Interesting point! I have the impression that in Japan they do things but put away whatever they were using. I think it was a set of big earthquakes, which in effect weaponised their ornaments and bits and pieces agains them, that focused their minds again on minimalism. Before that, I understand the average Japanese home was (probably still is) very cluttered, because Japan divides very sharply into areas of natural beauty and areas where the population is concentrated tightly into urban configurations (or so I believe — never been there). In our house we try to follow a minimalist path, but we have several makers — one wood-worker, and two who make ceramics, stained glass and jewellery, plus bind books and do calligraphy and painting, knitting and crochet. I also do a little bit of occasional sewing. Not often. We also spin. All these things generate equipment, and imply projects that may span a period of time when we want the things left out to return to working on them. Because of my own particular objectives, to do with maximising space to accommodate other people and working on my own personal project/goal of maximum flexibility, portability and invisibility, owning as little as possible is integral to what I'm doing, therefore I own almost nothing. I still do a lot, but I've deliberately chosen activities like writing, teaching and preaching (and in the past, work with dying and bereaved people, and pastoral care) that require only my own body and mind and the smallest, thinnest, lightest laptop I could source (MacBook 12). But the others need space, so what we've done is build a woodworking shed, and then set aside two rooms in the house as makers' spaces. They are not cluttered, because we put things away, but sometimes there is a project out. Actually, often even that gets put away because we have cats. One of our cats ruined an icon by licking it (attracted by the egg component)! And if you're working with leaf gold or akoya pearls, it's better they don't get played with by a cat!! So I'm wondering if in Japan they keep their living spaces minimalist but have plenty of cunning storage and also studios and work shop rooms allocated?
Interesting point! Yes it gives you back your being space. I have the impression that in Japan they do things but put away whatever they were using. I think it was a set of big earthquakes, which in effect weaponised their ornaments and bits and pieces agains them, that focused their minds again on minimalism. Before that, I understand the average Japanese home was (probably still is) very cluttered, because Japan divides very sharply into areas of natural beauty and areas where the population is concentrated tightly into urban configurations (or so I believe — never been there), so their homes tend to be small. In our house we try to follow a minimalist path, but we have several makers — one wood-worker, and two who make ceramics, stained glass and jewellery, plus bind books and do calligraphy and painting, knitting and crochet. I also do a little bit of occasional sewing. Not often. We also spin. All these things generate equipment, and imply projects that may span a period of time when we want the things left out to return to working on them. Because of my own particular objectives, to do with maximising space to accommodate other people and working on my own personal project/goal of maximum flexibility, portability and invisibility, owning as little as possible is integral to what I'm doing, therefore I own almost nothing. I still do a lot, but I've deliberately chosen activities like writing, teaching and preaching (and in the past, work with dying and bereaved people, and pastoral care) that require only my own body and mind and the smallest, thinnest, lightest laptop I could source (MacBook 12). But the others need space, so what we've done is build a woodworking shed, and then set aside two rooms in the house as makers' spaces. They are not cluttered, because we put things away, but sometimes there is a project out. Actually, often even that gets put away because we have cats. One of our cats ruined an icon by licking it (attracted by the egg component)! And if you're working with leaf gold or akoya pearls, it's better they don't get played with by a cat!! So I'm wondering if in Japan they keep their living spaces minimalist but have plenty of cunning storage and also studios and work shop rooms allocated?
How interesting! I hadn't thought of that. Japanese people take off their shoes indoors, don't they? They have a little place just inside the door to leave them. Oh, but don't they wear special slipper socks? I was going to say, with bare feet you wouldn't slip over because the soles of feet are grippy — but with slipper socks I bet her family go down like nine-pins after she's polished that floor!
your nine-pins comment made me laugh out loud. i can just see that! i can also see myself sliding wildly across the floor, arms flailing. since i don't wear shoes inside the house that probably makes me more aware of the slippery factor. in summer my feet are bare but i do wear socks in the winter (plus slippers when it gets really cold.)
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These stripped bare houses ... there's not much DOING in them, so the owner's BEING will need to be rich! Let's hope so. :) Mairin.
