De-cluttering

[twister947]

You've got one hour. You can take your car, and whatever you can put in it. Start packing.

 

[twister947]

1. Documents
2. Cash
3. Meds
4. Clothing
5. Pets
6. Cellphone, tablet, laptop, etc

That's not much. I'll have to work on this. Or maybe this is the ultimate distillation of a lifetime.

 

[wicked woman]

1. Documents
2. Cash
3. Meds
4. Clothing
5. Pets
6. Cellphone, tablet, laptop, etc

That's not much. I'll have to work on this. Or maybe this is the ultimate distillation of a lifetime.

Actually, that's about right (minus the pets that I don't have). I had an incident recently where I had to leave my house...not quite sure what the issue was...slightly confident that it would be okay, but knowing there was a possibility when I returned the next day that it might not be there or would have major damage. Your list is exactly what I took...and not that many clothes, at that. We really don't need as much as we think we do. btw everything was fine when I returned.

 

[twister947]

Actually, that's about right (minus the pets that I don't have). I had an incident recently where I had to leave my house...not quite sure what the issue was...slightly confident that it would be okay, but knowing there was a possibility when I returned the next day that it might not be there or would have major damage. Your list is exactly what I took...and not that many clothes, at that. We really don't need as much as we think we do. btw everything was fine when I returned.

I did this a couple of times when I lived on the Gulf. It's a real gut check.

 

[twister947]

1. Documents
2. Cash
3. Meds
4. Clothing
5. Pets
6. Cellphone, tablet, laptop, etc
7.** Towels, cookware, tableware, coffee kit.

That's not much. I'll have to work on this. Or maybe this is the ultimate distillation of a lifetime.

**I'll need a place to stay, and will need some basic housekeeping stuff.

 

[Goldenfinger]

1. Documents
2. Cash
3. Meds
4. Clothing
5. Pets
6. Cellphone, tablet, laptop, etc

That's not much. I'll have to work on this. Or maybe this is the ultimate distillation of a lifetime.

1. Documents
2. Cash
3. Cloths
4. Cell, iPad
5. Wife. Actually is #1

 

[Acktion]

Man, I looked at that "Hundred Things Challenge." And did you know he counted his entire library of books as one thing?

Babygirl took that to mean her entire wardrobe counts as one thing.

This suits me better.

However, since I haven't driven in over a decade, no longer have a license, and don't own any transportation, it all has to fit in a backpack.

Which, I admit, I bought not long after the year from Hell when I lost a twenty-three-year-old cat, my wife, my stepmother, and my father in nine months. Along with a survival sleeping bag and tent. A few books. A "pocket" medkit. And collapsible pet dishes. Crammed a couple of sets of clothing in it (one cold weather and one hot) and keep it in the closet.

Throw some clothes on, grab the go-bag (and the two surviving [so far] cats), snag my leather duster and the band of ones from the freezer (as well as my cane of course) and I'm outta here in ninety seconds. (Most spent chasing down the healthy cat, the freaking twenty-year-old.)

 

[twister947]

Man, I looked at that "Hundred Things Challenge." And did you know he counted his entire library of books as one thing?

Babygirl took that to mean her entire wardrobe counts as one thing.

This suits me better.

However, since I haven't driven in over a decade, no longer have a license, and don't own any transportation, it all has to fit in a backpack.

Which, I admit, I bought not long after the year from Hell when I lost a twenty-three-year-old cat, my wife, my stepmother, and my father in nine months. Along with a survival sleeping bag and tent. A few books. A "pocket" medkit. And collapsible pet dishes. Crammed a couple of sets of clothing in it (one cold weather and one hot) and keep it in the closet.

Throw some clothes on, grab the go-bag (and the two surviving [so far] cats), snag my leather duster and the band of ones from the freezer (as well as my cane of course) and I'm outta here in ninety seconds. (Most spent chasing down the healthy cat, the freaking twenty-year-old.)

I see people out on the interstate with a backpack and a dog, and wonder what their story is, and how much freedom from "stuff" is too much.
"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose."

As much as I hate vehicles, and the expense that goes with them, I am attached to my van. "Shelter from the storm," wherever the road goes.

 

[gracie920101]

I have been forced from my house filling with smoke. Luckily it was only the AC motor burning out but it was scary for about half an hour while the firemen cleared the smoke and determined the cause.

