We have gone through four moves in the past two years. Normally, that would be very stressful, however, I have found it quite liberating. Once you start packing you start to realize just how much "clutter" you have. Things pop up that you haven't seen in years, somethings you don't even remember buying! So you sort everything into piles of Sell, Donate, Toss and Pack (for immediate use or further storage).

First comes the Tag Sale; time to try to recoup something for all this - excess. That is if you can put up with the early birds who knock at the door at 7 A.M. and ask if they can sift through the boxes BEFORE you set up. And the one's who look at the brand new blender in a box marked Store Price $65.00, Tag Sale Price $25.00. They look at it for a half hour precluding others from taking a look, ask to plug it in, scratch their heads and then have the kahoongas to say -"Will you take $5.00 for this?" After awhile you learn that this will turn out one of two ways.

1) You'll grab it back, insulted, saying "Are you crazy? It's never been unpacked let alone used!" Then at the end of the day, it will still be sitting there as if to say " see what you get for not letting go? "

OR

2) You sigh and give in, while they rustle through their pocket for $4.37 in coins saying, "sorry this is all I have", as you look over the Crayola Blue GM truck full of items they've bought at other sales.

Later that day, two things will happen. First, someone will call and ask if you still have the blender you mentioned in your ad that set you back $40.00, fully willing to pay full price. Then, you'll drive down the street and find that Crayola Blue GM truck parked in the driveway of another house having a tag sale. You check things out and "Damn"! There is someone buying YOUR blender for $50.00.

If you are lucky, you recoup the advertising and table rental fees, or actually make some money which is really gratifying when some of it is stuff you bought at other tag sales. All in all, it's is great fun and you get to meet all the neighbors that never spoke to you once in 15 years, but are now are sad to see you leave.

Next comes the trip to the Donation Center. The pile for this has now doubled in size, including what you couldn't get rid of at the tag sale. This doesn't exactly go as planned. "It's a donation for goodness sake! Do you know how many homeless people there are out there who would appreciate this stuff?" But noooo - they are a "business". Their shoppers are those looking for great bargains on lightly used items, or better yet - things with the sales tag still on it. They would have loved that blender. So in spite of your best effort to give this "clutter"away - half of it gets turned down. You call around to churches, charities and no one has the space to accept donations because the guy in a Crayola Blue GM truck got there before you.

Now the Toss pile has tripled. You look at all this "clutter" and cringe wondering "Should I have another tag sale?" However, time is a wasting. At first you sort again, feeling as though you are giving away your first born child. You put some stuff out by the curb with a sign - FREE. It's gone within minutes. Then you come up with an idea. Maybe you could put the "clutter" in nice shopping bags from a high end store and place it in the back seat of your car, leaving your doors unlocked? All that happens is your GPS gets stolen.

It's about now that your reserves of patience begin to run low. Not a bad thing! It's time to call in - "The dumpster". Ah yes, the black hole for "I can't take any more of this"clutter". In goes the gifts from your wedding shower some 25+ years ago that you held onto as mementos. They were presents from your mother's elderly cousins who have long passed, free of their clutter, so why should you hold on to the avocado green strainer that never saw the light of day. Any other time doing this would make you feel guilty thinking "What would Mom say/", but after weeks of packing, one flip and out of sight - out of mind! Ooooh! That felt good!

Then there are all those tools and gadgets that you forgot you had so you went out to buy a new ones. Between the tag sales and donations, you couldn't even pay someone to take this "clutter" off your hands. So ready, aim, shoot for the dumpster and - GONE! Slam dunk! Now you're cooking with fire!

And what about all those items that your spouse argued with you over - "Throw it out and guaranteed you'll need it! It's already paid for so let's just put it in the basement for a rainy day." Uhh huh? Well it rained many a day but I still haven't needed it! So Adios! This is beginning to feel - fun and a little bit naughty!

Then there are the boxes of old magazines, that your hubby never got a chance to read, but knows there are some good articles he wants to check out. You sneak over and "THUD", what a great sound. Of course you didn't notice when he threw out all those boxes of clothes you've been hanging onto just in case - fat clothes, skinny clothes, might come back in style treasures. So you're equal.

As the days pass and time is running out - everything starts going into the dumpster that is now getting close to meeting the criteria for a mountain. No! Fido does not go - just his smelly old dog bed! Now you wish you could open up some of those boxes you packed and take a second look. Neighbors stop by, you know the one's that you just met for the first time in 15 years, and ask if they can toss a few things in. Even the guy with the Crayola Blue GM truck pulls up and asks, "if you wouldn't mind...". You look at what he is dumping and, "Gee, isn't this the coffee maker with the broken handle you used to have at work, Honey? I thought we sold that?"

Once you have finished, several truck loads go into storage, you know, the not so essential stuff. You move in and "WOW" Your home never felt so open and airy. You feel lighter inside and out. The funny thing is, you don't miss what ever went bye bye! In fact, you don't even remember what you did get rid of. After about 6 or more months of paying for that storage place you think - "What exactly is over there again?" You drop by but it's stacked so high and deep you don't know where to start. "Well, we'll just have to wait for the next move." Downsizing CAN be great fun and liberating. "Oh by the way, Honey? Could you stop by the hardware store and pick me up a blender?"

Tags: Decluttering Clutter Moving

Bookmark: