Note: I've been having trouble posting since I updated my Firefox browser - unless it's not that. Has anyone else had difficulty the last week or so?

Semi-quick update on me, but I want to go back and read everyone's posts.

I've been going out to the storage unit and working on the sunny days. And guess what - we have more rain days predicted this week! Tomorrow night severe storms predicted. Pray that they aren't bad.

I always worry about my van getting hail (or blown away in a tornado). It's so old I only carry liability on it...I'd be up a creek without it. I'm phobic of public transportation (and our system's not that good) and also of walking or biking out of sight of my own street. I feel that need of a protective "shell" that my vehicle provides. And as a woman I've had too many creepy encounters in certain parts of this town to feel safe from crime on bike or foot, either, even if the phobia didn't already preclude those options.

The van also currently houses those of my possessions that can't fit in the house but that I need close by. Including only copies of writing manuscripts I need to scan into the computer, my good doll clothes/quilting fabrics, and misc. When I move to the closer storage unit, those will go there, and my van will be open and roomy again. But a lot needs to happen for the move to take place.

Along that line, as I said, I've been going out to the current unit. It keeps me busy and that's why I haven't posted here. Each day I intend to. Other things in life also - Mother's Day get together, pet sitting so my roommate could travel to see her mother, etc. Busy, tiring days.

That one day last week - Thursday or Friday maybe, I lose track - I did really well with a couple boxes of papers but then discovered about six hidden ones. Then Friday and/or Saturday, tackling those, good progress. Yesterday I'd have taken a day off but then I saw the weather forecast so decided to go while I could. But I had one large box of very assorted stuff and it was really jumbled and a b**** to deal with. I only got through about 1/3 of it. If I find it's driving me nuts, I may just repack it into one smaller box and go ahead and let it be moved to the new unit. Maybe letting it sit just a short while longer I can come at it fresh and do better. I don't want to get bogged down.

There remain a few more goals I'd like to make progress on before the move. I want to go through the ceramic bunny collection - my largest collection. I think I can pare it down, and pack the keepers in small boxes instead of one ungainly large box. Some artwork I haven't gone through - maybe some of those old canvases can just go bye-bye, unless I want to reuse them. Just get a general idea what's in that corner where they are.

Stuffed animals - if I can bear to part with any of them before the move, that'd be great. Greeting cards - I shudder to think, but if I could corral them together at least. All of the above are, of course, the things I'll be dealing with in more depth from the new unit.

And a few small clusters of loose stuff here and there that need to be bagged and just thrown into tubs for transport; they can be integrated into their proper places in the new unit.

In the paper sorting I have been doing the last few days, I've run across some of the more emotionally charged stuff - things that remind me of my late parents, of guys I went out with, of my breakdown that led to dropping out of grad school. But I think I'm stronger, thanks be to God, and I can look at that stuff and yeah, it tugs my heartstrings but I have hope for the future now, which is a powerful weapon against the way such things used to drag me down.

It's still a lot of work getting to where I want to get, though - so wish me luck! 😉 With all the rain delays, and the heat of summer rapidly approaching, I'm not sure if I'll meet the goal of making the transfer to the other unit before it gets beastly hot. Or being tempted to wait until fall. I defer that decision till I get through some of the stuff described above. It may be that when I feel ready to move I'll be like, damn the heat, full speed ahead. We have our clutter club this week and I'll see my social worker there; I'll give her an update, and maybe she can see it from an objective perspective. I know right now I feel too close to the whole thing to think very clearly.

Hi porter!

I didn't ignore you last night - we were writing our posts at the same time.

So you have not signed the lease on the new place yet? When do you plan to start moving? Do you know anyone who would like to come take (some of) the contents of your fridge/freezer so there is less to throw away?

When will you get to move to your new place?

Is your wife still able to help pay utilities? I came late to the party, so while I have gathered that she is terminally ill, I don't really understand what is happening with her or what kind of time you have left with her. I'm sorry.

I think it's fantastic that you have a plan to pay for your daughter's education! That is a huge gift. My daughter and son in law don't have any student debt, and it has made a huge difference in their lives vs the lives of their friends who are working now to pay off college. Dd got a good job and they were able to buy their first house at 24 and 25. (Son in law is an art teacher, which is a good job in other ways...)

Today I teach all day and I have to go to the grocery store.

Wow. Now I am sad.

Tillie I can already tell you have an amazingly good heart! I wish I could be your rl friend. I want to find you a way to leave and have your own little cleAn, neat place where you can be happy and not to be imprisoned by filth.

Porter, I think your new place sounds great! One of my goals is to have all the things I don't use frequently (every week? Month at least). In bins on my storage rack. But I will need a bigger rack or less stuff. Still, I am (very) slowly making progress. Do you hope to eventually get the hoard all into the basement and not have to pay for the storage place? Or all into the storage place and not have it in your basement?

If my mil said she would never eat at my house again, I would be like "and the down side of that would be?" I think your dishes sound super clean. I don't know if you could eat at my house - dishwasher with no heat and then air or sometimes towel dry (I bleach the towels). If I were going to eat at your house I would want to bring my own flatware because the plastic would upset me - bring it and take it home to wash. Also, I'd want to take your plastic flatware home and wash it and put it out in the lunch room where I work. But I probably wouldn't ask. One thing I want so much in my life is people I could actually have that conversation with and not feel like they thought I was really weird and didn't want me around.

My job is my best place. Friday the seniors covered the whole second floor with bubble wrap for their prank, and I asked them to put it in my room when they cleaned it up, and then I rolled it up and am going to cut off pieces for packing projects to go home, because even though it is mostly popped, when you scrunch it up, it is still padding. And my boss said "I love it! ( SubC) is always there with a solution!"

