This is in response to reading a post on CS. I find that though I have many items on hand I do not feel like a pack rat since I can easily get around. Recently we decided to turn an attic into living space, so cleaned out our storage and what was left of the previous owner (finally) and were surprised at what little had to be moved out of the way of the remodelers. When we emptied the old shed it was the same thing. I did have to toss ten year old files. Hey, if I haven't looked at them for that long, who needs them?

What I do is try to imagine that one of my nieces ore heirs are looking through everything. That will stop you from keeping more than a few items for parts. 25 dead electric motors is excessive. One old chandelier isn't.

One of the old doors we bought is going to be a 'new' closet door and the other door that matches it (beaded and very nice joints) is going to be turned into a headboard. Both of the doors are from an old church. Does that mean I've got religion? ;)

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Answers

Hi, Anne.

A while back I read a book entitled "100 Ways to Simplfy Your Life" by Elaine St. James. A small, easy to read book with some excellent ideas. I began looking at some of the stuff I've been storing for way too long, picturing my children trying to go through this stuff. That did it for me! I've been de-cluttering for several weeks now. Throwing out junk, giving away good stuff and recycling whatever I can. Suddenly, I have all this space I didn't even know I had. It's been like adding an addition without the mess. Once you start seeing your stuff through other people's eyes, it becomes much easier to let go of it.

Wishing you enough.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

You guys are shaming me so much I might have to take a look at my STUFF ;>)

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

I come from a long line of pack-rats!!!!! I said growing up no never not me but it took a few times of throwing something out then a couple days later I would need it,then never will I throw something out that could be used even if only one time!!!! I keep my junk organized so I know right where it is. Will tell Dad he better throw the hustlers out cause he might not want the great-grandchildren to know what a dirty ol'man he is!!hehehe

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Before we moved into this house, we moved from a large house into a small apartment. Alot of children's stuff I would have liked to keep for my grandchildren but needed room so I only kept a few things. Then the other stuff that I hadn't touched since we moved in, they went. Figured the same, if I haven't used it in 5 years, I probably wouldn't need it in the near future. If we follow through with our move south in a few years, even more stuff is going, especially since I hope we will move into a smaller house (who needs a formal diningroom anyway?)

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Some comedian, probably Carlin, said that a house is just a place to store our stuff. We don't need larger houses, we just need less stuff. Well, I ain't getting rid of my stuff! Gonna get me a larger house! It's my stuff and it took me a long time to get it and I'm gonna keep it.

Someone else said that we spend a lot of time just taking care of our stuff. They're wrong! If I need a pair of pliers, I have to go buy another pair because the one's that I have or the one's that I find, have been laying out in the rain and aren't useable anymore. Did you know rust doesn't affect the use of a screwdriver? Nope, don't spend any time taking care of anything. Can't let that stuff control you. So, I've got a lot of stuff that I'm not getting rid of, partially, because no one else wants my broken stuff and partially, because if I spend enough time working on it, I can use it again, if I can find it when I need it. But, the main reason is that it's mine! Don't care if it's any good or not, it's still mine. Kinda like the wife feels about me.

Wildman, (still collecting)

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2002