Happy Tuesday all. Hope this finds everyone well and safe. It is a lovely morning here. Cool, sunny and low humidity for a bit! I will gladly take it. I even porch set a bit last evening - it felt so nice outside. I know the glorious weather won't last, but it will be enjoyed while it is here.
People I know are moving or thinking of it. My sis has made the final decision to go to assisted living. It is a very small apartment (very tiny house) - so she is having to get rid of lots and lots of stuff. All happening this week.
My neighbor and friend have put their home on the market. I am NOT happy! They are wanting to move to TN - at least he wants that.
I looked up the listing on their house to see how it showed in pics. Now, mind you, I have been in it many, many times and it is just such a sweet cozy house. Not in the pictures! It looks very sterile and cold to me. I know this is what realtors want - so people can 'imagine' their stuff in there. That wouldn't work on me at all. I want to see how a house can look homey and cozy, not sterile and vanilla. They removed any semblance of life IMO. I would never buy something that looked like that.
It has motivated me. Good grief, I would hate for someone to have to come in and go through all my things and think I was cray-cray!
I need to simplify even more (yes, that can be work) and lessen my footprint. I need to truly love and use all that I have.
Recently I have been working on my pantry stores. I have lots and lots. Boy, do I have lots and lots. My pantry and cabinets have very high shelves in them, and things have been placed up there and almost forgotten. I have been rediscovering. From back in my coupon days - I have enough foil and plastic wrap to probably last the rest of my life (I hardly use).
I knew (or thought I knew) I had a lot of pink Himalayan salt. I couldn't find it. Well, yesterday I did. Yep, again I have enough salt to last for years. I have all grinds of it. Other goods that I thought I was out of or near out of, I found more! Things that I can only get certain places, mainly out of town. All is still good. Some things will basically last forever.
I have pasta (all kinds) out the wazoo! All safe and in glass jars. Dry beans - oh my! Again, all jarred up. I am trying to get a grip on what is really here.
I know this probably sounds like I hoard food - that is not what I call it. I call it being prepared for maybe not having. I have always been a sort of prepper - for years.
I thought I was about out of relish - I found a few jars I canned a year or two back, that was stuck in with the salsa. I am good to go on that. I have a lot of salsa to use in many ways. Lots of home canned tomato products.
I emptied many glass gallon jars and filled many. Got to love those jars.
So needless to say, I have no plans for basic grocery shopping anytime soon. Milk, or cat food or fresh fruit - will be it. Thankfully the garden is also producing - so more than enough to use. No reason to have it - if I am not using it.
Now this is just food - so far!
I have so much stuff that has been boxed up and stored away for years - WHY????? It isn't going to gain any value or be appreciated any at all in those boxes. It is taking up real estate. I have to let go. Most of it has no sentimental value - it is just things that we both got here and there that we thought were neat at one point. The sentimental things I keep or pass to certain family.
Those sentimental items are best gifted now, when I can relate stories and where it came from - otherwise someday it will just be 'stuff' no one knows anything about.
It is amazing what motivates us. My sis and my neighbor have given me a push I needed without even knowing it. I can't even fathom moving and having to do all this at the same time.
We can't be enslaved to stuff! It happens and it is easy to do. I do love things - but the special things.
What an ongoing journey this will be. A new season in my life!!!!
Funny, how we put things away to be safe! In my case they are - because even I have forgotten where some things are. LOL
Life is full of journeys and seasons - here I am in yet another.
Anyone else in this stage? How are you handling it? I think we all get there - it just takes time. Some have already downsized a ton - some have much work to do.
So now I started the 'getting rid of' stage. It can be overwhelming. I am going slowly and taking small bites - a little at a time. I am really thinking about the choices I make and what is important.
Have a fantastic day. SMILE
Oh boy, I am with you on this! I’ve had to clean out so many relative’s homes over the years, most recently, my ex-husband’s and I come back to my place and cull through everything. I’m currently working on my shed and so far have a car load of donations plus 3 hug trash bags for the dump. And this isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Hangi in there and thank you for your wonderful posts. Lynn, Pecos, NM
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn. I have done it with my parents' home as well - just a little with the IL home. It isn't fun and the stuff we end up with - well, most isn't necessary. I just didn't want to change anything for the longest time after losing Glen, it somehow felt disrespectful. Now I am finally there - it has to be done.
DeleteThank you for your kind words!
Yes, I am at that stage. The clutter is hurting my mental health. I'm not planning to move anytime soon, but there will come a time, by choice or necessity.
ReplyDeleteIt sure can do that. I am not planning on moving either - but this stuff is just too much. Baby steps and getting our world where we want it to be.
DeleteI've never really liked a lot of 'stuff' so I declutter twice a year but I have found myself being even more ruthless about letting things go over the past year or two. If I don't use it or don't love it, it goes.
ReplyDeleteJust take it one drawer, or closet or shelf at a time so you don't get overwhelmed. I'm sure you'll tackle it all well.
