Driving Back From Vegas

Oh wow, I forgot how boring the drive is. Luckily Gordon is in the driver's seat and navigating us back home. We're 2 hours out of Vegas and just passed Barstow. Not bad. 2 more hours to go! Thinking now about food... Though 4 hours ago, as we left the Wynn buffet, we both swore we'd never eat again. Should probably wait 'til we're closer to L.A. so as to spare us the awful chains with the dangerous bottomless fries.

Had a bit of an epiphany today. Realized that I have too much 'stuff'. I have survived for 3 weeks (first in Cannes, then Vegas) on the same suitcase of clothes and toiletries and gadgets. How much more do I really need? I have SO MUCH CRAP at home. It's embarrassing. When I moved in with Gordon last October, I packed up 5 years of crap - crap I actually narrowed down from all the real crap I tossed - and brought it to the new place. It doesn't fit and I have probably 30 boxes that I haven't even unpacked. They are taking up space in various corners.

Well after 3 weeks of hotel living, I have gotten a taste of starting fresh and living off necessities. I really like it!! I feel better and lighter and not bogged down (Swampy!) by crap. I had three gorgeous nights at the MGM Signature, in a kick-ass one-bedroom apartment. No random knick-knacks, no old office supplies that I'm keeping "just in case" I suddenly have to do 30 reports on cardstock. It was different when I was freelancing - money was tight and I had to pay for supplies out of pocket. It was quite handy to have those 30 boxes of labels (thank you MGM!) In case I needed to do a mailer to promote my services. Now - at the very least - I can expense the office supplies. I don't need to hoard.

So my resolution is to whittle it all down. Not all at once. I don't have a week for the full project. I need to stick to a goal I can manage, so I'm resolving to get rid of at least one box per week. Maybe I'll get inspired and do more than one in a week. But I'm not going to set myselfup to fail. This is an ambitious goal for me - living with less clutter - and I need to do it right.

Cross your fingers.