Pack Rat Alert!
by Char
(Texas)
Been retired a year and few months and decided I simply had to address the need to simplify life. I mean who needs 3 very large closets full of career business wear when you are living in work-out gear!?
So that lead to the thought that I needed to rid through paperwork and make things more organized for my kids while we could still determine what was or was not important! Wow - what a long list of "to do"!
So, I have been sorting clothing - down to one and a half closet (its a start) -
then I happened to begin pulling boxes and boxes of those under the bed storage bins from under the bed and so much stuff from all over the house that were "memories"..
How do you discard all of that? So, thought I would share this idea.
I am setting up a mass scanning of all our photos and loading onto either a thumb drive, external hard dive or CD. I will offer my kids the hard copies if they want them but this will still enable me to view photos on my computer without the pack-rat living.
I also decided to just take photos' of those can't part with memory things like the many boxes of gifts the kids and grands have made with such love. The macaroni art etc. So the photos have been taken and on my external hard dive for safe keeping.........now to get those boxes to the trash bin........not sure I can do it but they have at least made it to the garage out of the house. (I did allow one bin for myself, one for hubby to keep with things we just can't part with yet.
I will have to have a stern talk with myself and a good reminder that this is an act of love and kindness to do this now while I can - and not leave it for my kids to try and sort though while they burn vacation time wondering why Mom kept all this "stuff".........
I figure if the Lord continues to bless me with many more years, my life will be less cluttered yet I can still enjoy the memories via photos on my CD's or external hard drive. Less storage issues and did I mention dust bunnies?
As for clothes - in retirement I want classy comfort! I still kept many nice outfits for special occasions, holidays and church, but the heels and shoes that I wore for "looks" are outta here - Strange and liberating to shed the conforming to expected standards. I dress nice, but in comfy active wear now most days. If not that a nice sun-dress or Capri's -how fun to just relax!
I donated the clothing to a charity that helps young women have a fresh start in life after life skill vocational training. It's a win/win!
Next up - jewelry - going to give my two granddaughters all the less expensive stuff now - I wear my good stuff and enjoy it now while I can......so that is less clutter too!! I have gotten rid of over 50 pair of shoes/boots and 30 handbags!
Feeling proud of my progress! If nothing else - I can have an excuse to shop again! Ha! (just kidding) - promised myself if I buy one item, one thing has to leave the closet now.......hopefully I can stick to that.
Funny - I feel 20 pounds lighter already! I don't think I could ever live in a tiny house, but I am looking around thinking hummmmm - maybe a zero lot line home with no big yard to mow - just a nice patio and a pool.........now to convince hubby!
And that reminds me --- his closet needs to be tackled too - good thing he still works.....he is a pack-rat....maybe he won't miss much if I remove it little at a time! LOL
If anyone has any other thoughts on how to just let the stuff "go" - or creative ways to down-size without loosing your memories / identity please share! Also - if you have moved from your larger home to something smaller were you happy you downsized and does it ever feel like home?
Not sure -- zero lot home or wait an go to assisted living .......(only as a necessity hopefully later - much, much later)..........
Thoughts?