Yes, I have too much stuff. My life partner was a champion hoarder. After his death I knew it would take me years to go through his things. But now that I don’t have him, I’m being him. While I was sorting out rooms of the house, carving out space I could live in again, in the background I’ve been accumulating stuff of my own.
Last January I counted his boxes left in the basement – 84. That didn’t include shelves and stacks of stuff in the garage, or my own things now squirreled away in closets, the bonus room, and the corners of my workroom.
This January I still have 45 of those basement boxes, and the stacks in the garage and bonus room have multiplied. To focus my efforts and keep me honest, I vow to blog a box a week, or if not a box, at least a stack or a shelf – anything that moves me toward my goal – sort it out, write it down, and make sure it all goes to the right place.
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Hoarder Comes Clean 
Great idea for a blog!
Thank you Grace, I’m hoping that pretty soon I’ll see the difference around here!
Love your ‘Rules’ page:
Good Luck in your Endeavors! We are also beginning a journey to downsize and live a simpler life in a very tiny space. Perhaps we should compare notes along the way. I have a feeling we are going to need all the moral support we can find.
-k- of k&p Catalano
We’d Love it if you Followed along on our Quest!!!
http://pibbsdreamquest.com
‘♩♬♪♪♫♩Wouldn’t you like to be a PIBBER too?♩♬♪♪♫♩’
Yes! I’m following now, and just had a thought about going to thrift stores — I realized last week that the thing to do is treat it like going to a museum. Look with interest, just don’t acquire.
Sandy,
Thank you for following us!!!
The thrift store tip is a good one, however, I know myself and my extreme lack of will power…at this time in our journey, it is much safer if I avoid them altogether. Maybe someday I’ll be strong enough to venture into those dens of thrifty delights…perhaps satisfying the raging urges to buy by taking a photo of a great find, then expounding on the potential uses of such an object in a blog post.
Wonderful to meet you!!!
-k-
Thanks for the follow on my new blog. I’m so happy you came along…but please don’t bring stuff and clutter! I’ve got enough already! 🙂
No clutter will come along, I promise! (and I’m sorting out donations today, getting ready for “Giving Tuesday”)
Have fun!
Hi, I have nominated you for the sisterhood of the world blogger award, Love your blog and your attitude. Here is a link to the nomination http://www.onegirlonesuitcase.com/sisterhood-world-bloggers-award/
Thank you for the honor! I love your blog and hearing about (and seeing photos from) your travels.
Thank you so much Sandy:)
Good luck, you’ve got your work cut out! I like your idea of blogging to hold yourself accountable, it’s like having a free coach.
Gotta do whatever works… and it does help. (thanks for the comment)
Interesting that you became “him”. Good luck.
First of all, thank you for liking my picture. That lead me here, and wow, I got so caught up on your blog. I like your style. Good luck with the downsizing. I should start on it too, I will be leaving the country I live in with one suitcase only.
One suitcase! wow, not that’s something to aspire to.
I’m so glad you found me, so I could fine your blog! You give a humorous and real look at a problem and solution we all encounter as we age. I look forward to exploring your writing more!
Thanks Cindi – and I really hope you’re right about it being a solution (I gotta keep working at it!)
Hello there! I love your blog theme! It is pleasing to the eyes…Anyway, thanks for liking one of my post!
That’s what I like about the wordpress reader — I get links to blogs I wouldn’t know how to find otherwise, and I noticed yours. Thanks!
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Hi! And thank you for your kind comments on my photography blog @vannilla. Glad I found your blog- I am at other end of the spectrum- hate clutter and throw everything out! I am obsessed by programmes showing hoarders! Good luck with the remaining boxes- you have achieved a lot.
Oh but there is MUCH more left to achieve. Thanks for visiting and commenting!
What a great idea for a blog, and one that is going to be most helpful as my husband, Bob, and I begin to downsize! Do you think the name “Bob” has anything to do with our life partners hoarding habits?
I stopped by to thank you for stopping by my blog and “liking” my recent post. Every visitor is important. Just look what I found as a result of your visit — your blog!
“Bob” and “memoir” — it sounds like we have a lot in common. I look forward to seeing more of your tips on writing. Thanks for stopping by, and all the best on that downsizing!
Thanks for sharing. Sometimes I think I hoard, but I’m an artist. I really believe more people do this now because the lives most of us are forced to live are pretty empty, most of us just working for money not fulfillment. Social interactions are also not what they used to be.
I find myself saving things I think would make good additions to ‘found art’ pieces. Right now I have a vintage case with game pieces that’s incomplete, but I can’t seem to let it go. Most of my stuff belonged to my friend, but still, some of it’s mine too. Thanks for the comment!
This is such a cool idea for a blog! I am fascinated … looking forward to following your progress.
