On the same wave length in terms of right-sizing. Contextually we have different realities – I have 3 kids so mobility is compromised. I am South African, have spent 12 years in Europe (5 France & 7 UK) and 6 months in America among other places. What you say applies not so much to Americans/the West but more to the “haves”. In their abundance people tend to expand their expenditure to match their income with a resulting accumulation of a lot of unnecessary stuff (that is/can be hard to shake off). The point of me being SA’n is that I live in an environment where income disparity is significant and for a large number of people here rightsizing would be upsizing to a place where people can get by (from a food, shelter, healthcare perspective)

Yes, we Americans are pack rats. I know I put stuff in the storage when we moved to a new apt. I have no idea what’s in there.

Once I launch my blog on the $th of July, I am going to start with my closet, then the book shelf and then the storage. I am going to give away everything I haven’t used since I moved here. Either that or throw it away.

It’s time to make room for prosperity, which is in having the freedom to move about, not in staying attached.

Rasheed

Very good article.

Relocating to another country is the absolute best way to purge old possessions and limitations. I call it the “two bag rule.” If it can’t fit in two bags that you are going to take on an airplane than it probably isn’t that essential to your life.

When I first left my home country more than 12 years ago, I had lots of stuff in storage at my mother’s house. All of that stuff was appropriated by my brother and sister, sold at garage sales, or just lost. Everything I felt so attached too, disappeared from my life and in the end, I can’t even remember what I had anyway.

For my next relocation, I am just going to give everything away in advance.

1. After years of blogging about Global Culture I finally committed (time & resources) to convert what used to be a simple personal blog into a sophisticated venture creating unique travel experiences. Your words of encouragement are very timely.

2. You are one of a kind with the guts to leave things behind and try a new life somewhere else. I’m assuming your vast travel experience made this transition a bit easier. Most people, though, will not lack the enthusiasm but will find it incredibly challenging to orchestrate such an adventure. I believe there is a compromise between leaving everything behind (or rightsizing) and immersing yourself into another culture. That is the niche I’m interested in at this time.

3. Sometimes you just have to experience different cultures to “get” what was not right with your previous lifestyle. If only more people could be exposed to such a humbling experience I believe the world would be a better place. Then I realize that is exactly what I must do: find ways for people to experience alternate ways of life and come back renewed, full of ideas on how to improve.

4. While Global Culture is work in progress I would love to chat about some of my ideas. I’m convinced we are on the same path: using travel to enhance the lives of people.

Well thought out and well written. We’re in the re-entry phase of one trip (over 3 years) now and are leaving again in six months. It’s a strange situation: many things that we stored are unwanted, but we’re needing to buy the comforts of a settled life again. Being on the road is certainly cheaper and lighter than living in one place!