Category: Simplicity - A Cottage by the Sea

Simplicity: living simply, simply means being.

12/9/2024

This blog is for those who are looking for silence, solitude and simplicity, and who sometimes like to be along. For all of the fifteen years of its existence, I haven't written much about simplicity--I haven't even thought much about it. Silence and solitude always seemed to be center front for me, trusting that simplicity would follow. And besides, simplicity was a given. Of course, we all want simplicity!
As I grow older (on December 30th I turn 85), I find that simplicity is offering me new understandings and desires. I'm getting rid of stuff in the house; I've stepped away from commitments at church; I run the household as simply as I can; I'm not traveling alone any more. These all feel like natural evolutions.
What feels dramatically different, however, is my personal understanding of leisure. What used to be a break from my busy, productive life, I now consider as part of my life. Leisure is what I do, along with cooking, exercising, brushing my teeth… I simply figure out what I want to eat; I simple walk; I simply brush my teeth; I simply take leisurely moments. Less thought, less planning, less thinking. Hmm, maybe living simply, simply means being.

Simplicity, patience, compassion--it's as simple as that!

4/29/2024

"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion,"  attributed to Lao Tzu.  I don't have to be a semi-legendary ancient Chinese philosopher born in 571 BCE aspire to that!
       If I can accomplish simplicity, patience, and compassion for one day, or part of a day, or even a minute or two, I will have helped clear the path to peace--for myself, for those around me, and even for the world. Peace will grow. It's as simple as that!
        This morning I found myself commenting on the fact that I had run out of flour for the brownies I was about to bake. If I can refrain from speaking out about such small inconveniences, my patience will grow. It's as simple as that!
         Yesterday I was annoyed at the news. If I can remind myself that those with whom I disagree are human beings like me, my compassion will grow. It's as simple as that!

Simple Christmas plans

12/24/2022

Another Christmas. The longer you live, the more memories you have! Duh! We all know that, but this year I’m particularly feeling it, and appreciating it. Why? Because this year our plans are quiet, which gives me time to ponder. My son and his wife will come for Christmas Eve dinner and will spend the night; tomorrow I am offering the church service at church. We had plans for a family gathering at my nieces for Christmas dinner but Covid, choosing to visit several family members—very mildly—, took charge of cancelling the plans.
But I am not disappointed. I am content with simple plans, with memories and gratitude. It is enough!

We only need one car

5/10/2021

Now here is simplicity for you. No, not for you to follow, but as example of what we are able to do to simplify at this juncture in our life. “We now only have one car.” That’s the positive way of reporting it. I could have said, “We got rid of one of our cars,” which isn’t a negative statement, but may give a little clue to how delighted we are.
We don’t need two cars anymore. We can share. We are saving money by not paying insurance, registration, yearly inspection, and maintenance. We have more room in the garage. We gave the car to our son who will pass it on to one of our grandchildren. We kept it in good condition, but his mechanic will give it a look-over to be certain it is still good for the road.
That 2004 green Camry made important trips with me. Trips around town; trips to visit my mom; trips to the cottage-by-the-sea. Throughout it’s entire life, it proudly wore an Obama-Biden sticker, which I told me son, may be worth more than the car itself.

A simple couch

8/28/2018

Here it is, a slide show of simplification; of how simple it is to get rid of a thirty year old couch in preparation for a new one.
The ease was all about Handyman Russ who figured out how to get the HEAVY couch out the sliding door and down the driveway to where it is now waiting for someone to see the “For Free” sign and come by with a pickup truck and haul it away.
The rules are simple: have a strong and clever helper friend, and give it away. Now, all we need is faith there is a lucky person out there who will want it, need it, and love it.

Simple and profound

7/11/2018

     I’ve had a few days of relative solitude since the active July 4th week. For me, I don’t crave solitude because I need to get away from it all, although that is sometimes an added benefit. I need solitude because it restores me so I can get back into it all. Too much of a good thing, be it time alone or time in community, and it becomes not a good thing.
     What I’ve just written sound simplistic, you might say, and I might agree. Nevertheless, I seem to need to clarify that for myself, and so I do, here in public. Sometime I can’t tell the difference between my simple thoughts and ones that might be profound.
     Back to my reading, both simple and profound.

Solitude rides with simplicity

6/4/2018

     You know me, I search for solitude, but I don’t want it all the time. Good thing because I couldn’t have it, no matter what. Even those self-proclaimed hermits who try to live silently in the woods can’t attain the goal. In fact, their entire existence is about getting away from civilization, which undoubtedly encourages them to think disapprovingly of society--everyone gets in their way.
     I don’t dwell on solitude very much. Maybe that’s because I have enough or know how to get it when I need it. Different life stages offer different kinds and amounts of solitude. When I was ages 3-12 (they used to call it ‘latency’) I spent hours in alone outside in the woods. I have so many memories of making little forts, packing my ‘stuff’ and heading out to play by myself. When my children were young and I was working, I longed for and worked hard to attain times alone.
     So what do I think of the huge trailer parked on the street in my daughter’s neighborhood? Lots of work before getting on the road; it can’t be simple to drive the thing; expensive to purchase, maintain, and fill with gas. Not my idea of solitude, but I understand the sentiment.
     For me, solitude is connected to simplicity--simple to slip into, like my Angel Room. I walk through the door and sit down.

Simple solution to a lost car key

4/27/2018

     Here is the most simple solution to a lost car key problem these days. You don’t just go to Home Depot where they make you a new one for $3 plus. No, yesterday I sat in the spacious lobby/waiting room of my local Toyota dealer waiting for a new key to be programmed for my car, to the tune of $300 plus. The lost key is in my house, somewhere between the garage and kitchen. Or, maybe it’s at the dump.
    I’d been using the spare for the last couple of months, which fine as long as I don’t lose it. Then I am in deep expensive trouble. After having the car towed in (remember, spare key lost) they would have to reprogram from inside (remember, spare key lost), to the tune of $800 plus.
    The cost yesterday included labor, $100 plus per hour, and the key, $100 plus. Obviously this is not a Home Depot key. I get that people have to live, but, when I bought the car I had no choice about this key feature that is all about protecting my car from being stolen. My attitude may be an age thing.
     On the other hand, we drove our last Toyota for fourteen years before delegating it to local trips to the town dump. I certainly don’t want this one stolen. No chance: I feel expensively protected.

Keeping it simple

3/23/2018

We’re trying to keep our newly painted living and dining room simple. The very look of those pristine walls is a deterrent to lifting that hammer and nail. A few paintings to compliment well-placed furniture is our new look. We can do this!
Keeping those boxes of books closed, however, is not as simple. I kept the books I wanted, so why not put them back on the shelves? Yes, why not since we’re planning to stay in this old house for a while? The first box I’ll open is one marked “Italy.” In two weeks I’ll be in Rome.

History and secrets will remain~

3/4/2018

     We are ready for the painters to start their masterpiece tomorrow morning at 8. We have taken away every treasure, painting, and piece of furniture in the living room, dining room and bathroom. Each is stripped down to simple, and our plan is not to load them back up with everything we possess.
      When you make extensive, physical, and visual changes to the place you have called home for forty years, you become aware that this stripping away is not simple, nor is it complete. The smudges, nail holes, and more, are still there, reminding us of the life these walls have seen. Although the painters will cover the smudges and fill in the holes, the history and secrets will remain.
     Life will continue to be lived in the rooms; our hope is that it will be one of a simple veneer.