Having just finished up packing and decluttering over multiple months, I can empathize with you. Try to accomplish a bit each day and give yourself more time than you think you might need. We spent a few months slowly downsizing and preparing for a move, but it still ended in a week of 16 hour days packing/cleaning/moving. There is definitely wisdom in getting rid of everything at the outset, but you can always just rent a storage unit for the time being if that makes life easier. I didn't want to give up much of my library, and definitely not my record collection, so storage was necessary. DW and I weren't sure what the next stages of life would look like down the road, so it made sense to hold onto a lot of stuff (kitchen gadgets, bicycles, camping/backpacking gear, sewing machine, art supplies, parts of the wardrobe, etc...).AnalyticalEngine wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2024 12:53 pmMoving
I'm realizing I have to dump everything from my schedule except self-care and moving tasks, which I've been making progress on. Instead of moving to Boulder, what I have decided I'm going to do is rent some three month rentals in different cities and travel for awhile before settling down. I think it would benefit me to see more of the country again instead of just staying in Colorado. If I decide I love Colorado the most, I'll just come back.
This means downsizing everything I own into the size of a car basically, which is an absolutely enormous task. So much work, and I don't even own that much! I have a new appreciation for minimalism as I'm realizing 95% of what I own is not really required. Like, my book collection can be sold and replaced with kindle books, I don't really need 90% of my kitchen gadgets, etc. I'm pretty much just giving most of this away as I've come to see my time as more valuable than money here.
If you decide to move around, I'd second New Orleans as a great option. It is a particularly unique American city that clearly values the arts. You'd just need to carefully select what time of year you'd visit or stay.
One downside with moving periodically is that it is hard to establish and settle into routines. While that provides a level of excitement, it also demands some cognitive bandwidth. In my recent experience, it demands a bit more discipline when prioritizing health.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here. I tend to lean towards the notion that travel and experiencing new places will get harder as I'm older, so I'm prioritizing that now.