We all know a clean house makes us happy... things in their place... ample room to roam about... all that. But discovered while preparing for this trip that getting rid of all those things feels way better. It was one of the biggest "ah-ha" moments in my life.

Started by selling all my nick-knacks one by one. As each one shipped to its new owner, felt a sudden rush of happiness... greater than the shopper's high experienced acquiring it.

But after so happily & so easily selling the little things, a great fear set in over selling the furniture & artwork so carefully purchased over decades. Still not sure if the fear was more about the ill-perceived sentimental value or the fear of actually undertaking this trip. Either way, after that first item left, the fear completely disappeared & couldn't have been happier. As each item walked out the door, felt physically lighter, freer than I'd ever felt before. It was amazing.

Love beautiful items in an ascetically pleasing room. Used to study decorating magazines & everyone that came to my home would comment on how perfect it was. While still appreciate that beauty, after having experienced the incredible high of being alone in a room with just the needed items, never want all those things again.

Thanks to a hotel owner's crush on me, now in a room that should cost 3xs what I'm paying... a huge room with lots of real furniture, pleated curtains with coordinating sheers, not to mention a satellite tv in the room. Complete luxury in comparison to the $4 shoebox rooms with only a bed on a floor & a few nails in the wall to hang clothes. And yet, don't like it here. Feel uncomfortably alone in the big room & am constantly distracted by the tv & even the furniture. Maybe the amount of one's happiness is inversely proportional to the amount of one's possesions.