43 Comments
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F.L by Scented Petals's avatar

Loved this with all that is me!!!

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Love that you can relate 👌

F.L by Scented Petals's avatar

For sure!! 👍🏼

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I felt that freedom when I got rid of stuff. Lots of stuff that meant nothing. I'm so happy you are happy, Cyn! 🩶🩶🩶

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Thanks for the read Rea. Total freedom right - it’s not only a physical purge but mental and emotional. good riddance!! xx

Kelly Trost's avatar

Oh, wow, Cyn. I've been checking your posts, not your feed. Though I can't believe I've been missing out on some of these notes, I suppose it's fine since it's such a lovely discovery, right now, to learn how well you're doing, at least respectively. I have a better understanding of exactly what you've been doing. I knew why you left, just not what your grand plan was. This is good. This is really, really good.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

thanks for the read Kelly. Yep - letting go of the physical and also emotional baggage is key. 💛

Kelly Trost's avatar

Hi Cyn! Writing probably saved my life a time or two. Thank you for your response. I hope you’re having a beautiful evening.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

You too Kelly 💕

Rob Riley's avatar

hey Cyn, you sound like Henry David Thoreau...it's nice though, and I feel you. I remember having a similar reaction to life along A1A in Sebastian and Vero Beach Fla. Everything was there, like a fairytale. I'm glad you're doing well..

Bougie Hippie's avatar

wait I know A1A well. I grew up and went to high school in Melbourne Beach - right next door to Vero and Sebastian. We grew up as neighbors???

Rob Riley's avatar

no, I’m a NYer, from birth to 11 yrs old in Brooklyn, then up to 31 yrs old in Bronx and now Westchester ever since. But I'VE VISITED that excellent area around A1A

Barbara Gay's avatar

And, you could've achieved all of this by moving to a cheaper state, smaller town, etc., right here in the USA. I have mostly lived in small towns, was in a graduating class of 65 (which was big by our school standards), and everyone knows everyone and they treat each other as close neighbors or even friends . . . where a farmer who gets ill or hurt watches as his farmer neighbors harvest his crops for him . . . nothing wrong with having things, in my view, though. Just as long as they don't run your life or you're not obsessed with them. :)

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Hi Barbara, stuff or no stuff I’m glad I got out of the current state of affairs in the US. Even with cartels and scorpions… it’s more peaceful on this side of the dirt. 🖤

Barbara Gay's avatar

I do hope you're safe, of course. You are actually fortunate to have been allowed to immigrate. Many people who are leaving the US have found that most countries have stricter immigration laws than we do--or than we used to, anyway. ;) I wish you well, of course, but if you ever return to the US, try a small town or even a rural area. :) It's the difference between night and day! I know a lady whose family moved from California to a tiny rural area not terribly far from me, and even though they bought a large and beautiful home with land, they paid less for it (like 2/3 less, I believe) than they would've there. Plus, I think they enjoyed the slower-paced, less-superficial lifestyle. :)

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Yes I agree with you. I’d go rural for sure. I’m lucky I’m a half breed. My mom is Mexican and Dad from Chicago so I get dual citizenship which will soon be forced to pick one by new US law. I’m

Not sure yet which I’ll pick.

Barbara Gay's avatar

Good luck on making your choice. :)

Marlana aka Outtamydamnmind's avatar

I love this. Thank you for showing how freedom can feel heavier than any designer bag or status symbol. There’s something so real in choosing less and finally letting your soul breathe.✨

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Come visit sometime!

Marlana aka Outtamydamnmind's avatar

I would love to I’m sure onyx would too 😂

Tony Burkinshaw's avatar

Loved this.

The less you have, the less you have to lose, the less you have to worry about.

The less you want, the less you need to buy, the less you need to run in the treadmill.

Therein lies freedom.

I hope your new life continues to feed you well.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

thanks Tony. that’s right - less is so much more.

WiseWomanWickedTongue's avatar

Fun read! I did this when I divorced, not the Mexico (although I love it there) part, but the ditching the stuff part. It is freeing for sure. Enjoy your freedom!

Bougie Hippie's avatar

ah yes - ditching and purging all the “shit” 💞

WiseWomanWickedTongue's avatar

Shit happens! And we don't have to carry it around.

Kolya Reshetov's avatar

nice escape!

Heléna Kurçab's avatar

Awesome!

Can so relate as I also gradually ‘snuffed the stuff’ in my travels from Australia to Spain and then to Zambia.

Now after 3 and a half years here, living a very simple life, will head out this coming Monday (originally Friday but the US/Iran bombings negated that possibility as the stopover was Doha).

That makes me 2 days past my permit date but, considering the circumstances, trusting that reasonableness will prevail.

Then on to Madrid, to dispose of more ‘stuff’ in my small trastero and close it, before heading for more of the simple life in Belize.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

ooooh Belize…. one of my favorites. Let me know when you land there safely. x

Heléna Kurçab's avatar

I have my flight from Madrid to Belize on March 23, landing March 24.

I’ve never been there before. Another new adventure. 😃

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Get to the islands of Belize. Incredible there

Gary L Taylor's avatar

Wonderful piece. Excellent and seems like you've found some real freedom.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

thanks for reading Gary. I honestly have. It’s been a life changing experience.

Samu's avatar

“Fruit tastes like it remembers the sun” is such a beautiful line.Loved this reflection on letting go.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

thanks Samu. Means a lot from you - one of my fav writers on Substack. xx

Samu's avatar

Thank you, that really means a lot. I always enjoy reading your work too.🖤

Martine 🦋's avatar

Feeling free, being free, peace of mind, living your life unapologetically.... a true inspiration Cyn 🙏🏻🌬✨️🦋

Bougie Hippie's avatar

Thanks Martine…. it’s taken so long to finally get here. ❣

A Writer’s Voice's avatar

This is a great piece. I think that is the new American dream for a lot of people. To be able to afford to get out.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

exactly that. and to be able to afford to let go of the need and wait to “afford” and just take off.

Chris Keller's avatar

everything. every word, every truth. you are an inspiration.

Bougie Hippie's avatar

as you are to me Keller. here we are trudging this path to happy destiny x