Stuff we can't bear to throw away; stuff that might come in handy some day; stuff that is Great Stuff -- just too much of it. Things we give home-space to, things we lug with us from apartment to apartment, things that clutter our lives. (Things that other people might treasure and use?)
I find myself wondering why I have a near-complete mint-in-boxes bisque porcelain Avon Nativity Set that I collected in the 1980's. Like these here. They're gorgeous, the most beautiful Nativity Set I've ever clapped eyes on. But I've had them out of their boxes and on display twice. I need to find them a new home.
Likewise the clothing that doesn't fit (it will fit someone!); the endless piles of books (I have an ereader!); the bookshelves (fewer books means fewer shelves needed!); and the knickknacks, tchotchkes, gewgaws, trinkets, thingamajigs and whatchamacallits that gather dust in such profusion that I no longer *see* them -- due to the dust and/or the profusion. It is time and high time for a clear-out. Plus it all simply won't fit into a tiny house!
For downsizing my stuff, I use a method which I believe I invented, called the Six Piles Method. As is painfully obvious from the name, this refers to putting everything you own into six piles. Towhit:
1. Treasures & Useful Things (preferably both!) -- this pile I get to keep!
2. Gifts -- be magnanimous and thoughtful!
3. Things to Sell -- nothing wrong with turning a few bucks on collectibles!
4. Items for Charity -- support the causes you believe in!
5. Recycling -- reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, and REMOVE!
6. Garbage -- whatever doesn't fit into the above five piles must be garbage, right?
Wish me luck. This is my current and ongoing project in the move from apartment-and-storage to The Gatekeeper's Lodge.
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| Clutter in the library, soon to be GONE. (Well, most of it.) |
I've been going through a similar process since the Bar exam...I only use three piles...but with a similar theme.
ReplyDeleteI'm never going to downsize to the level you have, my friend, but I am amused by the amount of stuff that I have in my house because I have friends who have asked me to store it in the house "for a little while"...and I still have it years later for them.
I'm now going through and contacting them years later and if they don't want it, it's charity bound.