L E T T E R from Jac – To Live A Simple Life

Over 4 years ago, Arran and I gave away and sold almost all we owned, including all our furniture, and clothing and all the paraphernalia that adult and family life brings with it, and moved to a little furnished holiday cottage on a national park. It was a little experiment it took a few years of discussion to brave. It was both liberating and horrifying. Simultaneously freeing and expansive, it also brought for me anxiety and fear, that was quickly outweighed by the joys. After a year of living there, very simply, we moved into our next Palm Beach house that we had to furnish from nothing, even down to spatulas and fridges. It took a long time, and we ended up moving to England and doing most of that again. Arran made me promise that we wouldn’t go through the expense or emotional turmoil of this experience again. To start from the ground up as adults, again. When we signed our lease over to the new tenants in Palm Beach we were subletting to, we had made the commitment to stay in England, and sold on everything in that house for next to nothing as we weren’t there and able to deal with it all, and reasoned, we weren’t returning so all would be okay. 

Yet here we are, yet again, back in Australia due to something we never predicted, a pandemic. All of our things are in England, but once shipping opens back up we can potentially get it back. In the meantime, we make do with a few suitcases and boxes. We’ll figure it out, we always have. We are fortunate to have some of the greatest friends and students in the world showing us an incredible about of support that is making all of this possible. And even though still heartbroken at what’s happened, I am thrilled at this opportunity to live simply again. Ironically and beautifully, it will be back in the very place this adventure started at our friends in Byron Bay. Cooking outside, living simply, like a little family of hermit crabs. With time and space to consider, what do we truly need and want from this beautiful life of ours.

Sent with love,

Jac x