Thank you, John, I will happily read anything you write. I’ve managed to declutter my wardrobe and I’m contemplating the many drawers and tubs full of craft supplies and projects-in-progress. ‘Identity clutter’ is a particular challenge for me with my chronic health issues. It is likely I won’t have the capacity to return to every hobby in future, but it is hard to let go of tools and materials that I probably won’t be able to afford to replace if I’m lucky enough to get some capacity back. So it is the acknowledgement of reality that is hard, and hopefully finding a second life for good items, rather than landfill. Thank goodness I live in a one bedroom apartment, which limits the volume, if not the sense of overwhelm… though our thousands of books are in storage at our family business’ warehouse. It saddens me that they will likely be pulped when I go. For the first half of my life, books were expensive and happily swapped and on-sold until the information in them became obsolete, or everyone had read that story. Now I mainly read audiobooks because reading print and screens exhausts me. They can’t be inherited so I guess that is one less issue I will leave.
Letting go of hobbies is tough, for sure. Books too, although I have found a resource here that tries to repurpose as many as possible. I have been hanging on too my Spanish language books, but then it they can go to, say, an immigrant in detention, wouldn't that be better?
Yes, adding something to the garbage can each week is a great strategy.
I miss Jill and Dave’s dump recycling center, where things had a fighting chance of having a second life. Although you had to be careful not to bring home more than you left behind…
I grew up in a hoarder household. My mother was (and remains) a hoarder, and was also very strict about housework, so many of my recurring dreams are related in some way to those Saturdays spent scrubbing a bathtub around empty shampoo bottles and dusting cat fur and spilled Pepsi from around stacks of New Yorkers and unopened mail.
So I turned into a chronic stuff-purger, and yet still it piles up! Last weekend I moved from my very small rental house into what I hope will be a home of my own for a few years at least, and felt exhausted at the amount of *stuff* me and my kids still managed to have, even though the house I was renting couldn't accomodate much and was already furnished. I think it breeds!
It was a weird kind of delightful (solidarity I suppose) to read this, John, as my essay yesterday was partly focused on getting a grip on all the STUFF. We exert control where we can, right? Totally related to this. Looks like you’re making good progress. I’m rooting for you!
One of the items I finally got rid of was all the linens! We only need 2 decent fitted sheets and three comforters, and 4 pillow cases. Until now, I felt I had to keep them all! I know a woman who was unhomed for 7 years who now lives in a residence for previously unhomed people. I was so happy to give the quality linens to her, and for her to pass on the rest to the shelter where she now works.
Hello from the UK! I enjoyed reading this. Having been 20 years in our family home, this year we have been walking the Wales Coast Path, living out of a rucksack for a few days at a time, and also thinking of moving to Devon next year. Our decluttering has stepped up a level. Besides that, my very elderly parents are living in their house which is full to the brim, so I think we will have to do the job twice. I am looking forward to that lightness!
Hello Charlotte! Thank you. Our first experience with living lightly was walking the Brittany Coast on our honeymoon 27 years ago, and the Tour de Mont Blanc a couple of years later. We need to keep doing it! The lightness is worth it. It’s another rainy day here, so I’m having another go!
Wow what a gorgeous dining room and view! In spring I do what I call "housekeeping yoga," and rather than my daily yoga practice, on bright days, take one little section of the house instead the usual yoga hour. I pass on stuff that I don't want or need. I deep clean as much as I can reach. Clean and treat the wood floors and cabinets. Breaking the "big projects" into tiny little sections works for me, particularly when I'm finally done and can breathe easier with less stuff!
The van metric is a good one. My husband's parents passed, leaving behind a giant (several buildings) collection of rocks. Rock hounding is a great hobby, but you are right, we can't take anything with us. And it's a great way to make sure your kids can't actually do anything with your house for years on end. Sigh... that's been a big eye opener for me, though. I get hung up on throwing away useful items, both for thr missed usefulness and because I object to adding to landfills... and yet....I throw more away than ever. I chuckled at the quote. Lab projects run on math like that.
I have the same issue with throwing away anything that might be useful. We used to have a great dump recycling center here on the island. The risk was that you'd bring home more than you took!
I have a lead on an organization that takes used books, one of the harder things to throw away.
