Burt, is it too late? I moved over here when I took early retirement at age 53.

Naw... I'm just bitching and complaining about the folly of youth.

We're good right where we are by God's Grace.

As so many people have stated, that your dreams change and mature as time goes by.

I made a choice to keep the family business even though the skill set is pretty much as a Scullery maid.

But the stability gives me the opportunity to pursue interests of the mind and soul in a private manner.

I am so grateful you were able to retire @ 53 !!!

That is some incredible money management !!

Whoo Hoo !!! !!!!

It really is screwy in my case as I started the bi-polar before it was the soup de jour back in 1977.

Fight or Flight was really messed up and I think that this rash of 4000% increase in Bi-Polar since the turn of the 2000 is really the spiritual / material evolution of the right and left hemispheres try to establish balance.

As in the travail of birth.

If you look objectively at Bible and dare I say Our Lord Jesus Christ -- the whole thing is bi-polar.

Getting off of topic is part of my condition... not an excuse but the important evades and the trivial is pronounced.

Now as far as stuff goes... man is that a touchy subject.

Because my older ' educated ' brothers forced Dad to have an ' estate sale ' while he was living -- his emotionally inherent items which got him though the WWII were sold so ' the brothers ' were written out of the will.

Dad is first generation, so he didn't understand the psychology of establishing boundaries and socking away the earnings in an untouchable manner until say age 35 or so...

So, the Cain and Able brother conflict destroyed huge sums of cash and a lot of hearts.

Well... enough for my spiel.

Sad, but true... if I seem like a downer, Connie and I are still healing from a 12-year full-war.

The Conflict ?

Dad & Mom and live-in Uncle John's right to pursue their retirement as they choose.

I'm not an angel, but I choose to keep them in their business and home while the older ' brothers ' forcibly wanted to push them into a condominium.

What a waste.. but hey... we're still here !

Your brothers were selfish, Burt, but you acted out of love. That is very admirable. I know your dear parents are gone now to a better place, but is your uncle still here?

It is sad that precious momentos were sold because your brothers did not appreciate them. Hopefully someone else is enjoying those items. Everything else is just stuff, and real happiness lies within, as you know. Somewhere along the line the ones who cause suffering will be made to atone for it, no worries on that score.

Hang in there Burt, you are a great man. Peace, my Brother.

Susan.....that's great that you made a move that was good for you and makes you happy at this time in your life.

Living simply with less stuff is more peaceful too, I think. I bet cleaning out your place felt so good when it was done.

I did some cleaning out Saturday and it felt really good. Mind you it was only 2 upper kitchen cabinets and my thimble collection. But it was a start! And I immediately took the give away stuff to Goodwill so it isn't taking up space on my back porch.

Stuff with me is tricky - I love to collect knick-knacks (and candle/holders) but can't stand clutter and dusting. I have learned how to control it better but stuff still seems to creep into the house. A lot of it is gifts I received but some of it is impulse purchases.

To reduce a lot of my clutter/stuff I gave away all the books I will never read or added them to paperbackswap.com along with CD's that I added to cdswap.com. All movies and music will be digital going forward - can't go digital on books quite yet.

I scanned and shredded a two drawer filing cabinet worth of paper with the exception of what the IRS requires me to keep for taxes. That was a great feeling! I hate having a lot of paper around.

The only stuff the I really have a hard time parting with:

Stuffed animals (really need to grow up!)
College text books - will never use them but can't seem to get rid of them
Kitchen stuff - took years to collect and though I don't use it all you never know when you will need that odd shaped pan

I just read this great article in the Bellaonline New Age site:
Being Satisfied with Enough. Great piece on figuring out the internal needs behind wanting to aquire, and asking yourself how much you really want.

Thanks for the link, Jilly. That is such a sensible article.

I have found that I need more non-material things as opposed to material things these days. The important things in my life are not material anymore, although there are a few possessions I do enjoy. It is just not a priority anymore for me to acquire things, especially after a few major life changing events that ocurred in the past several years. I have changed my perspective and as a result I am more at peace without the need for "stuff".

Debbie, how awesome that you are finding this wealth of inner life! I wish this was something taught in our society, instead of the buy more, want more mentality.

What non-material things are you needing, then?

Jilly......my needs these days are for inner peace, loving relationships with my family and friends, interaction with nature, quiet time to pray, meditate, and to just be, and enough sleep. In time besides peace, I hope to find happiness again. I am still grieving over the loss of my sweet boyfriend, so my moments of happiness right now are brief. I would like to feel happy a lot more, but I accept what is. At least I have peaceful moments which helps a lot.

I just landed a job so I will be able to hopefully keep my head above water with my bills. There will not be extra money for luxuries because it does not pay much, but I don't need or want anything except to take care of basic needs for myself and my animals.