Home

[lolakimono]

Some interesting stats here-

[Annabellethecat66]

@lolakimono Do you have my house bugged?  Those pictures could be my house!

There's a comedian who does a whole routine about Americans and their 'stuff'.

It is very funny and with me, hits really close to home.

He talks about how so many of us have our house filled with 'stuff' and when it's full of 'stuff' we rent rooms to put more 'stuff' in.

The 'stuff' we've put in those rooms stays there.  No one ever visits that 'stuff'.  I can't remember much more but it's really funny and true.

There are even TV shows about people who bid on these 'rooms' to buy other people's 'stuff' so they can add to their 'stuff'.

Years ago my late husband (who was as neat as I am a junk stuffer) used to refer to my things as 'junk'.  I'd say, "It's my 'stuff'!  Don't call it junk ..... call is 'stuff'.

Hummmm??? I never could get him to call it 'stuff', to him it was always 'junk'.  In my opinion, there is a vast difference.  But, I'm the only one in my family who believes in the difference.

My oldest daughter is convinced there is a gene where people who have it are 'stuff' gatherers.  (How'd you like that description?) "STUFF GATHERERS".  I like that.

My late Mother was just like me.  I never lived with her so I can't say I copied her.  

Come to think of it maybe there is a gene that's carried for "Stuff Gatherers".  

I am not a hoarder, neither was my mom.  Not anywhere near that bad.  I just have a lot of stuff and my stuff has a specific place in my home.  

[Mom2Dogs]

I weeded out years ago...and never looked back.  It is so much easier to clean the house without extra 'stuff'.

[151949]

I live very frugally in comparison to many Americans , however, I still have way too much in comparison to what my Mom & my Grandmother had. My parents and grandparents were very happy in their lives despite having way fewer possessions.

[Sweet Caroline 1]

Annabellethecat, you're comedian is George Carlin.  I love his work.  Lolakimono, thank you for posting this.  Every bit of it is true.  Thanks!

[lolakimono]

@Annabellethecat66

I don't know if you've followed my posts about having my entire house of flooring replaced.

I do not live in a palace.  It is a 3 BR townhome with an unfinished basement.  I do not have a garage.  The challenge is how to coexist with two kitties, finish out the school year with stuff I need for work on a daily basis, and rip up an entire house of carpeting.

I had to rent a storage unit and hire movers to get the big pieces of furniture out, so that we could work around what is remaining to pull the carpet up.  I have about 50% of my furniture left.  

I have 4,000 pounds of flooring material being delivered in a few weeks, and I need space to house it.  I'm not sure if I will be able to fit it in my basement.  It is three pallets of materials. 

I have read your posts about downsizing in the next few years, and my advice is to start the process NOW.  I went this summer to help my mom during cataract surgery, and my "job" was to help her organize her art supplies.  What she really meant was to turn in my late father's space into an art space.  It took us almost the entire 10 days I was there to do this, and it was one room.  Just the process of emptying the closet, moving everything into the hallways, bagging for donation, taking trash to the dump, breaking down things for recycling, dropping off items at her church and the local elementary schools, and going through paperwork took an eternity.  I live out of state, as does another brother, and the time it would take us to go through an entire house could be months.  I hope that you can surround yourself with treasures that bring you joy, and let the rest go.    It is the best gift you can give to your girls.  

[Annabellethecat66]

@lolakimono I have tried to interest my 3 daughters on taking part in sorting all of the albums, videos, you name it (all 50 some years worth)....I understand, they live in different states and are busy.

My late husband wouldn't let me throw out one single toy, book, you name it, that belonged to my girls.

Much of their things are in the attic.  I do live in a pretty big house that we raised 3 daughter in.  Some of the rooms I don't even go in to.  No need.

Sometimes I think of moving.  My girls would like for me to move but I like the area I live in and definitely don't like going closer toward the Washington/Northern Va DC area.

Once I go upstairs (split foyer) I don't have to go up and down the stairs except to go in and out of the house.

I just don't worry much about it.  I keep telling them they aren't going to know some of these people but....well...not my problem.

They are wonderful daughters.  They look out for me when I need them.  I'm 72 this year.  I am in good health (for the most part).

I am comfortable that I can pay people to help me with things and I have really good friends who are THERE when I need them.

My daughters would like for me to move into a condo and just leave everything here, hire someone to pack all of it up.

I'm like, "OK, then what happens to "the stuff"?  They think I'm attached to the house because my husband died here, but I keep telling them they're wrong.  I just enjoy the house.  We built it and I know everything about it.

Who knows?  I might decide to move.  I'm a person who decides something and moves on it.

When my youngest daughter decided to move to Denver, I helped her organize the move but she did most of the logistics.

I am familiar with companies who pack up everything, put it in pods, etc.  I might have the same company come help me.

Right now, I'm fine.  I do enjoy Denver (living in the city).  That would make me more likely willing to move closer to my daughter who lives in the city here.

I have no intention of going through all of these albums, videos, etc and separating them.  If my daughters want them, they can do that.

I've told them they could have this house free and clear.  It's long been paid for.  They don't want to live here, I understand that.....I guess.

So, until I decide where I want to live, I'll stay here with my 'stuff'.  

[house_cat]

Interesting statistics.   I think I'm a below average "stuffer" but I love the word "stuffication"... that's exactly how I feel when things get cluttered.

[jannabelle1]

@lolakimono, well said. My advice is the same - downsize and go through "stuff" while you can and don't leave it to your children to take care of. My dear mother (with my help) finally decided to move out of her home and into a retirement (assisted living) apartment. I live out of state and arranged the sale of her house and the move, and encouraged her to start going through all of the stuff in the home she had shared with my deceased dad for 40 years. I should have known better to think that she could handle it at 85 years old, she had packed 1 box. It was a nightmare - I'm an only child, spent almost 2 weeks packing and going through her things, and ended up calling an estate sale company to liquidate what I couldn't handle. It was sad for my mother, and sad for me. When she died, my DH and I only had 3 days to clear out her assisted living apartment and again we had to call in people to just take the stuff we had no use for. Too many of us accumulate and hang on to too much stuff.

[blackhole99]

I just went through my clothing again and have a box full to take to recycle.We still have not cleaned out our shed outside, but it's just junk in  there  that needs to be disposed of.