Monday, July 25, 2011

Stay-Puttedness #2

A month or so ago I mentioned I was pondering my stay-puttedness issues.  I believe I said something like, “Check-in this time next year and see if I have stayed put or am living somewhere in Alaska.” 

Well, I’m not exactly in Alaska but I did move about seven miles west of where I had been living for the last eight plus years.  This move wasn’t my preference, but if I want to keep teaching at this small private school I need to downsize my monthly expenditures quite a bit in order to survive comfortably and not fall into the whole foreclosure scare.  So, this week I put my house up for rent, packed up my 3 bedroom, 2 bath house and moved into a basement studio apartment.

Yowsa, who knew I could accumulate so much stuff in such a short time.  When I first bought my home, one bedroom stayed completely empty for an entire year.  Another bedroom only had my piano and a chair.  My bedroom didn’t even have a bed for the first couple of months. Out of the 4 closets in my house only two had things in them:  my bedroom had clothes and the front closet had my coats.  And the garage only housed my car.

But fast forward 8 years and 9 months and it is a completely furnished home filled with 8 years and 9 months worth of stuff.  And it was just ME.  No one else.  All that stuff is mine!  And now I am cramming it all into a tiny studio apartment!!

So, I guess I learned one thing through my study of stay-puttedness:  Moving helps you throw out the stuff you don’t really need and are too lazy to pack.

Next week I hope to do one final Italy posting.  This past week and a half has been difficult to post because I didn’t have Internet at home because of my move.  So, hopefully all these little details will be worked out soon.  Thanks for your patience and sticking with me.

Question:  When was the last time you inventoried all the stuff you’ve collected over the years?

2 comments:

wendy said...

Inventories happened every time I've moved. I thought I got rid of a bunch of stuff when I got married and moved out here, but then I got like four times as much new stuff from showers and wedding gifts. Now every time we go out in the garage I tell Phil, "We need to get rid of some of this junk." It is amazing what you can collect.

Anonymous said...

I have been watching the show Hoarders and it makes me go through my stuff and get rid of stuff. I actually am a "throw awayer" by nature and clutter drives me bonkers. Just having the days mail on the counter gets me edgy. Yes I know I have issues. My poor family. Glad I get to piano sit. Paul is really excited. He use to play the piano and can't wait to hear the girls play it too.
Luci