Jeff already alluded to the fact that I was feeling impulsive last weekend. I had just submitted a draft of my thesis (which my adviser refers to as a tome) and only had 1.75 days to breathe before plunging back into all of the work that had quickly accumulated in the wake of my draft. No better time to completely and totally change your living circumstances, am I right? We haven’t quite gotten around to ditching stuff yet (turns out to be harder than expected), but we have begun the process of manipulating our things into small spaces. Every time we move (which has been often), I’m shocked at how much useless bric-a-brac we’ve acquired since the last time we moved. I think we’ve successfully boiled our belongings down to the basics, but I can already tell we still have too much (even though the quarter berth beckons to be filled to the brims).
Speaking of basics, I began the packing process with my undergarments (does anyone call them undergarments anymore?) since I figured that would be easiest. It’s undoubtedly easier to toss a sock without a partner than it is to toss that shirt you’ve been convincing yourself will look good on you someday.
It turns out, however, that I have a lot of wool socks…and lingerie, both of which take up a surprising amount of space. Wool socks are an absolute necessity…the necessity of lingerie is debatable (at least to me). I was going to pack a couple few pieces of my favorite lingerie (those that have the greatest likelihood to withstand a harsh marine environment) but figured I should consult with Jeff about the decision.
I called Jeff into the room, a black teddy crumpled in my hand and asked him how much lingerie I should pack. ‘All of it’ he replied matter-of-factly, his tone making me question why I had even bothered to ask in the first place. He left the room and I proceeded to shuffle lingerie from the drawer to my suitcase. It occupied a quarter of my largest suitcase.
‘Hey babe, the lingerie takes up a quarter of my suitcase. Are you sure it’s worth the space?’ Jeff was as incredulous as I was, he had to see for himself. Upon seeing the bounty of lingerie, he promised (with a smile) that I could have a whole shelf (to myself!) in the hanging locker.
Lingerie didn’t make its way into my wardrobe until a month before our wedding (poor guy had to go nearly five years without it, but I think that’s just testament to the strength of our relationship?) In fact, it took my friend chiding me about my fiance’s supreme deprivation of not seeing me in lacy, frilly things before I finally splurged on a lingerie shopping spree (I went a little overboard). Now it’s all coming with us on the high seas, neatly contained in a classy linen lined basket on a delicious smelling cedar shelf. Don’t worry, this is the last time you’ll be reading about my lingerie.
The solution.
Jeff wanted me to introduce myself. Hi, I’m Harmony.
-H
LOL. 🙂