“You may have the occasion to possess or use material things but the secret of life lies in never missing them.”

Gandhi

“Editing” is a buzz word for minimizing and, as I know from personal experience, a good editor is priceless.

Believe it or not, a quarter of the year is already over, and my New Year’s resolution not to purchase wearable items for a whole year is going pretty well. Well, sort of.

My closet is spare, as are most of my cabinets. I’m in the process of learning the enjoyment of pure space. Magazine articles on spring cleaning, minimizing and downsizing abound.

The magazine Social South featured an article by Amanda Wells on closets. I pointed it out to Sam as proof I’m not the only one who loves playing in their closet. Designer Nancy Price describes her own closet as “a place of calm to begin and end my day.”

“I love to compose ‘altars,’ if you will, with all of my collections, whether it’s jewelry or religious reliquaries,” Nancy explains. “The hats that are hanging up in the area where I plan and play with different outfits given to me by my grandfather and are like art objects to me.”

Nancy describes a velvet banquette in her closet where she sits and enjoys herself, “I believe you should love your pieces, display them and enjoy them in your space.”

Previously I’ve mentioned Marie Kondo’s book on decluttering. There’s another, “Behind the Clutter,” by June Saruwatari. June recommends ” … letting go of emotional baggage and creating breathing room.”

Often I find myself saving items in the event I may need them. Like the long, classic black gabardine skirt. I’ve envisioned myself needing the skirt in the future to wear with some sensible shoes, looking a lot like Agatha Christie’s “Miss Marple.”

I take the skirt out of the closet and put it back in again. I really should pass it on because I’ve learned nothing remains classic — vintage perhaps — but not classic.

It is possible the year’s next quarter could be much different than the first. My birthday and Easter fell during the month of March which I regarded as occasions for gifts.

My sister-in-law, we call her “Sister,” asked if she could give me a T.J. Maxx card or would that be cheating on my resolution. I readily said, “Yes, I can receive a gift. I didn’t give up my birthday.”

Sam said he thought it was cheating which caused me to huff. “I made up the resolution and the rules, and it is not cheating for me to get a gift card for my birthday,” I insisted.

Within hours of receiving the gift card I had exchanged the card for an outfit. I consoled my semi-failure by removing the gabardine skirt from the closet.

Then came Easter. “Sam, I was thinking we could put an Easter dress in my Easter basket.”

“I’m getting you an Easter basket?” he asked.

“Well, yes. And I’ll get you a basket of homemade chocolate chip cookies.”

Sam liked the idea of the cookies but asked, “Isn’t that cheating on your New Year’s resolution?”