I grabbed my purse to have ID and car keys then went to herding cats. One was quite cooperative but indignant that I threw his ass in a cold car. The other that I went back in for led a merry chase culminating in scratches and yelling underneath a dining room chair. He was promptly thrown into the cold car with his brother where they both cowered from the sirens. (We sure woke up the neighborhood as there were suddenly people everywhere.)

It taught me that my "clutter" is just stuff. I can live without it but I may not like it. I want to enjoy it while I can but I hate the apathy? that my young relatives have. They do t want old stuff even if its the bible presented in 1734 upon leaving England for the new world and the unknown and contains the family tree. It will end up in a museum.

 

[twister947]

What is de-cluttering? Is it a matter of a place for everything, and everything in its place, so that our spaces look like Martha lives there? Or does it run more to simplify, simplify, simplify?

Define "clutter".

When I got out of bootcamp, my world fit in a sea bag. I didn't have enough sense to recognize gift that had been given me: a fresh start!

 

[Wild_Honey_66]

What a timely thread!

 

[twister947]

What a timely thread!

Inspired by your journey.
"Stuff" is only a start, and somewhat of a distraction from the big show: de-cluttering life. That's where the heavy lifting takes place.

 

[pfflyerhot]

I agree... for me this is a timely thread. I'm currently going thru my so many odd years of accumulated things in order to pare down, make my world less cluttered with things I don't need or things I don't use. Turns out I have a lot of family historically significant items that have slowed my de-cluttering progress.
I'm close to figuring out a process to deal with these items, and meanwhile I shall keep on with the purging. Thanks for keeping me on track with your thread as a great inspiration at just the perfect time.

 

[wicked woman]

What is de-cluttering? Is it a matter of a place for everything, and everything in its place, so that our spaces look like Martha lives there? Or does it run more to simplify, simplify, simplify?

Define "clutter".

When I got out of bootcamp, my world fit in a sea bag. I didn't have enough sense to recognize gift that had been given me: a fresh start!

I like to use two concepts when thinking about clutter. One is the 'container concept' (developed by Dana K White). We can keep whatever we want as long as it fits in our container. For example, if I have a craft room, I can only have as many items to support my various crafts as fit in my craft room. If I quilt or sew, I can only keep as much fabric as the book case, with glass doors, that I've allocated as my fabric container, can hold. Everything needs a place where it lives and that would be in its container. Plus, my house is my ultimate container. Everything I own needs to fit in my container/house.

Second to the container concept is our individual clutter threshold. This is how much clutter we are comfortable living with. How much stuff we are prepared/able to maintain. How much empty space we need/are comfortable with. Whether we like visual clutter or not. Some of us are happy with every nook and cranny of a container full, as long as things don't over flow from the container. Others prefer our containers less full...say 50%. So even though we technically have room for more items, we prefer to have less. Each person's clutter threshold can also change over time.

To me, decluttering is donating or putting in the garbage items that don't fit in their container, keeping in mind my clutter threshold. Perhaps the biggest lesson that I've learned in the last few years is that, even if I have the room, if I don't want/need/haven't used an item in a while, even if it's perfectly good, that I can declutter it.

 

[IrisAlthea]

You've got one hour. You can take your car, and whatever you can put in it. Start packing.

There was a time when I traveled regularly for work and I started to have prepared ”kits” ready to go. They actually translate to bug out bags in a way now and still make packing for travel way easier.

And I always have a decluttering boost when I get home from a vacation, after having seen how little I can get by with and how little time I have to spend on stuff while away.

Man, I looked at that "Hundred Things Challenge." And did you know he counted his entire library of books as one thing?

Babygirl took that to mean her entire wardrobe counts as one thing.

This suits me better.

Yes, I read a lot of those lists when it was a thing and it just doesn’t work well with my way of thinking. Why would an arbitrary number, chosen just because it’s round or something, make a reasonable rule for the amount of stuff I can keep?

I see people out on the interstate with a backpack and a dog, and wonder what their story is, and how much freedom from "stuff" is too much.
"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose."

As much as I hate vehicles, and the expense that goes with them, I am attached to my van. "Shelter from the storm," wherever the road goes.

Yes, that’s part of why I like roadtrips as a vacation form. I’ve had to sleep in the car because plans fell through and it beats sleeping in the railwaystation any day.

What is de-cluttering? Is it a matter of a place for everything, and everything in its place, so that our spaces look like Martha lives there? Or does it run more to simplify, simplify, simplify?

