedroom closet and passing on all the books I have hung onto over the years. I will donate my books to the library or family or friends that may want some or I’ll give them to the vets organizations or other charity organizations. I have eliminated the need for a dresser by putting small articles like socks in sterilite drawers which will be in my bedroom closet. I no longer want to keep a TV as I so dislike the shows that are now on TV and dislike the ads which have gotten more distasteful over the years. So when I want to watch anything I go to my laptop and watch films, watch videos, even old TV shows that I’ve enjoyed like Seinfeld and Taxi (and for the most part the films I watch on YouTube play through with no ads). When ads turn up (mainly on the videos) I have control and mute the sound and press skip the ad as soon as possible! When I shop now it’s at Aldi, Dollar shops, and thrift shops and occasionally will order on Amazon Prime. I no longer keep many articles of clothing, just a few comfortable dresses, slacks, short-sleeved blouses, sweaters, long sleeved tops, maybe 3 pairs of shoes, a winter jacket and light jacket. I have passed on many of my clothes to clothing bins or to friends; I give away any of my clothing that I feel is more than I need and I’m content wearing a limited amount of outfits. I do find I have to do laundry more often, so may rethink this and keep a bit more outfits than I had originally planned!

There are many things I have to sort and eliminate as much as possible and when I move I will work on sorting photographs, CDs, memorabilia (except for the most precious to me), etc.

My food preparation and cooking I also want to keep to a minimum. And I plan to make one pot meals maybe twice a week like a chicken soup with lots of veggies and a lentil soup with lots of healthy vegetables in it – and I would alternate these meals during the week. I can be content living simply and it’s what I prefer.

I recently moved from a 5 room apartment with lovely views of nature to a 1 room living space. The 5 room apartment was more than I wanted to clean and keep tidy and much too much room for a single person, even with 2 cats. The rent on it was getting humongous as are all the rents in this rental market at this time. The 1 room is a bit hard on my cats, but there is another joint room with washing machine, dryer, sink, large refrigerator, wardrobe closet, and shelves for my canned goods and kitchen supplies I don’t use that often, which my cats explore when I open my door and that extra space keeps the cats happy. There is a window in my room and also one in the room outside my door and my cats enjoy looking out these windows throughout the day. I enjoy adapting to whatever situation I find myself living in and I like figuring out how best to use whatever space I happen to have (and I’ve lived in all kinds of living spaces/situations). I have lived in large spaces and very small spaces and now in my senior years I find I want a much smaller space to live in and a lower rent. Ideally I will get a 1 bedroom apartment in the near future but until then I’m quite contented living where I am.

