It's been about a month now since I moved into my new home. I left about 80% of my clutter behind. While sometimes it seems a little "bare" (I haven't completed actually decorating), I am loving the fresh, clean look. My two cats are SO happy, sunning themselves in windows now that I don't have to keep curtains pulled to keep the mess out of sight, and racing through the expanse of house without clutter. I know they are going to live happy, healthy lives free of the danger of having things topple onto them and maybe even kill them. For that alone, it is worth the stress of the move and the mortgage.

As for my old home, I have several bags of clutter and trash, and I have been having them removed three at a time. As soon as the weather gets warmer, I will be back in the house, bagging up and throwing away, and then will come the cleaning and repairs, with an eye on future rental or sale. I'm sticking to my resolve, and I thank the powers that be every day that I "woke up" and made that powerful decision to change for good.

I can take showers again and cook and have friends and family over for visits, and I know I can never go back to that hoarding life, or subject my beautiful cats to it.