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Post by dobbin on Jul 9, 2010 15:41:23 GMT -5
I joined this board a year and a half ago. Many of you were tremendously helpful with a crisis cleaning session I had to do. It worked wonderfully. I don't think the links to the pics are up anymore, but believe me, the results amazed me.
Here's what's now:
I'm moving. Today is my 44th birthday. I've been single all my life and my girlfriend and I are moving into a new apartment together. Most of the apartment will be furnished with her things. I'm downsizing mine to a study.
My one bedroom apartment has gotten bad again. Goat trails, filth, clutter. I think I'm at the second highest/verging on the highest level.
It's sort of a crisis move out that I need to do. Major disaquisition, cleaning, you name it. I have time free to do it for the most part, but it's a lot, and I'm going to bring friends in only for the end.
I'm not sure how I plan to use this board, but I wanted to make a public presentation. Lists, especially WITS, worked for me before. I need help with organization. That help may just come from me, but I need it.
I will try to update as I go on. I may set up a blog. I welcome all and any advice, support, encouragement this community has to offer.
Love to you all!
Dobbin
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Post by dobbin on Jul 9, 2010 15:58:34 GMT -5
Okay, I think I will start a blog. The announcement above will be the first post.
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Post by messymimi on Jul 9, 2010 16:11:20 GMT -5
You can do this!
You cannot, however, do it without regular rest and breaks for good food, and lots of water if you live somewhere that gets hot.
Lists are great. So is using a timer to remind you to stop once in a while.
Garbage first. Your friends will forgive you having lots of stuff and having it disorganized, if they aren't running into dirty dishes or fast food containers or other things that it is a no brainer to toss.
Again, you can do this. Don't overthink, get something going, and if it is not working out, try something else.
messymimi
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Post by dobbin on Jul 9, 2010 16:25:14 GMT -5
Thanks, Mimi!
The sleep reminder is so key. I have not been getting enough. I got decent rest last night, and what do you know, I'm already thinking about pulling an all-nighter of cleaning.
The dirty too. Oh but it's everywhere. Okay. My first task is to get SOME stuff into the new place. That's today. Thank you so much, Mimi. You helped me last year too.
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Post by messymimi on Jul 9, 2010 16:33:25 GMT -5
You are very welcome, Dobbin.
Also, if you want to make this a permanent blog, you might ask an admin to move the thread to the blog board.
If you are just going to use it for the move, you may want to leave it here, though. It's up to how you want to use it.
I know the temptation to pull all nighters. I rarely get it, as I am by nature a morning lark, but when I do, it is a strong urge. I would say fight that urge, it tends to lead to a crash and burn.
You can do this. One garbage bag or box of keeper stuff at a time. anything that is not a keeper, toss it if you don't have time to recycle/donate/etc. After you are purged to essentials and have your own environment under control, you can concern yourself with the general environment.
You can do this.
messymimi
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Post by dobbin on Jul 9, 2010 17:02:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice Mimi. I started the blog already, but I'll keep going in this thread if it's where I get responses. Since squalor has become such a major issue for me, I'm considering keeping the blog going past this month.
And thanks for repeating, "You can do this."
dobbin
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Post by sidestep on Jul 9, 2010 19:08:31 GMT -5
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Post by dtesposito on Jul 9, 2010 19:49:44 GMT -5
Hi Dobbin, glad to meet you. I've only been here a few months, but I find this site inspirational (especially Listzilla) and everyone here is wonderful.
If you have lots of stuff to get rid of in a short time, keep asking yourself this: Do I really need to save this item or could I buy it again cheaply if it turns out to be one of the FEW things I will need again some day?
What I've found really helpful is grouping all my like items together, this shows you how many you have of things and makes you feel better about letting a percentage of them go.
Do you already have the apartment you'll be living in? Do you know the square footage of the space you'll have? This helps to limit what you're keeping to the storage space you have to put it in.
Good luck, and keep posting!
Diane
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Post by dobbin on Jul 10, 2010 5:19:48 GMT -5
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Post by mrsmess on Jul 10, 2010 6:04:32 GMT -5
Dobbin, that is terrific news about moving in with your girlfriend. I find WIT's very helpful too...might see you over in Listzilla sometime.
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Post by dobbin on Jul 10, 2010 7:02:26 GMT -5
Thank you so much mrsmess!
Stinky things. I have to throw away stinky things.
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Post by messymimi on Jul 10, 2010 9:35:24 GMT -5
Dear Dobbin,
I repeat it because it is true. You are here, you are committed, you can do it.
Those stinky things don't stand a chance, they will join their brethren in the landfill soon.
messymimi
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Post by dobbin on Jul 10, 2010 15:32:24 GMT -5
Several bags out this morning. I'm so glad I took those photos before. They really show me how possible it is.
Sometimes you confront your fears only to find the situation is as bad, worse even, than you had imagined. Other times it's far better.
Rather than hiding out when my landlord brought over a prospective tenant this morning, I stayed and spoke with them both.
They were both very cooperative. We all want the same thing: me out as fast as possible. My landlord told me about a large dumpster a block away at a building owned by his cousin. His wife called me and offered to help me donate the furniture to charity. And I made progress. Goodbye stinkies indeed. I got rid of a six month fermentation in my kitchen. My calendar for today says "Carloads to my new place" starting about now. I guess I should work on putting together such a carload.
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Post by def6 on Jul 10, 2010 20:43:56 GMT -5
Dobbin I remember your crisis clean well. Congrats on moving in with your sweetie! You will get "stuck in " and it will be a little easier this time because you've done it before.I plan to follow this closley
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Post by onwardandupward on Jul 11, 2010 0:26:24 GMT -5
Dobbin,
Congrats on the upcoming step forward with your relationship.
I have two suggestions for you.
If you will have access to the new place before you pack your stuff, measure the study to see how much actual square footage you have. If you can, try and figure out how many cubic feet of the space will be used to hold your thingsl. Then obtain some boxes that roughly equal the same number of cubic feet of space in the study that you will be using for storing your things. Then as you pack, you will know how much to keep. You may find you need to rent a small storage unit if you can't let go of enough stuff, but I think it is important that you don't overload the study too much, so it will be easier to keep it nice and tidy.
Moving in with your GF gives you the perfect opportunity to sit down and decide on a schedule for upkeep of the home. It will also make sure you each know who is responsible for which tasks.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Onward
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