Simple Living Interview: The Simple White Rabbit

I’m excited to introduce you to other bloggers who have simplified through a monthly Simple Living Interview Series. They are simplifying their lives and experiencing all the benefits that come along with simplifying or minimalism. I’m asking each blogger to answer the same questions so that we can see similarities and differences in their individual journeys. The journey to simple is as varied as the people who travel that road.

I write about several different topics here on Setting My Intention – decluttering, meal planning, movement, mindfulness, budgeting…not for the sole purpose of being efficient and productive, but because they are often the first steps on the simplifying journey.

I hope this series encourages you to take one more step towards simplifying your life in a way that is right for you! I know I need the encouragement to keep simplifying for me and my family. Enjoy, and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Angela

Simple Living Interview: The Simple White Rabbit

Hi Christy! Can you introduce yourself to my readers – who you are, where you live, and what you blog about?

My name is Christy King, and I’m a gradual minimalist. I live in a suburb of Portland, Oregon with my husband and 17 year old son – plus a Sheltie and a cat.

Two years ago, my family downsized from a 2,270 square foot house on an acre and a half to a 1,250 square foot townhouse with no yard – though I do still grow a variety of herbs in containers on the balcony.

My hobbies include cooking, knitting, photography, hiking, and dog training. I’ve worked as a lawyer for more than 20 years.

For nearly three years now, I’ve also blogged about minimalism at The Simple White Rabbit.

Subjects include

tips for decluttering homes
tips for decluttering schedules,
creating more meaningful lives,
minimalists in history,
book reviews and
controversial elements of minimalism (e.g., is it classist? Is it sexist?).

What initially attracted you to simple living?

I’ve been drawn to simple living since my early twenties. Back then, I was thinking more of the self-sufficient type. I wanted to have a huge garden, goats for milk and hens for eggs.

We did eventually have a huge garden, hens for eggs, and goats (though not for milking, just as pets). It was a lot of fun, but too much work given our other commitments.

As life got busier, my desire for simplicity morphed into the more extreme minimalism of wanting to have everything I own fit in my car, but I knew that wasn’t practical with a family.

So I fantasized about a simpler life, but kept acquiring stuff. At some point, it became oppressive. I literally felt sick walking between the overflowing shelves in our garage.

It was only about five years ago that I actually did something about it. I finally realized I could simplify gradually, on my own schedule, that it was doable with kids and pets, and that I didn’t have to live in a tiny house or have only 100 things.

What are the benefits that you have found in simple living?

I feel like a different person. More easy-going and even-tempered. Happier and calmer. Freer and more flexible.

Living more deliberately also means I feel grateful for things that are so easy to take for granted, like the warmth of the sun on a spring day. On a more tangible level, we live in a much smaller place, so it’s a lot faster to clean and maintain.

With my new-found free time, I’ve been volunteering quite a lot at my church and for my son’s robotics team. I also have time to get to know my neighbors and participate in community activities.

And I can find things easily. Not that I misplace things that often, but it’s awesome to have fewer places to look and less stuff to sort through.

I still remember the first time I was missing a document and was able to find it in just a few minutes. Maybe that doesn’t mean much to some people, but those who’ve had foot-high “to file” piles know exactly what I mean.

If someone wanted to start living simply, what advice would you give them?

Start with the easy stuff.

Go through your house quickly and look for things you have no sentimental attachment to that you already know you’ll never use. This might be old newspapers and magazines, kitchen gadgets you’ve never used, pants that haven’t fit in several years, or your old college textbooks.

Next, move on the big stuff.

By big, I mean large in size. This is because you can spend what seems like an eternity on a pile of paper and barely make a dent in the total amount of stuff you have, but if you sell that canoe, motorcycle or extra dining room set, you can see the difference fast.

Because paperwork is a huge problem for most of us, and it’s one of the most dreaded decluttering tasks, start early to reduce what comes into your home:

Try to get all of your statements online instead of in your mailbox.
Cancel subscriptions for newspapers and magazines you don’t read.
Call and ask to be taken off catalog mailing lists.

Declutter each space more than once. I’ve found that some things that survive the first round are easy to let go on the second round. If you’re still having trouble, try third and fourth rounds. Just be sure you wait at least a month between attempts.

Most importantly, choose a simplification method that works for your lifestyle. If you’re the kind of person who would like to take a week’s vacation and spend it all decluttering, and be done with it, go for it. I focus on gradual minimalism because that fits my own personality and lifestyle better, but do what works best for you.

You can find Christy on Twitter or Facebook.

This post will be shared at these lovely link-up parties.

Comments

Melinda says

March 14, 2017 at 7:44 pm

Angela, I really like this series! Great idea!!
It’s fun to read about other people, and their simplifying lives.
And just maybe, I can make a new friend too!
Thanks!
- Angela says
  
  March 17, 2017 at 9:48 pm
  
  Thanks Melinda! I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I hope this does open up new friendships!
Heather says

March 15, 2017 at 10:21 am

Awesome series! I’m a simple living wanna be. My family would never let me, but I love the concept.
- Angela says
  
  April 11, 2017 at 7:30 am
  
  Hi Heather! Thanks for reading. I think we can all simplify our lives in ways that make sense to us and our living situations. I know I’m striving to do that!