Monday, May 17, 2010

Multiple Roles in Small Spaces

When I bought this trailer the goal was to live in it while I finished my degree, which I had estimated to be about 2 years.  Well the 2 years were up long ago and sometimes my patience for living in the trailer is up too.  The space is small and sometimes I feel crowded.

I have three main roles, or ways I identify myself, and each role has it's own wardrobe.  Crazy?  Maybe!  As a student I have blue jeans, t-shirts, flip flops and tennis shoes.  As one who has aspirations of entering a profession I also have professional clothes: skirts, dresses, heels, dress shirts, dress coats, dress socks, etc.  As one who uses sports to deal with the stress of school and work I have a small wardrobe of sports related attire: running shorts, biking shorts, tights, tech fabric t's, cycling jerseys, wicking socks, tennis shoes, gloves and cycling shoes.  Often I think I have too many clothes.  When I start to throw things out I realize there isn't much to throw out unless I give up part of my identity or one of my roles. 

Then as a student I have one wall that's been consumed by a bookshelf.  They are reference books and other books regarding any one of my three roles.  Then there's the pots and pans and everything else that one needs on any given day.  If I had it to do over again I may have opted for a bigger trailer, but who knew back then that I would be in the trailer this long and take this course of action.