These words are found at the base of the Statue of Liberty...
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

I took this photo in June 2021 of a tree standing on the south side of U.S. 95, between mileposts 35 and 36 north of Yuma Az. The shoes on this tree symbolize (amoung other things) a rite of passage and change of life by those who have crossed into the U.S. from Mexico. Here they have shed thier old tired and trusted kickers for what will take them on a path to success and the American dream.
We are embarking on a significant if not similar dream as we leave our home of 37 years and shed our belongings to embark on our overland US National Park journey starting in June 2025.
With this immense task ahead we have decided on the following to help manage this daunting process:
Inventory and categorize:Â
Create a comprehensive list of all our belongings
Categorize items into: keep for trip, store, donate/sell, dispose
Prioritize house projects:Â
List all pending house projects
Prioritize projects based on importance for sale of home and time required
Create a timeline for completion
Decluttering schedule:Â
Tackle one room or category at a time
Set weekly goals for sorting through items
Storage planning:Â
Measure larger items to ensure they'll fit in the 10x20 storage locker we have rented
Plan the layout of the storage unit
Purchase necessary packing materials
Donation/Sale plan:Â
Research local charities and donation centers
Consider online platforms or garage sales for valuable items
Document digitization:Â
Scan important documents and photographs
Organize and secure digital files
Trip preparation:Â
Plan our route based on seasonal weather patterns
Plan what we will need for our journey
Start acquiring any necessary gear
Timeline:Â
Create a month-by-month timeline for the tour
Include buffer time for unexpected challenges
We have realized downsizing and simplifying can be surprisingly liberating, even if the process itself is challenging.
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