Balancing ease of moving locations with comfort in the home

[Milhouse]

Since I'm relatively young and single, and thus mobile and move a lot, I like to keep my living quarters pretty minimalistic. Maybe I watched "Heat" too much and took "don't have anything in your life you can't walk out on in 5 seconds flat" too seriously. I really don't like moving tons of furniture and whatnot every few years.

But, my gf (and others) has complained about my minimalistic living arrangements. For example, I still use the small free metal frame that came with my mattress and boxsprings. I don't have an actual dresser. I don't have a dining room table and chairs. Etc. I just don't see the need for a lot of it. She would prefer that I have some of these things.

So, how do you balance minimalism with "comfort"?

 

[greenleaflettuce]

Just don't buy anything you won't be willing to part with/dump when you get ready to move again.

 

[nootje]

Well, im beginning to get towards the exact opposite of your position.. Having moved around all the time during childhood, averaging 2,5 years at each place, i am now living in this apartment for 4 years and a bit, the longest ive stayed in one place for all my life.. The thing ive noticed so far is that when i kept on moving around I used to have a "showroom" house, as my friends called it. Comfortable, nicely decorated and all that, but there was nothing showing in my quarters that defined my house as "me".As i could leave it all behind in a heartbeat. Now, as ive had the opportunity to stay a bit longer in one place ive started to collect things that might not be nessecary as such, but do make my life more comfortable, and comforting.

This might seem a bit like rambling, and maybe i am, but having moved around alot I now appreciate the stuff that might make a move a lot more trouble as I could not pick up my stuff anymore and leave within a day. Minimalism is fine by my book, but make sure that you do have some stuff that make the apartment your own, otherwise you might as well live in a hotelroom..

 

[Dakota rube]

A buddy of mine has a rule:
The sum total of his "important" possessions must fit in his automobile. He is prepared to walk away from whatever doesn't fit.

 

[SField]

I used to be like that. I don't have anything that's terribly important to me, just people.

As for furniture, it depends on budget. If you're on a tight budget and can't afford to buy new stuff every time you move, then yes, you'll be stuck being quite a minimalist.

 

[unjung]

Oh man, a very relevant thread.

I don't know what it is, but my whole life I'm had this feeling of needing a "space" that can't be taken away from me (childhood was fine, only moved once, so this can't be the issue). In college obviously I was flexible... bed, desk, clothes, that was about it.

Since graduating two years ago, I've moved five times already (women problems, sketchy landlords, etc.), and after a year in my current place, am being forced out again (landlord got divorced, wants his condo back). Unfortunately, I've accrued: bedroom furniture, desk, a lot of clothing, a full complement of kitchen hardware (from blender to pizza slicer), a small deep freeze, end tables, coffee table, armchair, futon, house plants, surfboard, snowboard, golf clubs... Jesus.

But what can you do? I need to have my stuff. Unfortunately, my stuff is a couple truck-loads full.

I've avoided some things... I don't own major appliances other than the deep freeze. I don't have a kitchen table or chairs. Everything I own is flat-pack, so I can take it apart. And I have friends who help me move.

If I were ever going overseas, well, that would be another story. I'd take half my wardrobe, my laptop, my guitar... that's about it.

 

[Milhouse]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

A buddy of mine has a rule:
The sum total of his "important" possessions must fit in his automobile. He is prepared to walk away from whatever doesn't fit.

As an undergrad, I definitely lived by that rule. I recall moving several times, stuffing everything I had in my car. Of course, I didn't even own a bed then, and slept on the floor of whatever place I was living in.

I've slowly moved more towards the comfort end, but not too far. I now own a bed, for example.

 

[Dakota rube]

Originally Posted by Milhouse

As an undergrad, I definitely lived by that rule. I recall moving several times, stuffing everything I had in my car.
Problem is Rodney is mid-50s and a healthcare professional. I think he's more than just a little weird with this "carload" rule of his.

 

[Milhouse]

Here is a good example of my dilemma. I like wine quite a bit. But, I usually just buy what I can drink relatively quickly.

I keep looking at one of those wine fridges, but every time I do, I think "damn, that is going to suck to move" and never pull the trigger. Thus, I have no aged wines, nor do I have a collection at all.

 

[turboman808]

Just have to wait til you are settled down.

When I was younger I would just leave stuff. I left maybe 20 grand in furniture other the years with various girlfriends and such.

I still enjoy nice stuff but I will store at moms house if I have to.

 

[dah328]

Minimalist living sucks a lot more than having to move furniture and appliances. Just go rent a Uhaul and get it done.

 

[nate10184]

This is interesting because I've been having the same thoughts recently. When I was in school I had an apartment but after graduation I moved back in with my parents to save money.

Its kind of strange when I think how few objects I own. Clothes and shoes, some books and magazines, a computer, and my car. Thats it. I have friends who own fully furnished condos and I have basically nothing. I've sold off almost everything I don't use regularly.

 

[aleeboy]

When I was back in uni, I used to move around a lot. I think I must've moved every 6 months or so. I had a rule that I will only keep what will fit into a suitcase + my computer. Well as the months and years go by, you start noticing the amount of crap you accumulated. So moving for me was kind of like a cleansing ritual. Rid things from your life that are holding you back, or making moving a hell of a lot more difficult.

You asked about comfort... well, I used to by some furniture, be it 2nd hand or from Ikea. I would dump these or sell them on the cheap if it was too bothersome. I have been so low that I've used crates and boxes when entertaining guests at my place. Dodgy spring mattresses on the floor - I picked one up in a trade with a guy. I swapped him my pair of crutches!

Life and number of things go up when you get a girl though. But such is the circle of life... things come and go just the same.

 

[thekunk07]

young+apartment you rent+ limited budget+minimalism=ikea and cb2 are your friends.