How long did it take for you to get to "de-cluttering" after Camino?

[simply B]

...not that it really matters in the big scheme of things. Just curious....no poll required!

But, after almost a decade back, I still remember that "cleaning out" was close to the top of the list for pilgrims met after...oh, we'll say Triacastela.

I have made small steps since then but, today, started in 'full tilt'.

By way of background, my dearest told me that the decision to throw away was based upon hugging an item. If one felt no real attachment after ten seconds then away the item went to either rubbish or recycling.

Mind you, I am now suspicious every time time she hugs me.

B

 

[oursonpolaire]

Never. I do think about it occasionally, however.

 

[MaryLynn]

I think about it all the time, but haven’t done it.. yet.

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi @simply B
I’m always ‘thinking’ about it.
That is: I don’t want to leave it until I’m too old to do it myself - so ‘slowly, easy‘ does it.
There was a thread on this forum years ago about this and I’ve always remembered the word they used / a make up word ; for opposite to accumulate. The word here is ‘umulate.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/have-you-become-a-umulator.24249/

 

[Robo]

I just seem to accumulate more 'stuff' !
Though not material things, I don't really care about those any more.........

 

[Anamiri]

...not that it really matters in the big scheme of things. Just curious....no poll required!

But, after almost a decade back, I still remember that "cleaning out" was close to the top of the list for pilgrims met after...oh, we'll say Triacastela.

I have made small steps since then but, today, started in 'full tilt'.

By way of background, my dearest told me that the decision to throw away was based upon hugging an item. If one felt no real attachment after ten seconds then away the item went to either rubbish or recycling.

Mind you, I am now suspicious every time time she hugs me.

B

It took me to sell my house - thats a big motivator to de clutter. Especially after 25 years.

 

[David]

I invented a new word back in 2005 - Umulate - the opposite of Accumulate, and I still go through everything every couple of months or so, umulating stuff that somehow has crept in.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

It took me to sell my house - thats a big motivator to de clutter. Especially after 25 years.

Me too...downsizing works wonders, there's no greater motivator!

..I still go through everything every couple of months or so, umulating stuff that somehow has crept in.

Marie would be proud...

 

[MikeC]

After my first Camino in 2016, I decided that having survived 3 weeks with just my cycle panniers I need very little in the way of clothes and possessions.

i do try to stick to my new ways, but books and technology are my undoing.

 

[Roland49]

More than a year after my CF I am still in progress.
Cleaning out, downsizing, maybe a divorce.

You need time to reflect certain things and circumstances, that is one little thing the Camino taught me (is that right, taught?).

Maybe there is more to come, more to learn, more to reflect in a Camino than I was directly aware of.

BC
Roland

 

[simply B]

Hi @simply B
I’m always ‘thinking’ about it.
That is: I don’t want to leave it until I’m too old to do it myself - so ‘slowly, easy‘ does it.
There was a thread on this forum years ago about this and I’ve always remembered the word they used / a make up word ; for opposite to accumulate. The word here is ‘umulate.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/have-you-become-a-umulator.24249/

Thanks for this! I will have to come back to it when I take a break from umulating.

B

 

[pelerine]

I don’t umulate. Have this big box / banana carton into which everything goes when I am back. So the following camino I pack what I want and leave the rest in case I want/need it on another camino.

Meanwhile buen umulating, simply B, and lots of hugs from your dearest! Trusting you will survive!

 

[David]

I don’t umulate. Have this big box / banana carton into which everything goes when I am back. So the following camino I pack what I want and leave the rest in case I want/need it on another camino.

Meanwhile buen umulating, simply B, and lots of hugs from your dearest! Trusting you will survive!

Ah - I think it is to do with clearing out one's unnecessary possessions at home when one gets home rather than one's Camino kit.

 

[Anamiri]

I don’t umulate. Have this big box / banana carton into which everything goes when I am back. So the following camino I pack what I want and leave the rest in case I want/need it on another camino.

Meanwhile buen umulating, simply B, and lots of hugs from your dearest! Trusting you will survive!

My pile of Camino stuff is called my Camino shrine.

 

[pelerine]

My pile of Camino stuff is called my Camino shrine.

Voilà! Since I am alone there is nobody to call it a shrine. But it amounts to the same - was set up after my second camino when I realized I was hooked....

 

[Adelina]

It took a trip to Cuba during the special period to help me umulate. I decided to have just enough when I returned home - so if I buy a new black top, one from my closet goes to the thrift shop, new hiking shoes? Old ones to the thrift shop. New knife for the kitchen? Old one goes to the thrift shop. Finish a book that was not borrowed from the library? It goes to the Little Free Library. Upon returning from the Camino I umulated even more. It is a continuous process! In addition, I believe in sharing - my Camino pack has even done the Camino without me!

 

[Redvespablur]

We started decluttering about a week after we were home from Norte/Primitivo in 2016. Like others a month with such a little amount of stuff - and not missing the weight of all our things we have accumulated was formative.

 

[KellysMom]

I believe it took me less than a week after coming back from walking the CF to donate 3/4 of my clothes and shoes to my local thrift store. Having survived on maybe 3 changes of clothes for 34 days proved I didn't really need a lot of the things I was holding on to. Decluttering some of the larger items has definitely been a work in progress.