After several simplistic approaches to my life and wardrobe to fit into the bus–including what I then-thought was complete purging, my split wardrobe (to fit each half seasonally into my “walk-in” closet in the bus), and my fight or flight desire to further downsize–I know more work exists still.

For sometime now, Cody and I have been contemplating where we will settle and plant roots, where we will find our land on this earth.  Even more, we’ve been afraid that our very tiny home simply will not accommodate our growing family.  The thought of ditching the bus brings my heart to the ocean bottom.  Last night I recommitted to the bus until it just doesn’t fit or feel right. I think if we approach our living in a way that conducts positive space and instead of looking in windows of other people’s lives and seeing space that we could have or don’t have, we can make a very tiny space work with our small family of four.  At least while the children are young and small.

Thus, I’ve been searching every little nook for more space to declutter and am approaching an even more minimalistic lifestyle!  It seems to start with my simplifying my wardrobe (how can one have more to simplify after such frequent stops to the donation bin, you wonder? Years of fashionista-esque wardrobes, my friend).  My soon-to-be mother-in-law just read the book The Joy of Less by Miss Minimalist and thought Francine and I shared sentiments on simplification.  I immediately read several articles on her blog and found that we do indeed share sentiments.

I am inspired!  I am inspired to an experiment, of sorts.  I am going to downsize my possessions even more, yes, even more.  This season is about refreshing for me.  I am going to spend the fall eliminating unnecessary things even further!  Starting with a “uniform”–the sort of uniform Francine speaks of in her article Extreme Minimalism: Wardrobe.  She offers the contents of her dream uniform.  Mine is a tad larger, but in essence, the same thing.

Yesterday on a drive in Maine, Cody and I were talking a lot about my experiment.  I wondered what society would think.  If I only wore one outfit.  And naturally laundry came up.  How would I wash my outfit?  And how would I even choose just one outfit?  I love dressing up! Then I got to thinking about having a few of the same outfit, but that felt righteous and what for?  But then it dawned on me that if I kept one of each type of clothing (skirt, dress, shirt, etc.) then I could keep my wardrobe clean and have less–much, much less–but still potentially have enough to not wear the same outfit twice in a week.  He suggested I store the remaining wardrobe (because we don’t plan on living in a tiny space forever, and that way if the experiment feels all wrong, I can have my wardrobe back without paying for the goods).

I will rid my closet of most its contents and I will leave the following:

:: one pair of blue jeans
:: one skirt
:: one pair of shorts
:: one dress (I just got this in black at Stripe and I’m in love.  It is also the perfect maternity dress, by the way, and it has a zillion potential ways to style via the large ties)
:: one long-sleeved shirt
:: one short-sleeved shirt
:: one sleeveless shirt
:: one sweater
:: one jacket

Some things I could see keeping multiples of include undergarments, tights/leggings/hose accessories, and shoes.  I’m really nervous.  And I’m really excited.  And there are lots of butterflies fluttering in my stomach.  But when I think about how much space my closet takes up in the bus, I realize it’s a little selfish to take up that much room while we are living so minimally.  So, I’m going to downsize, once again, y’all.  Big time.  There is a lot of opportunity for other items in that small space, to get them out of their odd place in the bus.  I’m so down with maximizing efficiency.  It’s time to put it into action.  Stay tuned as this Autumn is all about Minimalism.

And, please, do tell me how you would minimize your life!  What would you declutter?  How would you start the downsizing?