|
Post by phoenixcat on May 23, 2019 9:49:10 GMT -5
clutterborn PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK!! I know that I would have just said they made an error and come back when scheduled IF I even answered the door at all! WOW!! Tremendous reward (all that space) for some embarrassment. When we left our house - our stuff was too yucky to donate (years and years of cat "ahem" abuse) so we hired Got Junk. I'm sure that they fought over who had to go to our house and take out all those smelly disgusting things. Fortunately, I was moving out of state so happy not to see those people ever again!!
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 23, 2019 16:56:49 GMT -5
Yes, larataylor. Having several of the big things gone makes me feel like dancing! Today I went outside to see what needs painting, and there are wasp nests everywhere on the sides of the house. Called a "bug guy" and got a quote. Will be having them come by in early June, so I can paint on that side. They only want $75 to spray the whole perimiter of the house, and remove all of the wasp nests. I think that's a real good deal. Am very afraid of wasps for some reason. Thank you, phoenixcat. I was so afraid they wouldn't come back, since they rented a truck just for me - I just let them come in and take everything. It's a Pastor and a Volunteer, and they were very nice.
|
|
|
Post by hannah on May 23, 2019 18:51:12 GMT -5
Sounds like you are off to a great start, CB. We have an expression here about picking the low hanging fruit---most people tend to really be attached to some types of items and find other types of items easier to get rid of. (For me, it's easy to get rid of old paperwork and clothing, but I have a super-hard time letting go of any kind of craft supply, for example.) When you get stuck, try going after the "low hanging fruit" items that are in a category that are easier for you to get rid of.
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 23, 2019 20:36:00 GMT -5
Great idea, hannah. Will try your suggestion tomorrow in the garage. The car's inside and it'll be easy to load up the trunk and make a donation trip.
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on May 23, 2019 20:44:09 GMT -5
you are doing great, clutterborn ! and frankly, you have a good reason to be afraid of wasps! I got just one sting last year, and ended up in the ER a few days later because the itch was so horrible. the doctor told me the stings can kill, even if you aren't allergic, so I think you are very wise to call a service.
it's hard to move if you don't really want to... I am in the same boat, actually. I have needed to understand what motivates me. Personally, I need to have something positive I am working towards. So I guess what I am saying, is I need to do a vision board for myself!
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 23, 2019 21:47:25 GMT -5
Awwww, mylittlescholar we have a lot in common. Thanks for telling us about what the Doctor said about Wasps. Sounds like they can be quite dangerous. Will be looking forward to reading about your progress. We can work on this together and cheer each other on!
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 24, 2019 13:56:24 GMT -5
Today, one trip to the Thrift Store, and a long discussion with my Mom who didn't understand why I threw away a package of cookie dough mix that we found stuck in the back of a kitchen drawer. It expired in 2014...
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 25, 2019 11:31:28 GMT -5
Finding good "homes" for things, yet they're inanimate items. A very strange issue I have, and it's taking a lot of extra time because everything is so far apart from us. The blankets, towels and extra dog toys to the Animal Shelter, the nice dresses to the Church Thrift Shop, the older clothes to the privately run thrift shop nearby. The extra shampoo to the Homeless Shelter, the quality books to the Library for their book sale. The building materials in the garage are taken to Habitat For Humanity, etc. The temperature's in the mid-90's here now, too. And my car is older, and not the most reliable car in the world. Am running out of energy.
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on May 25, 2019 14:41:11 GMT -5
Clutterborn, I think we all have a much easier time letting something go if we think it's going to someone who can use it and/or appreciate it. It sounds like you have a lot of donation opportunities around you, that must be helping. You're doing great!
Diane
|
|
|
Post by larataylor on May 25, 2019 16:58:12 GMT -5
I love to give things where they can be used. It's not that I think they have feelings (except maybe the cute stuffies ). It's more about waste, and not filling up landfills. But do give yourself amnesty on this if you need to! Sometimes there is too much stuff and not enough time to dispose of things the best possible way.
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 25, 2019 18:59:18 GMT -5
Thanks, dtesposito, yes there are TONS of Thrift Shops here, as it's kind of a poor area. Am always happy to know that someone gets something nice, just like I enjoy getting nice things from Thrift Shops. Yes, larataylor thank you for granting amnesty! You can be my amnesty Fairy Godmother. As I move along further in the process, it makes me realize that it's about the people who buy the items. As, all the shops are charity and help in the community. It's probably the same people who go from shop to shop buying, too. They'll find it no matter which store it's at. I think I'll just pick the closest Thrift Shop, for everything but quality books & animal things. Life just got a bit easier thanks to ya'all. :)
|
|
|
Post by casper on May 25, 2019 22:03:57 GMT -5
This is the Amnesty Fairy As she works her magic with her magic wand.
|
|
|
Post by clutterborn on May 27, 2019 9:14:47 GMT -5
The Realtors give great advice to prep a house to sell. Declutter, clean, paint the door, add plants... But, they don't tell you how to prepare when you're a hoarder. It took me all morning to clean a window sill in the garage that had been hidden behind a set of storage cabinet for years. It had dead and live wasps on it. Had to kill the live ones, scrub/sweep the dead ones. Clean with Lysol. Scrape and sand the frame, now I'm painting it. This is something that a non-hoarder could have done in just a few minutes. Am discouraged, but will continue. I have made life much harder for myself by keeping junk and clutter, and by not cleaning and discarding regularily.
|
|
|
Post by larataylor on May 27, 2019 10:01:32 GMT -5
So true, @clutterborn! The backlog of stuff and neglected maintenance is a bear. I have been going through a lot of this to get my house up to scratch to rent or sell, or maybe just live in comfortably and be able to maintain. Sometimes I feel it will never end, and I'll always be working this hard! But bit by bit, job by job, thing by thing, we are making our future lives "maintainable." Beating up on your past self is mostly a waste of emotional energy ... unless there's a lesson in it ... like a treasure in a pile of junk, grab that lesson and throw out the rest
|
|
|
Post by Unswamping on May 27, 2019 14:19:10 GMT -5
clutterborn having hoarder tendencies is so hard, i know. I did find this website helpful (dont agree with her "get rid of everything" statement, although i did seriously consider it, being so feed up dealing with my hoard). She has some practical suggestions about how to go about the process of moving, before, during and after. Even though youre still in the before phase, it wouldn't hurt to read ahead to the during and after. That actually gave me some useful help for the before part. Like you, im considering moving too. My lot rent (mobile home park) keeps going up and its not sustainable long term. Reading her site helped me see with more clarity what i want to move to, instead of just thinking about what im moving from.
theartofhappymoving.com
Cheering you on!
|
|