A branch off of the" What have you purged today" thread

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I like that so many of us, for so long have continued to share what we are purging and how.

I didn't want to hijack that thread, and wanted to allow some input from others who may have given up following it because it has gotten so long, so I will start this more specific question here.

I'm seeing that there are many reasons why and how various contributors purge. I thought we might like to share why or what our ultimate goal for purging is.

This question came up because @gidgetgh has been purging her basement, and it appears the goal is for it to be nearly empty as well as some attic spaces completely empty. I looked at the picture of her one empty section of basement, and it is truly a thing of beauty, but I thought to myself that isn't what my current goal for purging in my basement is all about.

It got me to wondering what is your ultimate goal in your purging process? Moving/downsizing? Having some area completely empty, never to have to be accessed again (like you never want to have to go into the attic or basement again and want/need it to be totally empty)? Easier access to things you want in the main living areas with some storage of overflow things in other spaces? Wanting to get back to using the garage for what it was built for, storing the car? The idea that should you become unable to take care of your space all on your own, or should you pass away, what others will have to deal with?

At the beginning of all these purging discussions, I kind of assumed we were all in the same place of just wanting less 'stuff', but in reality we are all looking to achieve slightly different ends, and I thought maybe some would like to share exactly what their end goal was/is for the purging process.

For me, it isn't AT THIS TIME about completely empty spaces. I still want to maintain a certain level of things, I just want to be able to access and get to what I'm keeping much easier, and therefore get more use out of what I'm keeping (and that indeed is going to take unloading a lot of stuff, just not everything in the overflow area). For me at this time, having something like my major overflow area (basement in my case) totally empty would mean I had given up many things I would still like to use in the rotation of seasonal decor, holiday decor, or clothing or kitchen items, but just can't fit them all in the actual room I want to rotate them in and out of.

It isn't that I want to get rid of all Christmas decor, choose to not invest the time/space/ energy to decorating for the season any longer (which is a fine goal, just not mine at this time), but that I would want to pare it down to a more manageable amount that takes less time to set up, less effort to clean around, less time to take down, and less space to store.

So if you care to share, what is the ultimate goal to your purging? And maybe if you see your purging occuring in stages, how and why that is working for you.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

Thanks for the new thread @Mominohio. In my case, I was able to take early retirement and wanted to use my extra time to refresh our house which was built in 2000. This week the interior gets painted so I need to decide if I want to use all the old wall decor. Also, with the rooms emptied out, I need to decide if everything should go back where it was, or if a streamlined look is more practical. I'll be staying in the lower level while the painter is working, so that will give me time to sort through the fall and Christmas decorations. Some things will definitely get purged this week.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

My goal was to keep everything in once space and be able to see everything at a glance. I am almost there. I took a break from it, but want to finish it up this year. I found along the journey that I apparently like trees. I have a wide variety. Do I ever display all of them? No, so I moved a some along.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@AuntG wrote:
Thanks for the new thread @Mominohio. In my case, I was able to take early retirement and wanted to use my extra time to refresh our house which was built in 2000. This week the interior gets painted so I need to decide if I want to use all the old wall decor. Also, with the rooms emptied out, I need to decide if everything should go back where it was, or if a streamlined look is more practical. I'll be staying in the lower level while the painter is working, so that will give me time to sort through the fall and Christmas decorations. Some things will definitely get purged this week.

@AuntG

When having to empty a space out for painting etc. it is indeed the perfect time to reevaluate what all is in that space, do I like it like that, or do I want it different? I did that with two spaces in the last few years (son's bedroom and upstairs hallway). I was sick to death of both rooms and in emptying out to paint, the bedroom had mostly just the furniture returned and dumped all the wall art and knick knacks, and the hallway was given a whole new look with almost everything new.

It's amazing how much more updated and stream lined things look now. Happy I did it, and looking forward to doing it in other rooms as we are able to paint/carpet etc.

queendiva · ‎03-12-2010

I am purging AND downsizing because I am making a serious commitment to live the rest of my life with less stuff.

I have heard it said that we spend the first half of our lives accumulating and the second half purging. True in my case. DSs are grown with homes of their own.

Following the moving purge, which, of necessity will be complete in just a couple of short weeks (one way or another!) the editing will begin. Whatever makes it into the POD or on to the moving van will have to earn it's way into my new place. Starting out with the coveted empty and beautifully naked basement and garage!

Many of my friends are either downsizing their homes or are envious that I am in full Purge mode. Life is short. I am getting older and need answer to no one in terms of living choices. I want to live in a tidy, beautiful little "jewel box" and I am working toward that goal fearlessly!

Thank you one and all for you invaluable support for my efforts!

Hardest things for me to release? Clothes! I will try to edit and limit purchases when prepping my fall/ winter wardrobe.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@GCR18 wrote:
My goal was to keep everything in once space and be able to see everything at a glance. I am almost there. I took a break from it, but want to finish it up this year. I found along the journey that I apparently like trees. I have a wide variety. Do I ever display all of them? No, so I moved a some along.

@GCR18

This is a big goal of mine for many things too. I found I had things from the same category stuffed and tucked all over the house.

I essentially want all linens in the linen closets. Not so much it over runs into the guest closet or the basement. Same for many other categories of things. Hope to eventually get to where all of any given type of things are all in the same area, and 'see at a glance' unstuffed!

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

My goal is for everything to have a designated place to be and for that place to be accessible. I have two decent storage spaces, but both require climbing a ladder and maneuvering through a small door which is not ideal. I would rather use some garage space and have racks and bins that I can easily view and move. The storage spaces can stay empty.

Additionally, I am looking toward the future when we do downsize. Having everything organized and visible will make any future move easier.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@queendiva wrote:
I am purging AND downsizing because I am making a serious commitment to live the rest of my life with less stuff.

I have heard it said that we spend the first half of our lives accumulating and the second half purging. True in my case. DSs are grown with homes of their own.
Following the moving purge, which, of necessity will be complete in just a couple of short weeks (one way or another!) the editing will begin. Whatever makes it into the POD or on to the moving van will have to earn it's way into my new place. Starting out with the coveted empty and beautifully naked basement and garage!

Many of my friends are either downsizing their homes or are envious that I am in full Purge mode. Life is short. I am getting older and need answer to no one in terms of living choices. I want to live in a tidy, beautiful little "jewel box" and I am working toward that goal fearlessly!

Thank you one and all for you invaluable support for my efforts!
Hardest things for me to release? Clothes! I will try to edit and limit purchases when prepping my fall/ winter wardrobe.

@queendiva

It seems everyone I know fits that first half/second half of life thing you mention. I know it has been that way for generations in our family, and it just kind of makes sense to me how and why it all happens.

What I am eager to hear from you is AFTER the move, and when you get settled in, how your decisions and choices end up panning out for you. Did you keep too much, did you get rid of the wrong things, was it all just right, what would you do different, what advice would you give others about to embark on the same thing.

Best of luck as the process continues!

And a PS

I find it fascinating in these discussions too, just what others struggle with the most in letting go. I'm so opposite you, in that I don't care about my clothing in the least, and have relatively little clothing compared to most other women. My vices lie elsewhere, but are vices indeed!! LOL

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

@Mominohio If not in the same closet, then the same room. I've dedicated one bedroom to decor storage and the ironing board. I took out the clothing racks in the closet and put two shelving units. That really should be plenty of room.

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

My only spare bedroom has become an storage, catch all room. I want to be able to use as a bedroom/office area again.

The major reason for purging however, is too much unused stuff is starting to make me anxious. I don't want to leave for someone else to deal with after I am gone.