Well, I just did what’s either the smartest or dumbest thing of my life.

I just threw away half of everything I own.

Right into the trash.

Why?

Because I don’t need it.

What about the other half?

I’m selling most of it.

I’ve been on this huge kick lately of needing to feel independent of everything, even possessions. I hate to sound like a damn dirty hippie, but for some reason, it seems incredibly important to me to draw a line between that which I desire, and that which I need, and act accordingly.

In the absolutist sense, all I really NEED is food, water and shelter. I don’t want to go quite that far, but it’s interesting to accept that as fact, and feel so at ease with myself as to be nearly disconnected from all the desires I had that pulled me this way and that.

I was sick and tired of being surrounded with things I don’t need, and having little things drain my time, money and attention away from the things that mattered most.

So when my wife left me, I cancelled her health insurance, I cancelled AFLAC, I cancelled cable TV, started being PSYCHOTICALLY frugal with electricity usage, stopped eating out, stopped drinking soda, stopped drinking coffee, stopped drinking alcohol, stopped ingesting refined sugar, started eating only healthy fresh foods, started working out five days a week, started going to bed on time, cleaning my apartment, keeping things neat and tidy and uncluttered.

And I feel pretty damn awesome. But that was just the start!

I decided I had too many books lying around my apartment, so last night I signed up to be a seller in the Amazon.com Marketplace and put up 75 of my used books for sale. 12 have sold already in less than 24 hours.

Then I thought, why not sell my DVDs too? And all my excess furniture? Paintings on my wall? Old clothes? My extra TV? Newly-cleared bookshelves? My guitars? My air conditioners, window fans, swamp cooler? Unused dishes and silverware? Patio furniture? Old aquarium?

So that’s what I’m doing next. I’m selling my entire DVD collection. I’m going to sell almost everything I currently own unless I absolutely need it. For comfort’s sake, I’m keeping one TV, my laptop, my desktop that I will eventually upgrade, my surround sound system, my bed, and my couch. I’m considering selling off my dresser and computer desk, too.

I’m looking into ways of getting out of my current lease, as I’m paying nearly $1800 a month for an apartment by myself, which sucks. So I’m thinking of either taking on a roommate, or being a roommate somewhere else. Or just finding an acceptable but dirt cheap studio apartment to live in, to save on costs.

My goal is to have only one small room’s worth of possessions, spend as little as possible on sustaining my existence, socking away GOBS of money into savings and high-interest-bearing accounts, and to not pay for ANYTHING but rent, bills and food.

No new possessions, except perhaps a new PC, which is somewhat work-related anyway. Beyond that… what the hell do I need? Instead of throwing money at a problem or a need, couldn’t I be clever and find a way to do it for free?

See, it’s not that I need money, although money is cool. I just love the challenge of seeing how much useless crap I can get rid of, AND make money doing it, and live a HARDCORE, STREAMLINED EXISTENCE.

I used to look around and wish I had a nicer car, or cooler clothes, or more possessions… but ultimately, none of those things really matter to me. And now I drive around in my little 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, and I’ll see a Mercedes or a Porsche scoot by, and I’ll just laugh out loud at how I’m traveling from point A to point B at a FRACTION of the cost that they are. It’s like a game, and I’m winning it.

Now that I’m single and don’t have the constraints previously imposed upon me, the sky is the limit. And this idea really excites me. I’ve talked to a LOT of people that wish they could do exactly the same thing I’m doing. But they’re either unwilling or unable to separate themselves from what they have because they’re spoiled, married, have kids, have a mortgage, or any combination of the above.

I don’t. I’m free. And I KNOW IT!

Am I crazy? I don’t really know. I’ll be honest, it’s entirely possible. After all, I’ve just been through the absolute worst 18 months of my life, and I survived, and emerged with a cool game under my belt and a life full of possibilities. Everything I’ve done so far feels GREAT, and I really feel deep down like I’m doing the right thing with my life right now, more than ever before.

Now to add another few dozen books for sale. Next stop: DVDs!