November 24th - What can I live without?

November 24th

“What can you live without”
(Inspired by Oprah Winfrey, whilst on the treadmill)

Most of you know we live in a house of 3200 sq feet
We have walk in closets, pool, too many rooms to occupy, too much of everything

Now I live in a one bedroom apartment, with a suitcase of clothes and I love the smaller space. What I miss is the outside, no balcony or yard.

So I ask myself, what do I miss or more positively, what can I live without?
Europe brings back to me how much we waste in the US and this question has become very important
So much I can do without, it is shocking and somewhat embarrassing, I need very little in the ways of things. ( I did buy some hats and scarfs and leggings! )

Interestingly, I do not want to live without my computer, it keeps me connected to all of you. Every so often I also watch a (black and white!) TV, which I enjoy, but could do without.
Can’t top the BBC and the National Geographic Channel!

I went to a concert in the Rubens House:(Rubens the painter)
An 8 year old and an 18 year old playing Chopin and Beethoven in a building from the 16th century, cobblestones, paintings, garden, the works
I can do without it, but really really do not want to.

It is the season for gratitude, I was in short supply there for a while. I am grateful for this experience, the food, the architecture, the culture, the staying up late and the sleeping in late, for having interesting conversations I could never have “back home” as the American Club for Women in Antwerp call it. I am even grateful for being alone, as hard as that feels at times.
For an American to do this is insane, it is like someone just shot you off to the moon

Happy Thanksgiving!
It does not end Thursday……