Storing documents
I have observed that I don't actually store objects. My family members used to store stuff. They used to have plates and glasses for special guests, kitchen equipment they rarely used, special occasion clothing, spare bedding, books, jewellery. So many various objects! I live with so few items that I use most of them every day. They don't need any special storage. In my previous home, I used to store everything that was not in my backpack, in the bathroom, or hanging on the tøjstativ in one large cotton bag. In my new home there is some built-in storage, so I don't need the large cotton tote. For now, I will keep it for travelling.
The only things that I store are my documents, some small items, and medicines. When it comes to documents, I try to keep only the ones I actually need. I don't keep anything just in case. Here in the Nordics, most communications from the authorities and banks are electronic, which means I receive letters very rarely. Having said that, I've lived in four countries in the past 3 years, so I have some extra letters from the authorities that I hope to say goodbye to. All the documents I live with I keep in a cotton pouch. It's not very big, so I fold the larger documents. The pouch is made from certified organic, undyed cotton by a small Swedish company. Before this, I used to use a simple thin cotton tote bag to store my documents, but the pouch has a zip, so it feels nicer to use. Some years ago, I would keep all the documents in folders and a plastic bag that came with some clothing item. I decided not to store the documents in folders because chances are very small that water will get on them. Even if it does, I don't think it's such a big deal. Over the years of simple living, I came to the realisation that while it's important to honour objects and look after them, it is equally important to avoid being overly protective. Being overly protective about objects, to me, feels like excessive attachment and prevents me from actually using the objects I live with.
