Friday, Aug 16, 2019
Two Weeks
In 14 days I will be flying out of Ecuador to live in Colombia. It would be a lie to say I 100% know what I’m doing moving there. I don’t. What I do know is that living here isn’t working for me anymore, and when I was in Medellin I enjoyed the vibe, so it’s time.
Isolation
Part of what has changed for me here is that I’m lonely. As much as I love living in my place on the beach it is easy for me to isolate, and be out of the flow of activity with other people. Netflix has become too close of a friend. She and I need some time apart. 😉
Isolating also creates a problem learning and engaging in Spanish with others. My plan when I get to Colombia is to plug back into school at Colombia Immersion for some private Spanish lessons. While I was there I was taught most of the grammar, now I just want more time engaging in conversations that use the breadth of it.
Dorm Living
I’ve rented an Airbnb room for a month not too far from the school. During the month of September I will be looking for a place to live with a longer term outlook. I feel good that the right place will show up for me. This is going to be a new adventure, and remembering that helps me be excited about this move.
I have sold most everything I wanted to sell. For the rest, I plan on donating or finding people who can use the stuff. Anything left after that will hit the trash bin because in the end, I am not taking it with me. I enjoy the feeling of freedom not having stuff to weigh me down. Do you know that feeling?
Fuck the Stuff
“Stuff” is a big deal in the lives of so many people. The space it consumes is way beyond physical. There is an energetic piece that takes up emotional and mental space in the psyche of a person. Think about that closet, filled with stuff you have been wanting to clean out. When you think about cleaning it out, how many times have you said, “I just can’t deal with it right now”?
Isn’t that kinda weird? It’s just stuff. Logically it is something you either use or don’t use. If you aren’t using it why do you keep it? And the next question is, even if you might use it at some time in the future, will you remember you have it? With the stuff I have accumulated in the last 3 years, I can honestly say I didn’t remember having much of it when I saw it this week.
So here is to ridding ourselves of “stuff”! When I can free myself of stuff I create emotional capacity and mental space. I am able to allow new things to come into my life. Leaving Ecuador with only two suitcases is part of the process for me to create space for all that Colombia may have to offer.
Beautiful Space
Last night I had the emotional space to take in a rare sunset during this time of the year.
Chau
I wish you all the luck in the world!! I understand exactly what you are saying!!! I’m planning on living in Olon in June! Some think I’m making a good decision and some think not!! I’ll find out!! I’ll keep in touch and always read your posts!!!
Thanks Darryel. Good luck on your move to Olon as well!
George Carlin did a great commentary on Stuff. Myself I have given away 3 households of stuff and yet today I have a home full of quality stuff…it always comes back :). I have lived for 2 years in isolation on a mountain top (when I was much younger) to try to find the wisdom of the world – found myself instead LoL. Right now this is your path leading you back to whence you came. My hope for you is that you find what you need to find and rest peacefully until it is your time to transition – I have gone from total solitude to an amazing array of friends and I am resting peacefully until I transition.
Thank you Catherine. Beautifully expressed. 🙂
I am so happy for you Todd! Time to shake it up and have a new adventure. We will also be doing the two suitcase thing and it’s not easy! Ha! I thought I was the only one who totally forgot about my squirreled away stuff. I hope we meet up again sometime, somewhere. All the best to you and keep writing!!
Thanks Sharon! Good luck on your move as well!!
Go for Todd; nothing like a new adventure to get you rockin’ and rolling. I’m 73 and finally realized that i’m not going to be able to travel forever…..I’ve got 3 good trips planned and going to keep rollin’ until the rockin’ stops. good luck, love your posts.
pferg
You are inspiring Patrick. Thanks for your comments, and for reading! \
Todd