Packrats and Tossers...

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
The days are ticking away as we get closer to our "next chapter." El and Bill advised "keep it simple", and we're working hard to pare things down. Moving from a nearly 5,000 sq ft house to 850 sq ft (right on the water!) (and a C-Dory!) isn't easy. I admit it: I'm a packrat. I have every Father's Day card our baby (now in her 30s) ever gave me. And boxes... I don't know why I save boxes from all the gizmos and electronic devices we've ever bought? (Hey, I may need to send that Mac Plus I bought in 1985 in for repair someday... uhhh, yeah that one that we updated in 1988 :crook ) Tossing old magazines was easy until I ran into the stack that contained articles I wrote or images I shot... what if I have to apply for a writing job someday? Old t-shirts, furniture, and knick-knacks are NO problem; it's the sentimental stuff. Like the album our daughter made for me with Daddy/Daughter stuff for Father's Day years ago. And, as you can imagine, as a professional photographer, we have a ton of images that mean a lot to me.

Joan and I were poor kids; we didn't have a lot of "stuff" growing up. Well, now we do. We've had a pretty good run over the years. Now, I must go from being a packrat to being a tosser... and it isn't easy. 52 days and counting... and the box of "Jim's stuff" is already overflowing.

Joan has said we can get a climate controlled storage unit... but, I know the drill. We have friends who have gone to full-time RVing. They put stuff in a storage unit and then come back a year later to throw it all out.

Any advice?

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I feel for ya, Jim...I'm a die hard packrat myself. Every time we move, I throw out more stuff. Have it pared down pretty well now, but still have some stuff that will go eventually. Good luck is all I can say...it's tough.

Rick
 
After 16 moves in 22 years worth of military life I consider myself a "Tosser." Spouse lived a sheltered life so she's had a hard time. If she throws a pair of shoes in the trash can I've learned to empty it immediately or they might just return to the closet. In any case, you've obviously enjoyed the room (and storage) available in big homes and it ain't easy scaling down that much. A storage space may just be appropriate 'till you wean away from the stuff. Cold turkey is just too hard.

Don
 
Jim, Just toss it! It's only stuff.. What counts is your new chapter in life and your memories with your mate. Keep the photos, toss the rest!

A year from now, unload the boat completely. If you haven't seen the stuff or used it in a year, toss it too. (Or sell it on e-bay)

Hard to swallow, I know, but you'll be happier.

Best of luck and lots of smooth water.
 
Toss as you can! I've found that I have to store many of the sentimental items for awhile before I realize that their absence is more valuable to me than their presence. If it takes storing them for a year or two to get rid of them, so be it.

I've come down to a few basic theories for my life. One that I'll share for your consideration is:

"My success is inversely proportionate to the total weight of the stuff for which I'm responsible."

Tim

ps - my wife is going to buy me a C-Dory 16 Cruiser or a 19 Angler when she graduates college (again)! ...and I know exactly how much it will weigh...
 
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