I came from 'stuff' people and I guess it kind of stuck. Sis, has less, as she just saw it as something you had to dust! LOL
DeleteI am slowly making my way through this all again. The basement is just a lot - but slow and steady!
The older I get the more a minimalist I become. However I live with my daughter and she considers herself a maximalist. It's a real trend...and not hoarding as these are collections of specific items. Most of it is relegated to her bedroom and as that is upstairs I don't often have to see it.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe you are right, it is something we go through as we age. I love collections and such - I just had too many!
DeleteAt least you don't have to clean it!
It's always a shock when you discover that you have more of an item than you thought. You are well set on many things for a long time. I always wonder when I did I buy that. We have been eating older things from the freezers, things we had forgotten about. Fresh Thyme had a pretty good deal on grass fed and finished organic ground beef so we bought some to put in the freezer. That will replace what we are using now. The things I have trouble getting rid of are sentimental things, things that were given to me. I keep adding to the charity boxes. I hope your sister will be very happy in her new home.
ReplyDeleteIt is a gorgeous morning! I'm headed outside in a bit to work on the front garden by the porch. Looking a little ragged. Enjoy this nice weather!
It is amazing on the things I have found. I am good on most everything food wise! Nice find on the beef.
DeleteI will keep most all of the sentimental things, they have history to me. They make me smile.
Thanks - she isn't at all happy about moving, especially somewhere so small - but she does know it is really necessary. Help close by, less to take care of. It is a very lovely place with a lot of amenities. She can have her doggy too!
It is so pretty. I have already been out working a bit too. Enjoy the cooler temps.
Your comment about giving the sentimental items struck a chord with me. After my parents and sister passed away, as the executor I asked the immediate family members to come and take anything that they would like for their homes. It was interesting to see how each had different needs/wants. And when I see something from my family being used it makes me happy, and I know it would for the deceased. I know how hard my parents worked to have their things as they immigrated after the war with a few trunks. I recently took one of the trunks and assembled photos and momentos for future generations to let them understand their heritage.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful gifts your family has been given. I have a bunch of old books that belonged to my grandparents and some from Gr. grands - I would love someone to keep them. Tin photos and old photographs - the same.
DeleteYep, you never know what people may chose. Sometimes something small means more than something big. When cleaning out moms - my niece wanted a tiny little copper pot (maybe 2"). She remembered staying with them, and 'waiting' on grandpa at dinner and he would put a little tip in that pot! That was all she wanted.
Glad you are passing things on.
I have just moved - did it all myself except for the furniture. Exhausting. I’m still going through everything and I’m really trying to let as much go as possible. I have no close relatives. I don’t stockpile food (just not important to me) but I’m a terror with books, china and “paperwork” (includes photos and greeting cards).
ReplyDeleteMy cousin lost her apartment in Hurricane Helene and a month later lost her husband. Very difficult but she is now nicely settled in part because she has never collected stuff. I used to think poorly of her when she moved apartments and just left stuff behind but I now understand even though I couldn’t do that.
Oh gosh, that had to be a lot of work. I would never want to move all the stuff here.
DeleteFood is my biggy, as I just think that 'someday' we may not be able to use the stores . Nothing is impossible.
Books and china - heavy items and they take up space. I got rid of the china - but I do have a lot of books. I have tried to farm out photos to appropriate family members.
If you have anything in photos or books that may be historic, maybe think about donating to historical society.
You really have my admiration doing all that alone.
Thank you. Good luck to your sister on her move to assisted living. Her life will be easier and safer there, I think, but it is still hard.
DeleteI try not to accumulate and then I see the garage....
ReplyDeleteYEP - don't even get me started on that space!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteI remember reading in one of Don Aslett's books about how sometimes collections get started. He gave the example of you have a ceramic frog on your mantle. You see another & think it would look nice with the one at home so you get it. Someone visits you & sees them and thinks you like frogs and gifts you one. Now you have 3 and a collection! Thirty years later you have decorative frogs everywhere and you don't even know if you like frogs!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I've purchased things over the years because I already had it at home and thought I should get another to go with it! So dumb! I don't buy random knickknacks as I can't stand cluttered surfaces but I was a sucker for glassware, platters, bowls and various serving pieces. When my kids were little I couldn't resist cute clothes on sale or the 99c patterns at JoAnn's. I did accumulate a lot of Christmas decor even though I don't like knickknacks but I bought it anyway! I wanted the house to look magical. But all that stuff actually stressed me out and was a lot of work. Twenty years ago I got rid of half. About 3 years ago I got rid of more. Last year even more. I suspect I'll purge even more this coming Christmas. I want to get it to 2 large bins I can manage myself.
I had to chuckle, because that is pretty much right!
DeleteIt sure does sneak up on it. A bit of this or that. I used to have a ton of Christmas stuff as well. It is a lot of working - cleaning and dusting. You have had a good way of handling it. I have done what I thought was a lot before - but it really wasn't. You can't even tell anything is gone. I am going to be diligent. I will get there.
