Nothing is so good it lasts eternally,
Perfect situations must go wrong,
But this has never yet prevented me,
Wanting far too much,
For far too long…Elaine Paige – “I know Him So Well”
There’s some tough decisions being made here. My Hackintosh desktop computer with it’s two wonderful monitors will be left behind and I’m selling all my Nikon camera gear. My Olympus 4/3’s camera, with support from a point-and-shoot and my iPhone5s, will be my camera kit. The smaller Olympus fits the lighter lifestyle we’re seeking. Still, nothing has fit my hands so well as Nikon cameras.
You willing to pack and ship that nice office of yours Earl?
Not pack and ship, Mark, but that nice office is attached to a nice house which will soon be going up for sale. You’d probably love North Carolina! :-)
I didn’t sell my Canon gear for the same reason that you’re selling your Nikon stuff, but I definitely understand how you’re feeling. I’d used Canon gear for so long that I’d begun to believe that that’s how all camera manufacturers did things, that all the knobs and menu choices were basically the same. Not so. I’m still learning the “Olympus System”. Every now and then I make a discovery and say to myself, “So that’s how you do that!” And, from time to time, I still miss the 5D II. It was heavy, but I liked it.
After using Nikons for years I automatically compare any camera I pick to the Nikon layout, controls and feel — it’s the baseline. Maybe one day I will no longer do that but I wouldn’t bet on it!
You made my heart skip a beat! LOL As I’m not doing any professional work with my Nikon, I have thought about selling them off and just using the Fujifilm X-E1 and the 18-55mm f2.8-4.0 kit lens and my iphone. I hardly ever use the Nikons. I could then add one more lens to the Fuji and be fine for my photography. But, Oh that mans cave! That turns the old stomach. :-) Does it make it easier for Bonnie to let go the dresses and shoes?
Of course it saddens me to sell my Nikon gear and eventually my office and man cave but they’re just things…nice things, but things. I still have a wonderful kit with the Olympus. I don’t think either Bonnie or I have a terribly hard time letting things go…and beyond the initial angst it feels somewhat liberating. It certainly makes it all feel real! :-)
I’ve just caught up with all your news Earl and… wow! I must have been away for longer than I thought. This is quite an adventure you and Bonnie are preparing for yourselves. Good for you.
Many years ago we met an Australian couple in their late 70’s who had spent the previous 20 years living in a RV and travelling the world. We first met them in California. They were in the process of going from Panama to Alaska along the West coast. They figured the trip would take them 7 years. Yep, they weren’t in any hurry. We kept in touch for another decade or more but finally lost contact with them. The last time we heard from them they had just returned from a five year trip around Scandinavia.
When my wife and I got married, we decided to have a six month honeymoon and prior to leaving we sold practically everything we owned. All we had left fitted in two backpacks. It was the best feeling ever. I’ve been thinking a lot about those days lately. We ended up being away for four years. Wonderful years they were. Today, I’d be prepared to do it all again. Sell everything and live simply but I think my wife would find it difficult now. She likes all her things and I am not sure that she could give any of it up, much less all of it. For me, if I haven’t used something in three months (and it’s not seasonal), I tend to get rid of it, give it away or toss it out. And I still feel like I have too much stuff.
Anyway, all the best to you and Bonnie. Exciting times ahead for you both. I look forward to reading more.
Cedric, thanks…good to hear from you. I’ve not been very good at getting rid of stuff. I always think someday I’ll need that what-u-ma-call-it so I save it. This adventure is forcing us (me) to reinvent our lives as well as ourselves. At this point Bonnie and I check in with each other constantly to see where our heads are and to share those feelings and thoughts flooding our heads. The last few days has brought it home, our past life is fading and a new future is drawing near…it’s exciting for sure!
Interesting story of your extended honeymoon getaway, sounds wonderful to me. I don’t know we will be as adventuresome as the couple you met those years ago but who knows — I’m sure their journey began with a single step.
I have to say Earl I have been thinking about your adventure quite a it. How liberating it must be to get rid of so much “stuff.” As I sit here in my office, the clutter often preys on my psyche. Too much gear, too many techno widgets, too many books and accumulation of stuff that I wonder what I will ever do if I were to just ditch it all. As much as I try to be minimalist now, I have an accumulation over the years that I just procrastinate getting rid of.
Mark…both melancholy and liberating…that’s the feelings we’re experiencing dismantling our past lives. Because our future living environment is of limited space and weight allowance it’s not so much about will power but necessity — which is probably a good thing. Just this week all my Nikon Gear and our Mercedes Benz SLK convertible were sold. The phrase I keep playing in my head is, “It’s just things” and that sense of liberation is growing stronger with every completed step. Thanks!