Define "clutter".

When I got out of bootcamp, my world fit in a sea bag. I didn't have enough sense to recognize gift that had been given me: a fresh start!

I’m of the ”can’t organize clutter” persuasion.
I mean, you can (or at least Martha can) but it doesn’t make much sense to spend time and money on storing stuff that doesn’t add more worth to your life than it costs.

It taught me that my "clutter" is just stuff. I can live without it but I may not like it. I want to enjoy it while I can but I hate the apathy? that my young relatives have. They do t want old stuff even if its the bible presented in 1734 upon leaving England for the new world and the unknown and contains the family tree. It will end up in a museum.

I see what you mean but I know that I’m the young relative in some cases.
In the end I think each and every one of us have to decide what stuff is worth the hassle it costs.
I inherited the family silver and I like to use it and keep the decorative pieces out. It’s not work free, but to me it’s worth it because it makes me happy.

I like to use two concepts when thinking about clutter. One is the 'container concept' (developed by Dana K White). We can keep whatever we want as long as it fits in our container. For example, if I have a craft room, I can only have as many items to support my various crafts as fit in my craft room. If I quilt or sew, I can only keep as much fabric as the book case, with glass doors, that I've allocated as my fabric container, can hold. Everything needs a place where it lives and that would be in its container. Plus, my house is my ultimate container. Everything I own needs to fit in my container/house.

Second to the container concept is our individual clutter threshold. This is how much clutter we are comfortable living with. How much stuff we are prepared/able to maintain. How much empty space we need/are comfortable with. Whether we like visual clutter or not. Some of us are happy with every nook and cranny of a container full, as long as things don't over flow from the container. Others prefer our containers less full...say 50%. So even though we technically have room for more items, we prefer to have less. Each person's clutter threshold can also change over time.

To me, decluttering is donating or putting in the garbage items that don't fit in their container, keeping in mind my clutter threshold. Perhaps the biggest lesson that I've learned in the last few years is that, even if I have the room, if I don't want/need/haven't used an item in a while, even if it's perfectly good, that I can declutter it.

Yup, to me the container concept makes absolutely the most sense when it comes to figuring out what is a reasonable amount of a certain category to keep, rather than trying to figure out the optimal amount of sheets or towels etc.
Have a space for everything and everything in its space and when she space overflows it’s time to cull.

Other than that, I have to say that Marie Kondos concept of ”does it spark joy” has been useful to me. I used to keep more stuff because it was useable, significant, had a worth but the spark of joy tells me if it is significant or has a worth to me and that is really what it is all about.
Her way of storing clothes and thinking about storage has been a gamechanger too, because I can see what I have and it becomes glaringly obvious what I reach for and what I don’t.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Rope, the blindfold, and a linecutter.

What? This is the bondage forum, isn't it?

 

[ToPleaseHim]

Not exactly what I thought this thread was about. I’m prone to clutter and my guy is prone to minimalism. We make an interesting pair.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

All stuff you can buy!

But... sentimental value?

 

[twister947]

It's a love/ hate thang. Part of me imagines a much simpler and uncomplicated life, but the truth is, I take comfort from my clutter. Stacks of books, waypoints on the life I've lived. A kitchen table that does double duty as a desk. I married an artist, so there's all of the impedimenta that goes with that. There's a hammock hanging across the living room, blocking the view of a television that hasn't been turned on in months. A few birds in the freezer...all of this a reflection of the people we are. It will change, but never disappear.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

I like my list. You take what you need.

I was military for a long time.
The idea of "pack what matters, now" is where I lived for a long time.

Having space for shelves of tchotchkes and mementos is weird but nice.
But that folder of documents, and those books, and those tools, and my phone, tablet, and external hard drive is SO boring

(... and that knife, and my pistol... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

 

[twister947]

I was military for a long time.
The idea of "pack what matters, now" is where I lived for a long time.

Having space for shelves of tchotchkes and mementos is weird but nice.
But that folder of documents, and those books, and those tools, and my phone, tablet, and external hard drive is SO boring

(... and that knife, and my pistol... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

Tools...how could I have missed that? Of course! Even a little multi-tool is better than nothing. And I always carry a knife.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

Me too.

These days, where I work, the pocket knife clipped on your strong hand side trouser pocket is as much guy jewelry as your watch. (Today, it was an Al Mar pocket knife, and a Sinn watch).

