Posted on 01/09/2006 6:22:49 AM PST by plain talk
I've had this problem with a certain relative.
It starts with the foot-tall stacks of "important papers", continues to the pens and pencils that I know have been in that pencil holder for the last 20+ years, and then right down to an infatuation with the most trivial of personal possessions (e.g., a $20 entrance mat from K-Mart).
During the garage sale, several items almost but didn't sell because of a $2 or $5 dispute. Stuff that will ONLY go in a yard sale. So instead of getting things cleared-up, there is the need for yet another yard sale.
It took more than a year to get the accumulated junk cleared out.
It was a test, since my own spring cleanings are utterly ruthless.
LOL !
About twenty years ago, my mother was tasked to clean out the house of her sister's mother-in-law, who had been suffering from Alzheimer's and passed away.
Apparently, she had the hoarding syndrome and had been collecting things for years.
We couldn't just throw things away, though. My aunt went to toss a packet of toothpicks. My mom grabbed it and found a hundred dollar bill. Or old nylons that were knotted up contained antique watches.
And then there was bizarre things she wouldn't throw away, such as bags and bags of empty crisco bottles. WTF?
We had a yard sale that year that topped all others. There were several accidents in front of our porch. When I say we had everything at that porch sale that year, I mean we had everything..from hummels to perfumed horse manure.
I hear ya on the books, Xena. We have a good amount of books as well, but every once in a while, I find a few that we won't miss and take them to a little used book shop. They usually give me store credit. So I can buy MORE books. The cycle goes on and on.
I still cry over all the National Geographics my parents threw away when they sold the house. Now that I'm older, I'll devour a NG in a few hours, and not just the pictures. The articles were really well written. So now I'm picking up issues here and there and trying to build a collection. I promised not to buy anything older than 1980 though.
His version of "getting it all out" involved taking it out of the garage and dumping it in the driveway. I am talking about a pile that filled the entire two-car turnout and was too tall for my 6'6" husband to see over. Broken chairs, bed frames, half-empty dried up paint cans, old bedspreads, broken window frames . . . you name it!
We found a good solution though. My husband called the garbage collection service that this fellow had been using (apparently he didn't use them much!) and proposed that we would keep them on if they could send a truck and a couple of men to clear out the driveway. They agreed, and it turned out to be a good deal for them - we're still here and still using them after 12 years. Occasionally they spill a little garbage or one of the men leaves a cigarette butt in the driveway, but they do a good job overall and we can't complain.
Always check the pockets before you throw stuff out or give it to the Goodwill . . . I'm in the habit of checking pockets because of my kids, but it's never a hundred dollar bill, just half a candy bar or a bunch of paper clips that would play hob with the washing machine . . .
Learn a lesson ping. : )
Have you been in my living room, Naj?
Yup. 8 12x12x4 garden blocks and 4 12x4x1 plywood board (they'll cut them for you at Home Depot - just buy a slab and tell them the measurements). One can of paint and you have an instant bookshelf. I'd be lost without mine and refuse to part with it.
Especially when going through the estates of the depression era generation. We found a lot of stowed cash here and there among my grandfathers things.
But some found money is just forgotten... In fact, I once almost sold my saddle-seat show jacket and jodpurs with a big wad of cash in it. I hadn't worn it in years, but the last time I did, was at a horse show where I'd frequently walk around with a lot of cash for late entries and stall fees.
The buyer tried it on and stuck her hands in the pockets, if she'd been thinking before she pulled the cash out, she could have gotten the outfit for near free :~D As it was, she was happy to buy the jacket even without the cash in it.
Or milk crates... I stole a lot of milk crates in college, I still have enough to line two walls floor to ceiling with very functional shelves :~D
Oh I just go buy the pine boards, but you're right, the plywood is even cheaper. And you can arrange them anyway you want.
My "Bookcases" in my office are brackets on the walls and boards. Looks pretty cool to me!
Do you remember the days of metal milk crates?
I have some that would classify as 'vintage' or maybe retro. Yes, from my college days too ;)
Ah, if only I could make a living out of needlepoint and cross-stitch . . .
I remember metal milk crates... Definately vintage :~D I don't think they stack as well as the plastic ones.
I am glad it happened in Washington, at first I thought it might be my wife.
I'm like you. I like nice elegant surroundings, I even fung shei or whatever you call it. I like flow. Wifie though, well, we recently moved, and (this is the truth) she packed, in boxes, old newspapers.
I use them in the floor of my pantry. They're great for storing/stacking heavy stuff and keeping it up off the floor.
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