Linda & I returned from our fantastic trip to Iceland on September 15. A couple of days later our friend, and professional photographer, Steven Dempsey posted his short film/video "An Uncluttered World". In three minutes, he beautifully summarizes the reasons for our transition from a "traditional" life to a full-time RVing lifestyle.
Steven, thank you for this, and we certainly join you as part of "the lucky few".
It was experiencing life without clutter for 12 days in Alaska way back in 2004 that led us to our RVing life. No phones, no computers, no TV, no news - just daily immersion in nature led to our epiphany that our happiest times are when we are together, traveling, and surrounded by the natural world without distraction.
That's what led us to pondering a major life change and then acting on it in 2005 when we agreed what the change should be. It's a decision we will never, ever regret.
Certainly, 13 years later, clutter has crept back into our lives to some degree, but it's nothing like it was all those years ago. And, recently, we started de-cluttering once again. We downsized our RV home, we ditched our satellite TV and haven't watched TV since last April, we have "unfollowed" all the people on Facebook that seem to want to focus on mood-poisoning negativity, and we're focused on our nature traveling more than in the past few years.
Our adventures this summer have re-kindled many of those feelings we had in Alaska, and living in the moment is a joyful priority again.
I'll close with this thought, my friends. The journey to deeper happiness is much shorter in an uncluttered world.
This. :-)
Posted by: Kerri Tidwell | Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 04:49 PM
Well said Howard and what a great video Steven!
Posted by: Steve and Dianne Colibaba | Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 05:50 PM
Well said Howard 👌
Posted by: Esther | Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 06:35 PM
Thanks for sharing...it is an important reminder of what is really important!!!
Posted by: Nancy and Bill | Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 05:51 AM
Life is beautiful,thanks for sharing the video
Posted by: Sharon & Sandy | Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 10:33 AM
I quietly sit looking across the water as the sunrise makes its first splash upon Lone Rock on lake Powell in Utah. My wife and best friend beside me. Everything we own and need are around us. I step back in to the camper to freshen the coffee cup and find your post and Stephen's wonderful words and video to remind me again how lucky we truly are.
Posted by: David & Sharon (Two Lanes of Freedom) | Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 10:59 AM
OMG your blog entry and his video are spot on!
Though we are newbies, only 3 years in, we love our fulltime lifestyle! The serenity is amazing.
Posted by: Susan Anderson | Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 11:24 AM
Thank you for posting my film, Howard. It seems to have struck a chord with many people. We are indeed the lucky few.
Posted by: Steven Dempsey | Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 03:24 PM
Steven,
Thank you so much for posting the video and allowing us to share it. It did, indeed, strike a chord.
Posted by: Howard | Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 10:23 PM