 

[cookiecat]

It's a love/ hate thang. Part of me imagines a much simpler and uncomplicated life, but the truth is, I take comfort from my clutter. Stacks of books, waypoints on the life I've lived. A kitchen table that does double duty as a desk. I married an artist, so there's all of the impedimenta that goes with that. There's a hammock hanging across the living room, blocking the view of a television that hasn't been turned on in months. A few birds in the freezer...all of this a reflection of the people we are. It will change, but never disappear.

My siblings and I bugged my mom to clean up her clutter after I heard about Swedish Death Cleaning - the idea comes from what you want people to find after you die.

Mom finally told us to back off - she loved her stuff! She wasn't about to get rid of it now in order to make our lives easier after she died!!

With the advent of Marie Kondo and minimalism, there's this weird shame thing going on with enjoying our stuff. I say if you like looking at it, love it.

That being said, I have a relationship like ToPleaseHim, except I'm the minimalist. He's the "keep everything just in case" guy. We're working that out.

I do like the idea of having a Go Bag. We should all have that, right? In case of.... the unexpected. Birth certificate. SS card. Important account info. Passwords??? Phone. My dog.

The container theory resonates. I've been working on a room dedicated to online selling so everything is in one place. Making work systems more productive. As I gather everything and get it in one place, I realize how much stuff I've accumulated. I need bigger containers!? Actually, I'm in the process of deciding what to keep.

sidenote: I just told the guy I'm replying to a thread about clutter. He said don't forget to mention how you threw away my amazing rubber bands. Oh! And that baggy I had for 2 years that I kept my bandaids in. And that toothpaste squeezer thing!

 

[wicked woman]

My siblings and I bugged my mom to clean up her clutter after I heard about Swedish Death Cleaning - the idea comes from what you want people to find after you die.

Mom finally told us to back off - she loved her stuff! She wasn't about to get rid of it now in order to make our lives easier after she died!!

With the advent of Marie Kondo and minimalism, there's this weird shame thing going on with enjoying our stuff. I say if you like looking at it, love it.

...

sidenote: I just told the guy I'm replying to a thread about clutter. He said don't forget to mention how you threw away my amazing rubber bands. Oh! And that baggy I had for 2 years that I kept my bandaids in. And that toothpaste squeezer thing!

Tell the guy he gave me a good laugh!

I find you and your Mom's thoughts interesting. I see value in both. I'm not getting rid of all the things I love and use just to make my adult children's job easier when I die. That said, I'm not a hoarder and I'm working on decluttering my possessions...but that's for me. I hope there are a few things of mine that they might like, keep and use but frankly I don't care. I didn't buy items to pass along, I bought them for me. My memories are mine. Why should they feel sentimental about my grandmother's engagement ring when they never met her? But I sure do. I wore it as my engagement ring.

I have more of an issue with the adult children, who for some reason, that's foreign to me, insist on bringing all of their parents' stuff (when they die) to their house, even though they have no room for it...take years to go through it deciding what to keep and what to let go of and then feel guilty about every item they declutter. Just because something belonged to a parent doesn't make it special. We don't need things to remember our loved ones. We have our heart and mind for that.

 

[twister947]

My siblings and I bugged my mom to clean up her clutter after I heard about Swedish Death Cleaning - the idea comes from what you want people to find after you die.

Mom finally told us to back off - she loved her stuff! She wasn't about to get rid of it now in order to make our lives easier after she died!!

With the advent of Marie Kondo and minimalism, there's this weird shame thing going on with enjoying our stuff. I say if you like looking at it, love it.

That being said, I have a relationship like ToPleaseHim, except I'm the minimalist. He's the "keep everything just in case" guy. We're working that out.

I do like the idea of having a Go Bag. We should all have that, right? In case of.... the unexpected. Birth certificate. SS card. Important account info. Passwords??? Phone. My dog.

The container theory resonates. I've been working on a room dedicated to online selling so everything is in one place. Making work systems more productive. As I gather everything and get it in one place, I realize how much stuff I've accumulated. I need bigger containers!? Actually, I'm in the process of deciding what to keep.

sidenote: I just told the guy I'm replying to a thread about clutter. He said don't forget to mention how you threw away my amazing rubber bands. Oh! And that baggy I had for 2 years that I kept my bandaids in. And that toothpaste squeezer thing!

Banter like that is the sound of a happy home. I'm so pleased to hear it, Cookie.