This is all so painfully true. I lived in an apartment with no pictures on the walls for 4.5 years because it all felt so temporary and we never knew if the whole situation would fall apart. It didn’t, thankfully. I’ve had a couple of temporary living situations that became longer term than I intended (the above picture-less apartment and the SRO I mentioned last week) so the first thing I did when I moved to the current place is put up a ton of pictures and buy the nicest sofa I could afford (better than ikea but not quite room and board). If nothing is permanent I may as well enjoy what I have while I have it.

Maybe that’s the appeal of Marie Kondo. If nothing is permanent and you might have to pick up and move tomorrow, you’ll want to be able to bring what you truly value.

The only piece of furniture that came with us everywhere is my husband’s folding drafting desk. I guess that is the piece of furniture that sums up everything.