This morning Drew and I talked on the phone — he’ll be here in just over two weeks! — and I was updating him on the progress in the guest room.
“It’s not just that one room, though,” I told him. “This desire to organize and clean and declutter and make cozy corners extends to every room of the house. Last night I decluttered and organized the spices instead of watching Netflix like a normal human.”
“You’re nesting,” he said. “I think a lot of people are feeling the same urge right now. When the world is nuts, home is a refuge.”
It makes sense. I’ve had a secret theory for years that the current handmade movement was born out of the post 9/11 wave of anxiety about the world. Handmade things are soothing to the soul, and making is a creative pursuit that also affords you a tremendous amount of control. You pick the yarn or fabric or craft supplies. You determine the project type and size. And then the magic of making comes from bringing something forward out of nothing.
I am still astonished that sticks and string make fabric!
So I am nesting.
Minimalism, which is the current hot topic with my coworkers, only appeals to me for the cleanliness and tidiness that it brings to your life. I’m not a minimalist, but I recognize that it takes a lot less effort to clean and organize less stuff! My desire to declutter is a personal longing for order and beauty in my home. I love domesticity and all things about homemaking. Even though I’m not great at all of the domestic arts (like cooking, let’s be honest) I still love to try.
Knitting feels very much like a nesting activity and I’ve been knitting like a crazy person all summer long. Sewing feels nesty, too, and I cannot wait to have a sewing nook again.
Even the rare occurrence of me hosting a guest is rather nesty behavior! It’s a bit odd to be consumed with this feeling of hunker-down-be-cozy right in the middle of summer, but why not? It’s too hot outside to do anything comfortably and indoors it’s cool and there’s a great selection of tea. It’s a luxury to pull the curtains and watch a good movie while sinking into a smooshy Noro knitted project.
These cats were born to nest.
