When I am the least bit inconvenienced my first thought is “What do I need to buy to make this better?”
For example, my first night in New Mexico, the temperature dropped to 35 degrees inside my camper. After shivering uncomfortably all night, I thought, “I need to buy a portable heater”.
I tried to buy one that day but couldn’t find any. The next night, I slept in my wool long johns, my fleece jacket, my fleece hat and under all three of my blankets, including my heavy army wool blanket.
I had everything I needed to stay warm. I didn’t need to buy anything.
When I lived in a house, if I bought something and really liked it, I would immediately order another.
I can’t do that anymore. I don’t have space for spares. In fact, I don’t have space for the stuff I already have.
And yet, when I wear my Marmot shirt that I love, I can’t help but think, “I should buy another one for when this one wears out.”
But I don’t, because I have three other shirts that are nearly identical to the Marmot (which is not close to being worn out). I don’t need another shirt.
I went to a Tractor Supply Store this week to pickup a few supplies.
Tractor Supply is kind of like a farm store, a hardware store and a department store. It carried everything – clothes, dog food, tools, farm supplies, RV equipment, trailer hardware, food and more.
I almost bought a hat. Then I remembered I have three hats.
I put dog treats in my cart. Then I remembered I have a bins full of dog treats in the truck.
I grabbed a 5 gallon bucket that was on sale, then put it back because I have two already.
In the end, I left the store with nothing, which was exactly what I needed.
I am surprised by how habituated I’ve become to buying something to make my life “easier”.
Once I buy something I have to pay for it, store it, find it, maintain it and often, remember I even have it.
Being on the road living in a small camper has been a wake up call for me.
If there’s danger, I have to take care of it immediately with whatever I have on hand.
When bad weather hits, it is too late for me to buy my way out. I make do.
I’ve had to McGyver solutions for storage, dealing with high winds, cooking and keeping warm – using whatever gear I have in my truck.
And it’s all been fine.
It helps that I had two experienced friends help me select gear for camping. I have a leatherman, a Kershaw folding knife, a good flashlight and Merriwool long underwear. I read blogs and watched videos about car camping and van life which helped me select good gear for solar power, refrigeration, storage and more.
On the road I’ve purchased food, gas, water, a sleeping bag, binoculars and some hooks for the camper.
I don’t want anything more.
I don’t need anything more.
My goal over the next few weeks is to eat the food I have have stockpiled and get rid of anything else I’m carting around that I don’t use.
(The Tasco Binoculars from Walmart were a bad purchase. They’re garbage and will be dropped off at the next thrift store. I’ll do without any until I can find good ones or decide I can do without.)
I thought that giving away everything I owned before moving into my trailer was the conclusion of my “great purge”.
Instead, it was just the beginning.