You said it, I didn't, but I'm happy to continue on the topic

The single most interesting thing about minimalism, for me, is how QUICK people have been to assign me the label, even before I've decided whether I'm comfortable with it myself. When bluechromis was over last, she said "It's funny to watch a minimalist and a packrat fighting it out." When islenskr posted about not coveting possessions, she titled it "Hey, flexagon...". In a way, people's quickness to say "yes, you are this thing" makes me think there is something about it that suits me.

Today we each took a backpack-load of paint thinners, ammonia, non-latex paint and other evil stuff to the Department of Public Works, and then I took another load of my personal things to Goodwill, but those things aren't the point. The point is that with everything that leaves, the things that stay are thrown into sharper relief.

It's also a way of becoming more comfortable in my own house. I used to be afraid to go into the garage and now I'm not. I know exactly what's out there, and any spiderwebs will be easily visible. I know what is (well, was) in my junk drawers and my closet. There are still places where strange things might be hiding (some papers waiting their turn to be filed; those shoeboxes full of tights and socks; that one drawer in the bedroom) but those islands are shrinking.

Also, you know how stuff gets shabby sometimes? You think of upgrading it (fixing, oiling, sewing, replacing, painting, buying that new part), but oh god, if you did that then you should take similar care of the several other things in that category... and just throw out that one that's beyond saving... and while you're there then maybe you should reorganize that whole corner, which has been in need of paint for forever, and oh forget it.

Well, because my list of physical items no longer seems infinite, neither does that chore list, anymore. As an example, right now I have one pair of high heeled sandals, and they're in need of shoe glue because their foot lining is peeling up. I'm going to glue them, wear them and see if I still like them. It's not a big deal, and that'll be it for the whole category! Then the category will expand because my order from crocs.com will arrive. Yes, I like every minimalism post to contain an acquisitive, consumerist note, just for aesthetic contrast.

I love how renovations and new cabinets feel like exciting consumption but stay with the house. It's like some awesome wormhole in the usual curves of thing-ownership, by which you can spend thousands of dollars on new shiny things and still not own any more than you did when you started. :-)

2goodthings

I've let myself get overly grouchy this evening, so... the gym today.

First cool thing -- a guy walked over to me while I was doing lat pulldowns and said, very sincerely, I think you're Superwoman. I guess he'd watched me bench press the 45s, decided to try it himself and found them a little too heavy, so he came over just to let me know he was impressed. How sweet! No, he didn't hit on me, just delivered the compliment and took off. Note to guys, though, that's a great first line. :-)

Second cool thing -- cheered by the first cool thing, I in turn complimented an older guy who was doing fingertip pushups. He couldn't really remember how he started doing them or trained up to them, so he encouraged me to Just Try It. I found I was able to do a fingertip pushup position, anyway, though the pressure on the fingertips is pretty intense. (You have to squeeze all your fingers inward just to keep your weight from splaying them outward and hurting under the fingernails.) Anyway, fingertip pushups! I have the strength, just need the technique. So that's my next gym goal -- one day soon I'm going to drop down and bust that move myself.