As the
Copenhagen-based design group LARSEN & ERIKSEN puts it, "Minimalism is about avoiding the unnecessary , it’s about simplicity, utility and elegance." We agree, and it does sound more elegant than saying 'we sold over 95% of our possessions and are traveling the country in an Audi Allroad' crammed with stuff in areas of the vehicle we didn't even know existed!
So, besides adopting the moniker of Digital Nomads, we are expanding our next phased lifestyle to also include the Minimalistic perspective.
Practical to Tactical sort of sums up the process... "what critical and core items will we pack for our nomadic adventure?!" One of the categories about which we both had to dig deep emotionally (especially Phyllis!) was shoes - which three pairs of shoes we each felt brought both joy and usefulness - so that we could let go of the dozens of other shoes that wouldn't make the cut!
It took a heaping dose of skillful thought (Sole Searching!) to think through what type of environments and situations we would encounter on the journey. Each of us knew we would still be collaborating with clients, both virtually and occasionally in person - very old school for a digital nomad! We also knew we would be doing a lot of walking as we toured - so we each needed a pair of very comfortable day-long footgear. And third we felt a need to have a pair of leisurely sandals for those poolside/lounge around days.
Never had we ever imagined that we would voluntarily cull down our footwear to such a utilitarian goal - but it also provided each of us the opportunity to really define what brings us both delight and usefulness in such a basic form of equipment!
This process has also provided us with both the challenge and opportunity to truly reflect on what paradigms and perspectives we have walked along with us for most of our lives - and to let go of those that just clog up the closet of our minds!
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