Mini Minimalist Interview: Carol

This week's Mini Minimalist Interview features Carol from Oskaloosa, Kansas. I met Carol through cardio-kickboxing fitness classes:

1. What is your current living situation?
   Built and own a single family house on 20 acres in a somewhat economically depressed county.
   


2. What do you think of when you think of "minimalism"?
   The opposite of excessive or ostentatious - beautiful in simplicity and functionality.  Functional being the best item (not necessarily the cheapest) for its purpose, more not being better.
   


3. What about daily life can be stressful? What do you like about daily life?
   Since the majority of my time seems to be taken up by my job - most of the stress is the constant requests for help.  Fortunately, the most enjoyable thing is being able to help.  Being in a job that can double as service to people is very rewarding. Living in the country away from people can balance it out.


4. What are some of your hobbies? Do you collect anything?
   Sewing, gardening, reading & healthy cooking. I have a large collection of vintage drapery fabric, clothing and doilies. Also vintage Fiestaware dishes.


5. What are some of your most prized possessions?
   The above collections plus my iPad and iPhone. These being tools of 2 different career paths.  Though maintaining all the right tools in order to do a job can be stressful as in "I have 3 sewing machines, why am I not making more clothes, gifts, etc." 


6. What are one or two things about life you'd like to "minimize"?
   After being the recipient of a lot of stuff from older relatives downsizing their households, I have gained a lot of stuff I like, but never thought of acquiring in the first place.  This is cautionary - by accepting items that someone else owned for a long time, you take on that responsibility and history. This makes the items very hard to get rid of.  Just because people remember who sat on your sofa in 1925 & it is a very beautiful piece & they don't make them like that anymore does not mean it is anywhere near comfortable (meaningful, but not functional).  On the other hand, ending up with a bunch of miscellaneous stuff lets me sell on eBay and create a PayPal "mad money" account that I can use to turn around and buy something I really like. 


7. Any other thoughts?
   Finding functional, well made, affordable items in America is tough. Getting rid of items in America is tougher. Anyone interested in a vintage mahogany piano that does not hold a tune well?