A Simple Solution

Although I can keep myself and my work orderly, I find myself overwhelmed with clutter. I finally have the kind of solution I can live with, and its come to my attention as a direct result of my seven-week trip last month.

Sailing from Acapulco to Los Angeles on a forty-two-foot sailing catamaran, Kinship II, required keeping my world simple and minimal.  The only personal things I owned fit into my orange Ortlieb messenger bag and a Domke camera bag.

When I got home I realized that in order to live cleanly and have my apartment — my vessel — remain ship-shape every day, I would need to bring some of the esprit de corps I was able to habituate during my journey back with me to 14^th Street, SE.

So I have been doing a very aggressive and therapeutic purge — a pogrom if you will — of the stuff in the apartment that is non-essential. By non-essential, I mean almost anything and everything that I have not at least enjoyed from afar within the last six months. 

I have been getting rid of so much stuff and the place looks markedly better.  So much better, in fact, that when Wendy came over last night, she was bowled over.  See, Wendy hates the Hill and really dislikes the Grotto.  The Grotto is no place for the light of heart.  I don't own a TV, I don't have very many comfortable chairs, and all the surfaces are made of red tile.  The Grotto is underground and oftentimes can be a little damp; other times, the Grotto is completely soggy.

But for now, its my home and I am completely happy to be here with the exception of when it becomes a pig sty.  My mind became so clear while traveling and I have come up with an incredible insight into how to make my designer-class pad into the minimalist haven of cool that it is often perceived to be during the famed and heralded Grotto parties.

The best way to make sure I continue to keep my ship in shape is to separate my stuff into two classifications: private stuff and public stuff.  Private stuff is as simple as the possessions I carried with me to Mexico.  In my bags and pockets. The public stuff include the cleaning supplies, the workstation I leave online and up, the kitchen wares, the books in the shelves, and all the towels and rolls of TP that allow this house to run smoothly.  And when any of the private things clutter the public space, including the second bedroom, the living room, and the second bathroom, then its my responsibility to make sure that that space is suitably sterilized.

And if I can do this, then I can sustain a very minimal and clean space, a space lacking both clutter but also a space that is always inviting to both guests and friends, a space that won't require hours upon hours of scrubbing and rushing about in order to entertain.  I have tried to accomplish this kind of essential living through inflicting upon myself a great amount of self-discipline; unfortunately, I don't have the discipline required to keep this kind of  plan over so much stuff current and contained.  The only solution which would allow me to contain clutter, keep order, maintain minimalism, and live simply while still keeping all public spaces sterile and inviting is to get rid of anything and everything that I don't absolutely and completely need.  If I have not used it or thought of it; if I know that I won't regret it, then it needs to go.  It needs to be disposed of my way of eBay, Riverby books, a garage sale, or the dump.  Most everything finds its way to the dump, and although there might be better ways of assuring that my stuff keeps on bringing joy to others, sometimes its really not worth the extra energy.  So it goes.

I still support the rent of a storage space and that is my next goal: I don't want to maintain a storage space.  Do I really need all of my college stuff?  Will there be any regret in my heart if I were to get rid of stuff?  Do I long to explore my father or mother's legacy in stuff?  The answer is for the most part, no.  And so it goes.  And so it goes. It has, it is, and it shall.

And my sanity will most assuredly be assured.

Synopsis

In A Simple Solution, Chris Abraham shares his personal struggle with keeping his living space organized. While he manages his work and life efficiently, his apartment—known as “The Grotto”—has often become overwhelmed with clutter. A seven-week sailing trip from Acapulco to Los Angeles on the 42-foot catamaran Kinship II forced him to live minimally, packing only what fit in an orange Ortlieb messenger bag and a Domke camera bag. Upon returning home, Chris realized he could maintain a cleaner, more organized space by adopting a similar minimalist approach.

Inspired by the simplicity of life at sea, Chris began a major decluttering of his apartment, discarding anything he hadn’t used or appreciated in the last six months. He implemented a system of categorizing belongings into “private stuff” (his personal items) and “public stuff” (items needed for household function). This method has helped him maintain a welcoming, minimalist home, free from the chaos that used to plague his living space. Through this transformation, Chris discovered that living with less not only keeps his apartment clean but also brings a sense of clarity and peace.

Analysis

In A Simple Solution, Chris Abraham uses his sailing journey as a metaphor for simplifying life on land. His time on Kinship II—with only essential belongings—served as a turning point, showing him how to live more intentionally. The essay captures the realization that clutter in the home can reflect and contribute to mental clutter. Chris contrasts the disciplined, minimal lifestyle on the boat with the chaotic state of his apartment, illustrating how adopting a similar approach to his living space led to a more organized and peaceful life.

By classifying his possessions into “private” and “public” categories, Chris found a practical way to manage his environment. His decision to get rid of items he no longer needs is an emotional and psychological release as much as it is physical. The process of decluttering becomes not just about cleaning, but about reclaiming control over his space, time, and mental state. The essay resonates with themes of simplicity, discipline, and self-reflection, offering insight into how a minimalist lifestyle can improve both the home and the mind.

FAQ

1. What inspired Chris Abraham to declutter and simplify his life?
Chris’s seven-week sailing trip from Acapulco to Los Angeles, where he lived minimally on a 42-foot catamaran, inspired him to adopt a more minimalistic approach to his home life.

2. How does Chris categorize his possessions?
Chris separates his belongings into two categories: “private stuff,” which includes his personal items, and “public stuff,” which consists of household items necessary for keeping the apartment functional.

3. What is “The Grotto”?
“The Grotto” is Chris Abraham’s name for his apartment. It’s an underground, sometimes damp space, which he’s working to transform into a more minimalist, welcoming home.

4. What challenges does Chris face in maintaining a minimalist lifestyle?
Chris admits to struggling with self-discipline when it comes to keeping his space tidy. He often finds it difficult to stay on top of clutter and must regularly reassess his possessions to prevent chaos from creeping back in.

5. How does decluttering impact Chris’s mental well-being?
For Chris, decluttering is both a practical and emotional process. By getting rid of unnecessary items, he feels a sense of mental clarity and freedom, which improves his overall well-being.

Glossary

• Minimalism: A lifestyle that emphasizes simplicity, reducing possessions to only the essentials.
• Esprit de corps: A sense of unity and shared purpose, often found in team environments; in this context, it refers to the discipline Chris developed while sailing.
• Ortlieb messenger bag: A durable, waterproof bag that Chris used during his minimalist sailing trip.
• Domke camera bag: A compact, functional bag for photographers, representing one of the few personal items Chris brought on his trip.
• The Grotto: Chris Abraham’s nickname for his apartment, which he’s working to turn into a minimalist, functional living space.
• Ship-shape: A nautical term used to describe a clean, orderly environment. Chris uses this term to describe his vision for a tidy, organized home.
• Pogrom: A term used metaphorically here to describe Chris’s aggressive decluttering process, inspired by his desire to simplify his life.