Interesting point! I have the impression that in Japan they do things but put away whatever they were using. I think it was a set of big earthquakes, which in effect weaponised their ornaments and bits and pieces agains them, that focused their minds again on minimalism. Before that, I understand the average Japanese home was (probably still is) very cluttered, because Japan divides very sharply into areas of natural beauty and areas where the population is concentrated tightly into urban configurations (or so I believe — never been there).
In our house we try to follow a minimalist path, but we have several makers — one wood-worker, and two who make ceramics, stained glass and jewellery, plus bind books and do calligraphy and painting, knitting and crochet. I also do a little bit of occasional sewing. Not often. We also spin. All these things generate equipment, and imply projects that may span a period of time when we want the things left out to return to working on them.
Because of my own particular objectives, to do with maximising space to accommodate other people and working on my own personal project/goal of maximum flexibility, portability and invisibility, owning as little as possible is integral to what I'm doing, therefore I own almost nothing. I still do a lot, but I've deliberately chosen activities like writing, teaching and preaching (and in the past, work with dying and bereaved people, and pastoral care) that require only my own body and mind and the smallest, thinnest, lightest laptop I could source (MacBook 12).
But the others need space, so what we've done is build a woodworking shed, and then set aside two rooms in the house as makers' spaces. They are not cluttered, because we put things away, but sometimes there is a project out. Actually, often even that gets put away because we have cats. One of our cats ruined an icon by licking it (attracted by the egg component)! And if you're working with leaf gold or akoya pearls, it's better they don't get played with by a cat!!
So I'm wondering if in Japan they keep their living spaces minimalist but have plenty of cunning storage and also studios and work shop rooms allocated?
Interesting point! Yes it gives you back your being space. I have the impression that in Japan they do things but put away whatever they were using. I think it was a set of big earthquakes, which in effect weaponised their ornaments and bits and pieces agains them, that focused their minds again on minimalism. Before that, I understand the average Japanese home was (probably still is) very cluttered, because Japan divides very sharply into areas of natural beauty and areas where the population is concentrated tightly into urban configurations (or so I believe — never been there), so their homes tend to be small.
In our house we try to follow a minimalist path, but we have several makers — one wood-worker, and two who make ceramics, stained glass and jewellery, plus bind books and do calligraphy and painting, knitting and crochet. I also do a little bit of occasional sewing. Not often. We also spin. All these things generate equipment, and imply projects that may span a period of time when we want the things left out to return to working on them.
Because of my own particular objectives, to do with maximising space to accommodate other people and working on my own personal project/goal of maximum flexibility, portability and invisibility, owning as little as possible is integral to what I'm doing, therefore I own almost nothing. I still do a lot, but I've deliberately chosen activities like writing, teaching and preaching (and in the past, work with dying and bereaved people, and pastoral care) that require only my own body and mind and the smallest, thinnest, lightest laptop I could source (MacBook 12).
But the others need space, so what we've done is build a woodworking shed, and then set aside two rooms in the house as makers' spaces. They are not cluttered, because we put things away, but sometimes there is a project out. Actually, often even that gets put away because we have cats. One of our cats ruined an icon by licking it (attracted by the egg component)! And if you're working with leaf gold or akoya pearls, it's better they don't get played with by a cat!!
So I'm wondering if in Japan they keep their living spaces minimalist but have plenty of cunning storage and also studios and work shop rooms allocated?
it must be my age but, when i see that shining, slippery floor, what springs to mind is HIP FRACTURE! sigh.
How interesting! I hadn't thought of that. Japanese people take off their shoes indoors, don't they? They have a little place just inside the door to leave them. Oh, but don't they wear special slipper socks? I was going to say, with bare feet you wouldn't slip over because the soles of feet are grippy — but with slipper socks I bet her family go down like nine-pins after she's polished that floor!
your nine-pins comment made me laugh out loud. i can just see that! i can also see myself sliding wildly across the floor, arms flailing. since i don't wear shoes inside the house that probably makes me more aware of the slippery factor. in summer my feet are bare but i do wear socks in the winter (plus slippers when it gets really cold.)
They do things the same way in this monastery (see 1.48 in).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pllQ_-ZxEA
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