A bit on Less is More?

A movement for smaller places is moving across the whole country as Baby Boomers are retiring.  Since people are living much longer, they are consolidating their space.  They no longer need all the space they did when they wee raising a family or entertaining on a grand scale. 

Del Webb, years ago came up with the idea of retirement villages, now we are seeing PUDS (Planned Unit Developments) pop up.  These are like old fashioned neighborhoods.  You can walk or take your golf cart, or bike to the grocery store, restaurants, theatres and even town squares.  There are a lot of these in Florida, and retirement states along with all other areas of the country.

People feel that more square feet in a house is better.  How many rooms do you actually use in your house?  Is more better?  I am now a believer in less.  Utilize the space that I have.

Our home has had a revolving door for the last 4 years, with children and grandchildren moving in and out.  We have to have two guest rooms although one doubles as the computer room.  We have so many relatives and live in Florida, that we usually have a lot of company.  We have what the last owners used as a media room.   We used the top for a library and the rest for a poker room.  Now it has become my arts and crafts room.

So let me count the rooms we use, Kitchen, dinette, family room,( which in many states would be called the hearth room as it sits open to the kitchen and has a fireplace).  The computer room and my art room.  Of course you have to count the bathrooms.  We rarely use the dining room or the living room.  So I really think now, less is more.

If you are downsizing, start deciding what you can't live without, and what you absolutely love.  Start giving away what is good but you no longer need.  I now know I need to start doing that with my children. 

Below are two curio cabinets full of things I have collected over the years.  In the attic are all the boxes for them with each child's name on. Now is the time to find out if they really like the item, tell them to take it. 

It takes me 2 days to clean them now as I get older and I don't care about all that stuff.  When people walk in, they are awed by what I have and how I decorate.  Guess what?  That's what I have done for almost my whole life.

 I will have to take another picture in the evening so you can see it better without the light.  It is mirrored in the back so it does reflect.

They are both full of things that just have to be cleaned.  I'd rather have fun!!!!!!!!!!  Remember that as you are shopping.  It also depends on your age and your family needs and wants.

What do you have to get rid of?