It’s been a long time coming, but barring any unforeseen circumstances, we begin our return journey to Albania on June 30. There are no non-stop flights. So, the challenge was to find the least complicated, shortest flight that allowed small pets in the cabin. Lufthansa met all of these requirements. Our only layover is in Munich. I am excited!

Things I Have Learned About Getting Rid of Nearly Everything

The Process

It’s next to impossible to keep to anything resembling a plan. Why? What you think will work, doesn’t. There will be things that you haven’t considered. There will be random surprises (like a storm blowing off a piece of trim off of the house). People commit and don’t follow through.

Be adaptable and roll with the setbacks. Accept that the process is messy. Instead of a plan, make a list and keep taking bites out of it.

Sometimes saving money isn’t saving money. We needed to divest ourselves of everything except for what we were taking to Albania - which is very little. Four suitcases. We had initially considered hiring someone to do an estate sale. The company we reached out to made the statement, “if you’re lucky you’ll break even.” That didn’t seem like a great deal at the time. Little did we know….

We worked everyday for 6 weeks. We’d accomplished a lot, but we were still a long way from finished. At this point we were both physically and mentally exhausted. (I now viscerally understand, “I’m too old for this shit.”) We ended up hiring help. Yep, paying to get rid of our stuff.

Breaking even and not having had to do the work sounds like a great option now.

Everything will take longer than you expect. Whatever task it is, add at least 25% more time to it. You will overestimate your own efficiency and stamina. You will also underestimate the sheer flakiness of others. I expected us to be heading back to Albania in 6 - 7 weeks; it will ultimately be slightly over 9 weeks.

The Psychological

I never want to own that much stuff again. The American dream: a house, a yard, and all the things. That’s just not me. I realize that for some it is and they take great pleasure in these things. I have a dear friend who delights in caring for her home. Awesome. But for me this lifestyle has proven to be a weight.

For me a small condo - a sanctuary - minimal things, and more experiences is the ticket. I’ve lived in condos three times before and loved it. I’m looking forward to returning to that lifestyle.

When our house sells, the transition will be complete.