How I furnished my 1 room living space: I bought a futon/couch for $200 and that serves as a place to sit and as my bed at night. I double a thick comforter and cover the open futon to add some softness to the firmness of the futon (the firmness is good for my back), then put my pillows on my futon bed and my comforter as my cover. I sleep quite well on it. I have a tiny round table near the bed with a lamp, alarm clock, special air filter to catch cat hairs and cat dander, and some tissues on this table. I’m ordering inexpensive large storage bags that fit under the futon couch to store the bedding during the day. On a strong, but lightweight, metal bookcase with 4 shelves I have my “kitchen”. On top shelf I keep my electric burner with spatula and stirring spoons in back and near burners in a small fireproof container; you can cook 2 pots of food at one time on the electric burner. Also, some spices I use all the time fit on this shelf and a cooking timer. The shelf below holds my microwave oven with pot holders hanging over on either side held up by magnetic hooks. Next shelf holds a few dishes, bowls, utensils, cups, glasses, and plastic utensils. Bottom shelf holds my toaster oven and since I hardly use it I store my zip lock bags in it. The burners and microwave are plugged into a power cord and I only switch on one appliance at a time so I don’t overload the outlet. Near my “kitchen” is my large trash can. On one side of this “kitchen” on a TV tray (covered with large plastic bag as it gets a bit wet at times) is my coffee center with my Mr. Coffee, and Epic water filter pitcher. Adjacent to this is a large mirror in back of another TV tray also covered with plastic cover, with my grooming and makeup supplies. In another area of room, near the door, is a small folding table with a table lamp, portable radio, fan, and electric water heater for tea or making 1 cup of coffee in the reusable stainless steel 1 cup coffee filter I use, also on it is a big can of fresh coffee, stevia packets, and plastic spoons. Across from this table, and also near the door, is a small open space, a cutout between two walls, and there I put up a very small tension rod and made a tiny closet for myself and on the floor I keep my small vacuum cleaner, broom, dustpan and brush. Most of my clothes are in a wardrobe closet in the room outside my room. This wardrobe closet also contains shelves on the side where I keep towels, sheets, pillow cases, bathroom supplies, and various other odds and ends and supplies. There was a large built-in bookshelf already in the room which I use to keep cat food on the bottom shelf, coloring markers and art book for when I’m in mood to make designs and color mandela’s. Above that shelf is a shelf with some of my books, a couple of boxes with my personal papers, above that a shelf with my many natural supplements, above that a shelf with fruit bowl and decanters with alcohol which I keep for company (once in rare while may take a tiny bit of wine or brandy) and on top shelf keep a few photos and mainly my emergency LED lanterns and batteries for when there is a power outage. On floor in front of the bookshelf are 2 trays with cat food on small disposable plates and their water bowl. On the side of the bookshelf, on the floor, is their litter box. Then along same wall, I have my comfortable rocking chair with pillows and spread on it and in front of that is small table with my laptop and speaker. I got disgusted with both the commercials and the programs on TV, so I no longer watch TV and watch mainly free Youtube videos, movies and documentaries on YouTube and some on Amazon Prime. Amazingly enough, and almost all of the time, I watch the entire films on YouTube with no ads interrupting the films! In back of my rocking chair and against the wall are the cat scratching post with a place for 1 of the cats to sleep on top, and near their scratching post is their cat tunnel they play in. And near my rocking chair and against an adjacent wall is my eating table and chair and under that is a box with the cat toys and balls. Not much more is in this room.

Outside my room I keep my food in the refrigerator and freezer which I share with another (we each have our own shelves). There is the large sink that I use all the time and I use the washing machine and dryer a lot. There’s a baker’s shelving where I keep canned goods, and kitchen supplies and have a bin with absorbent kitchen towel on the bottom to keep dishes after I wash them (this baker’s shelving is near the sink). The shared bathroom is upstairs.

So this is my living situation right now and I’m make it more convenient for me as I go along. I’m working on living more simply, with minimalism and frugality being my goal and more time for fun, family, friends, creativity, reading, music, walks, dancing, exercise and all the good things in life! Also most importantly quiet time for reflection, meditation and prayer. And always being grateful for all my blessings.

I have always loved the Fall when many activities and classes start up again after the summer hiatus. I get happy when the Fall arrives! When younger the summers meant good times and I spent much time in the mountains (Northwest of New York City) of New Jersey at my dad’s country home in Plymouth Lake near Newton. I loved the lake and swimming; my dad tried to get me to come out of the water after many hours, often in vain! I loved the cute little toads I caught on my dad’s property and then released, loved the home grown tomatoes that my dad grew (so sweet and delicious). I loved the many times I just dreamed and meditated looking out at the calm waters of the Lake. And how all of us loved my dad’s delicious home cooked meals he made for us; he was a wonderful cook! But as much as I enjoyed the summers I always looked forward to the Fall when many activities I loved started up again.

Now that I’m older I still love the Fall! I love the cooler weather and the start again of the international folk dance classes that I love. Also I just went back to social dancing at a nearby Elk’s Club and that’s lot’s of fun. It’s a great time to get out of doors, take walks in the cooler weather, and take in the beautiful foliage and gorgeous colors of the leaves. Happy Fall everyone!