As I write this, Linda and I live in a 600-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment so each of our possessions has to earn its place in the overall constellation of stuff we own. And so with minor exception we generally adopt the “one in, one out” rule of ownership. Once we get a new item we usually phase out the old one, either by donating it or disposing of it, depending on the state of the item in question.

It is one effective means of managing one’s material possessions. And it enabled us to move from south of the Mason-Dixon line to New England, not once but twice, with virtually all we owned packed (tightly) in our lone vehicle. The first time it was with our convertible via ferry to an island thirty miles out to sea! So hear me when I say living and moving more freely and lightly is possible with the right strategy.

Of course, I realize our chosen mode of living is not necessarily for everyone else to emulate. But adopting a simple course of action with respect to managing your stuff will yield huge dividends whenever it comes time to move, or even to host guests without stressing over your living situation. Suffice it to say that getting and keeping your home in order is much easier with such a system in place.  

So Christmas came early to our home this year, as I splurged on a new pair of noise cancelling headphones (pictured above) during an online sale after Thanksgiving. But I had worn out several cheaper pairs over the years and planned to opt for what I hope is “a final solution” to my headphone needs. And with our tight quarters and Linda on the phone all day with her work, I NEED me some good noise cancellation!

Henry David Thoreau describes a similar process: “I bought me a spy-glass some weeks since. I buy but few things and those not till long after I began to want them so that when I do get them I am prepared to make a perfect use of them.” And Glenn Adamson writes in Fewer, Better Things: The Hidden Wisdom of Objects: “If we were to bring objects into our lives one by one, each time with genuine care, it would be better for us, better for society, better for the planet.”