I think sentimental items are worth keeping when it's connected to a specific memory. But I have family members who keep a lot of things for "sentimental reasons" and the only reason is it was a gift. Honestly, the person who gave it probably doesn't even remember gifting it.
ReplyDeleteVery good point! I like that. Thanks.
DeleteI think that there is a big difference between having lots of food and useful stuff around, versus knick-knacks, clutter etc.
ReplyDeleteI would love to get rid of a lot of clutter but having 2 other people in the house means that I often get out-voted!
On the other hand, I like a really well-stocked pantry. To me, that just seems common sense.
I agree. My pantry isn't going anywhere - it could be life saving for myself and others at some point in time. We just never know. Having and using that pantry (all purchased at cheap prices) saves money too.
DeleteClutter is different. It is now just me, so a lot of the clutter needs to leave. If I don't love it or enjoy it or use it - why?
Hi Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteI am not a collector so for me, getting rid of stuff isn’t traumatic, but I know it is for lots of people. I would recommend you do one room or closet at a time, and invite a friend to help you, someone who will raise their eyebrows about why you need all the empty jars, given there is just you to feed ;). Hilogene in Az
That is a good idea - one place at a time. I am slowly making my way through it all. I just had the conversation that it takes years to get to this point (almost 40 here) - so it will surely take time to get through it all.
DeleteGood thoughts.
I started collecting angels after our daughter passed away. Kurt picks me up an angel or a thimble (for my thimble collection) when he goes on a trip. The thimbles started as something we could bring back as a reminder of the countries we have visited. Now it has almost filled the case Harvey made for me.
ReplyDeleteI am slowly going through things, using things up to give away as gifts, or discovering new ways to use those items that are taking up room. I did give away an overlocker/serger to a friend of Kurt's as she did a great deal of sewing and I had no need for two of them.
God bless.
Those special things bring you joy and they have such meaning. They should always be kept.
DeleteI love being able to gift someone something that they can use and it makes them happy and frees your space at the same time. Lovely gesture.
I have been "De-cluttering" for you years. As I'm getting older and realize we will have to think about moving one day or maybe someone else needing to go through my house makes me want to really clean house. I started to get rid of too much and then realized I still do live in the house . I'm trying to find a happy medium. I have tons of books I rarely look and they should go. It is hard to get rid of the things we've been collecting all our lives. But I guess it's time.
ReplyDeleteSame here. I think that is my motivation as well. I would hate for someone else to have to do it. It is no fun.
DeleteDon't want to overdo it - you are right - we still live in them and they should shine for US!
Someone saw I had a cute basket on my kitchen wall and commented on my basket collection and gave me another. One basket is a collection? I declined her basket.
ReplyDeleteMama gave me an A&W Root Beer Mug. As a child in Jackson, MS, we stopped there for root beer only, a fun stop. She had gotten it in a yard sale. I started collecting them, too, paying only a quarter for each. After two years, all shops went up in price. I refused to pay $3 or more. So, I never bought more in our town. No one else wanted to buy them. So, I just passed them by. Ha! I did continue buying them in other towns for a quarter. Eventually, I had around 50. Some are antiques and very valuable. I will sell those and the duplicates of the more modern ones.
I do have plenty of food and not ashamed of that.
Right now, Tommy is having a bedroom converted to a bathroom. Neither of can step into shower. We know this will help us stay here longer instead of moving. So, we have to clear out that bedroom.
Practical Parsimony above
DeleteThat os how some collections seem to start. I used to buy old antique Coke items at flea markets. Then gradually people started buying things for me as gifts. My kitchen is decorated in Coco Cola. I have had to get rid of a lot - just had way too much. Still have the very old pieces.
DeleteI was wondering how the bathroom project was going.
Cheryl, as you know, we just moved into an apartment and had to downsize considerably. As I started selling stuff and then giving stuff away and realizing we still have stuff in the garage to go through, I started to feel some guilt and remorse over all the stuff I've spent money on over the years. It's definitely a process and it's not a fun one, but with every load of stuff we donated or sold, we felt so much lighter. I'm telling my mom to do the same thing. We shouldn't be leaving all of our junk to our kids to have to sort through. I think you'll enjoy the finished result :)
ReplyDeleteThat has been a big job for you. Going from house to apartment is huge. I know each load I have taken to donation in the past has made me feel better. Eventually this will be a home of lesser items and I will be a happy girl.
DeleteI am in the process of moving, yet again, and my brainwaves are like yours right now. Why am I keeping this stuff. In 100 years someone else will be living in my house, dealing with my stuff, etc. Some things I will keep for sentimental reasons, but honestly, why? lol. My daughter doesn't want it, she is packed too! Well, here I gooooo
ReplyDeleteGood luck my friend. I wouldn't want to be moving - although some day it may happen. Yes, in the future all those things we have will be in a landfill or something. Sad to think about, but if no one wants or needs them - well, they become a burden. We just need to make today a better day. Best of luck in decluttering and moving!
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