Thank you, John, I will happily read anything you write. I’ve managed to declutter my wardrobe and I’m contemplating the many drawers and tubs full of craft supplies and projects-in-progress. ‘Identity clutter’ is a particular challenge for me with my chronic health issues. It is likely I won’t have the capacity to return to every hobby in future, but it is hard to let go of tools and materials that I probably won’t be able to afford to replace if I’m lucky enough to get some capacity back. So it is the acknowledgement of reality that is hard, and hopefully finding a second life for good items, rather than landfill. Thank goodness I live in a one bedroom apartment, which limits the volume, if not the sense of overwhelm… though our thousands of books are in storage at our family business’ warehouse. It saddens me that they will likely be pulped when I go. For the first half of my life, books were expensive and happily swapped and on-sold until the information in them became obsolete, or everyone had read that story. Now I mainly read audiobooks because reading print and screens exhausts me. They can’t be inherited so I guess that is one less issue I will leave.
Letting go of hobbies is tough, for sure. Books too, although I have found a resource here that tries to repurpose as many as possible. I have been hanging on too my Spanish language books, but then it they can go to, say, an immigrant in detention, wouldn't that be better?
John- I can relate … you should see MY garage.
About a year ago, and after relentless pleading from my wife, I developed a plan:
Every Tuesday for garbage pickup, I would search and find something to toss and add it to the can before wheeling it to the street.
It’s working! It’s getting more challenging to find ‘stuff to toss’!
My Dad was right! — for ANY big project (or goal or accomplishment or problem to solve) it’s “Cinch by the inch, Hard by the yard.”
Take care neighbor,
Wayne
Yes, adding something to the garbage can each week is a great strategy.
I miss Jill and Dave’s dump recycling center, where things had a fighting chance of having a second life. Although you had to be careful not to bring home more than you left behind…
I grew up in a hoarder household. My mother was (and remains) a hoarder, and was also very strict about housework, so many of my recurring dreams are related in some way to those Saturdays spent scrubbing a bathtub around empty shampoo bottles and dusting cat fur and spilled Pepsi from around stacks of New Yorkers and unopened mail.
So I turned into a chronic stuff-purger, and yet still it piles up! Last weekend I moved from my very small rental house into what I hope will be a home of my own for a few years at least, and felt exhausted at the amount of *stuff* me and my kids still managed to have, even though the house I was renting couldn't accomodate much and was already furnished. I think it breeds!
Well, congratulations on becoming a purger! I think I'm headed in that direction, but it's too early to call it just yet.
It was a weird kind of delightful (solidarity I suppose) to read this, John, as my essay yesterday was partly focused on getting a grip on all the STUFF. We exert control where we can, right? Totally related to this. Looks like you’re making good progress. I’m rooting for you!
Haha! Yes, I had the same feeling catching up with yours! Rooting for you vs. the linen closet.
One of the items I finally got rid of was all the linens! We only need 2 decent fitted sheets and three comforters, and 4 pillow cases. Until now, I felt I had to keep them all! I know a woman who was unhomed for 7 years who now lives in a residence for previously unhomed people. I was so happy to give the quality linens to her, and for her to pass on the rest to the shelter where she now works.
Hello from the UK! I enjoyed reading this. Having been 20 years in our family home, this year we have been walking the Wales Coast Path, living out of a rucksack for a few days at a time, and also thinking of moving to Devon next year. Our decluttering has stepped up a level. Besides that, my very elderly parents are living in their house which is full to the brim, so I think we will have to do the job twice. I am looking forward to that lightness!
Hello Charlotte! Thank you. Our first experience with living lightly was walking the Brittany Coast on our honeymoon 27 years ago, and the Tour de Mont Blanc a couple of years later. We need to keep doing it! The lightness is worth it. It’s another rainy day here, so I’m having another go!
Wow what a gorgeous dining room and view! In spring I do what I call "housekeeping yoga," and rather than my daily yoga practice, on bright days, take one little section of the house instead the usual yoga hour. I pass on stuff that I don't want or need. I deep clean as much as I can reach. Clean and treat the wood floors and cabinets. Breaking the "big projects" into tiny little sections works for me, particularly when I'm finally done and can breathe easier with less stuff!
The van metric is a good one. My husband's parents passed, leaving behind a giant (several buildings) collection of rocks. Rock hounding is a great hobby, but you are right, we can't take anything with us. And it's a great way to make sure your kids can't actually do anything with your house for years on end. Sigh... that's been a big eye opener for me, though. I get hung up on throwing away useful items, both for thr missed usefulness and because I object to adding to landfills... and yet....I throw more away than ever. I chuckled at the quote. Lab projects run on math like that.
Buildings full of rocks is next level!
I have the same issue with throwing away anything that might be useful. We used to have a great dump recycling center here on the island. The risk was that you'd bring home more than you took!
I have a lead on an organization that takes used books, one of the harder things to throw away.
And I forgot to say, we joke about Mission Creep at the lab all the time.
I used to love it when I was a contractor billing by the hour!
I so relate, John, and it reminds me of my last post and Holly Starley's latest essay. There's definitely something in the air.