Thanks – I’m afraid my progress has been pretty slow, but I’m always trying to do better!
In a recent post, I mentioned your blog as part of my own nomination for a Liebster Award. I noted that many of the blogs I love do not meet the Liebster requirement of having fewer than 200 readers, some are long-established and some are brand new, but if the question is who inspires me, amuses me, or makes me think, then your blog is on my short list at the moment! Consider yourself a Liebster nominee and feel free to write something about yourself and pass it on (the questions I was asked are in the link in my post), or just feel the love and ignore the assignment!
Wow – thanks! I’m being a lazy blogger this week between holidays, but let me take a look. It sounds like something to inspire me for the new year — thanks again, Sandy
I’m sorry for your loss. It must be also hard to ged rid of his things I guess because of memories. It’s hard enough to get rid of our own stuff, now I can’t imagine of one’s partner… I wish you lots of strength and good luck with it all 🙂
Yes, I avoided it for as long as I could, but it really does need to be done. In one way it’s interesting and illuminating, because he kept so much. I find things from his childhood and they always make me smile. I’m wading through my own things too — it’s time travel around here. Thanks for commenting!
Hi – short notice but I thought you might like to submit some photos to the Thomas Cook photo comp. Ends tomorrow. http://sustainabilitysoapbox.com/2015/03/15/explore-the-elements-thomas-cook-photography-competition/
Cheers
Pip
Thanks for the heads-up – I’m lagging this week so don’t know if I’ll get a chance to think up something worthy. Good luck on your entry! and thanks again, Sandy
Hello there. I am wondering if you’d be interested in reading my book. I’m the child of a hoarder who escaped the chaos. This is a book of self-discovery, and I promise you won’t be bored. You can see the reviews on Amazon, and I’d be happy to send you more information, a code for the audiobook if you like (for listening to while sorting out!), or perhaps a pdf of the book you can read on kindle..
http://www.amazon.com/Emancipation-Buried-Man-Eddy-Gilmore/dp/0692410627/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431037256&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Emancipation+of+a+Buried+Man
Thanks, I’ll take a look at it! And anyone reading the comments might like to look too
Thank you for following my blog!! Good luck with all your sorting!
Thanks (I need that good luck!)
I can so relate! And I love the motto, on box at a time. It makes it seem less overwhelming that way. Thanks for that tidbit bit of advice. ☺
Ah, but the only problem with ‘one box at a time’ comes when you have so many boxes. I’m plugging away though, and wish everyone success in clearing out.
I have reorganized into one box that is sitting at the door waiting to leave the building ☺ getting close ☺ it’s a start. Thank you for sharing your experience, I know it is overwhelming and it certainly helps me to know that another person is experiencing the same thing.
You’re so right – it is overwhelming, but it does help to know we’re not the only ones. I just made a little stab at listing a few more things on eBay, small things, but I don’t know if they’d find homes at places like Goodwill or the library sale. Wishing I had a friend with a flea-market booth — Sandy
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I was drawn to your blog with its unique name. These days I’m struggling to declutter my home, so I’m sure I’ll gain something from your posts. Will come back.
Thanks, I hope you do — judging by the books I’ve seen lately, it seems a lot of us are going through this. I just picked up one at the library titled Downsizing the Family Home that, although it’s aimed at those moving parents to assisted living, has a lot of good tips for the rest of us.
That’s true! Downsizing the Family Home- will see if I can get it somewhere. Thanks for sharing the information.
The Downsizing book seems useful… I’ve read a bit more now and I see there are quotes I’d like to use in blog posts. I’ll be sharing them soon — thanks for reading, and for commenting!
Hello Sandy, Just discovered your blog. I’m new to word press and blogging. I have discovered that my home is cluttered! It sort of crept up me over a few years of being ill. I have just been writing about depression and shopping on my blog. I hope to learn some decluttering tips from you. Its so overwhelming, I can’t get rid of things. Some of it is stuff from my Mum, who died last year. Thanks for sharing your story.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mum. I still have some of my mother’s things and it’s very hard for me to let them go, even after years. I wish you all the best on your decluttering efforts — for me, it really does give me a lift when I’m able to clear some things out. It’s as if too much stuff is sapping my energy. Thanks for reading – and commenting — Sandy
Its true that all this stuff saps your energy. I wish you well, too. It must have been hard losing your hubby and then dealing with all his stuff. You are very brave. Keep up the good work,Sandy.-Sharon
I hope you’re feeling better soon (I sometimes have sleeping problems too, so sympathize) – on the clearing out, I think what’s important is just to get started. With each accomplishment, no matter how small, I get a little more energy to tackle the next one.
It is fantastic to find another hoarder in blogland, and a relief!
You don’t look like a hoarder — you look like an inspired crafter. Wonderful colors!
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