Having moved homes 25 times—I am now into my life’s 25th home—I have long been adept at setting things up quickly. I call my life a traveling circus where pitching the tent and arranging the props has become a reflex action. Even if I say so myself, I am extremely efficient and creative at juxtaposing the same set of props against the changing backdrops of my temporary homes.
I see my life as a mandala which I lay out and then wipe off from time to time in an unwitting underscoring the impermanence of life. It is a good thing that I have no sense of attachment to my physical surroundings. Home is not home for me. Life is home for me.
After spending over three months in a hotel room in Sharonville, where too I made a home on day one, I am back in Naperville in a small apartment. I brought in the same furniture and trimmings and decorative props that I have now used for nearly two decades to create a new space.
Yesterday morning as glanced around my roughly 16 feet by 10 feet living room it struck me that the light was lovely and the space looked charmingly minimalist. I took a couple of pictures and posted them on my Facebook timeline and tweeted them. Even as I was taking those pictures, I was aware that the space had a lovely, understated vibe which people might warm up to. And they did; both on Facebook and Twitter. Even if I discount 25 percent of the likes as Facebook and Twitter friends’ politeness, it was still a reasonably good response to a sparse living space with some decorative objects.
I don’t have much by way of household stuff but there are some objects that have traveled with me everywhere. Some of them are vessels such as a brass water pitcher or a jar that are family heirlooms. I have a couple bronze platters and a bowl. That’s about it but put together they can liven up any living space.
I used to brag that I can make even a completely empty space elegant with just a thing or two. I can.
It is heartening to note that my minimalist living room has caught some attention on social media. When I say “some attention”, bear in mind it is for someone who has barely 400 plus Twitter followers and less than 650 Facebook friends.