I know it will still end up in the landfill eventually, but not on my watch.

My ankle is a little better but still slowing me down.

I have read buried treasures, but it didn't really help me much. It was a long time ago, and maybe I wasn't ready for it. The book that helped me the most was "Stuff: compulsive hoarding and the meaning of things". I got it out of the library and thought I was going to laugh at it, but then I kept thinking "yes! That's me! Oh my gosh, yes!" And it helped me really understand what was going on in my head, which gave me a handle to help change things. I suggested it to my cousin because I thought it would help her understand her dad and maybe relate to him in a way that would help, but she said it just depressed and frightened her.

My kitchen is good. My paper load is down. I am up total two and a half gallons of milk, so I need to make more cheese or some ice cream. Good thing - dd decided to try the milk in her smoothly this morning instead of yogurt because the fruit was too thick. She hasn't lived here for three years and I guess she forgot how good the fresh goat milk is. When she drank the first sip, she said "oh my gosh! That is so much better than yogurt!" So no more big plastic tubs coming into my house, and someone to help enjoy the milk (we are at peak flow right now - when you have your own goats, most of the year there is too much or too little, so I try to freeze milk, cheese, ice cream, etc for the "too little" time.)

Note: I've been having trouble posting since I updated my Firefox browser - unless it's not that. Has anyone else had difficulty the last week or so?

Semi-quick update on me, but I want to go back and read everyone's posts.

I've been going out to the storage unit and working on the sunny days. And guess what - we have more rain days predicted this week! Tomorrow night severe storms predicted. Pray that they aren't bad.

I always worry about my van getting hail (or blown away in a tornado). It's so old I only carry liability on it...I'd be up a creek without it. I'm phobic of public transportation (and our system's not that good) and also of walking or biking out of sight of my own street. I feel that need of a protective "shell" that my vehicle provides. And as a woman I've had too many creepy encounters in certain parts of this town to feel safe from crime on bike or foot, either, even if the phobia didn't already preclude those options.

The van also currently houses those of my possessions that can't fit in the house but that I need close by. Including only copies of writing manuscripts I need to scan into the computer, my good doll clothes/quilting fabrics, and misc. When I move to the closer storage unit, those will go there, and my van will be open and roomy again. But a lot needs to happen for the move to take place.

Along that line, as I said, I've been going out to the current unit. It keeps me busy and that's why I haven't posted here. Each day I intend to. Other things in life also - Mother's Day get together, pet sitting so my roommate could travel to see her mother, etc. Busy, tiring days.

That one day last week - Thursday or Friday maybe, I lose track - I did really well with a couple boxes of papers but then discovered about six hidden ones. Then Friday and/or Saturday, tackling those, good progress. Yesterday I'd have taken a day off but then I saw the weather forecast so decided to go while I could. But I had one large box of very assorted stuff and it was really jumbled and a b**** to deal with. I only got through about 1/3 of it. If I find it's driving me nuts, I may just repack it into one smaller box and go ahead and let it be moved to the new unit. Maybe letting it sit just a short while longer I can come at it fresh and do better. I don't want to get bogged down.

There remain a few more goals I'd like to make progress on before the move. I want to go through the ceramic bunny collection - my largest collection. I think I can pare it down, and pack the keepers in small boxes instead of one ungainly large box. Some artwork I haven't gone through - maybe some of those old canvases can just go bye-bye, unless I want to reuse them. Just get a general idea what's in that corner where they are.

Stuffed animals - if I can bear to part with any of them before the move, that'd be great. Greeting cards - I shudder to think, but if I could corral them together at least. All of the above are, of course, the things I'll be dealing with in more depth from the new unit.

And a few small clusters of loose stuff here and there that need to be bagged and just thrown into tubs for transport; they can be integrated into their proper places in the new unit.

In the paper sorting I have been doing the last few days, I've run across some of the more emotionally charged stuff - things that remind me of my late parents, of guys I went out with, of my breakdown that led to dropping out of grad school. But I think I'm stronger, thanks be to God, and I can look at that stuff and yeah, it tugs my heartstrings but I have hope for the future now, which is a powerful weapon against the way such things used to drag me down.

It's still a lot of work getting to where I want to get, though - so wish me luck! 😉 With all the rain delays, and the heat of summer rapidly approaching, I'm not sure if I'll meet the goal of making the transfer to the other unit before it gets beastly hot. Or being tempted to wait until fall. I defer that decision till I get through some of the stuff described above. It may be that when I feel ready to move I'll be like, damn the heat, full speed ahead. We have our clutter club this week and I'll see my social worker there; I'll give her an update, and maybe she can see it from an objective perspective. I know right now I feel too close to the whole thing to think very clearly.

Good to catch up on everyone's progress. Porter you are much, much more of a planner than I am. By far. I can see how it helps you to put all the pieces of the puzzle together!

Keep up the good work, SubC! Very impressed with your progress. I am mulling over your suggestion of getting rid of the big piece of furniture before I get its replacement. I've been scouring the auctions and antiques store but I think you are on to something. I had so wanted a small chest of drawers, antique, which would give a home to my Christmas things. (That's another story but not worth re-telling). The only small things I find are tables, which wouldn't give me the storage I'd like. And I don't want anything modern or that would be used to make do in the meantime.

Yesterday I got home from work and my house was so cool. I'd gotten very warm on my walk home. And my bedroom, so clean and clear, was a pleasure to walk into. Just like the old days. So today I'm hoping to dust and vacuum it, so it stays in its pristine shape and so that I can hang onto that feeling.

I live more than 2000 miles away from Carson City
🙁

SORRY FOR THE TRIPLE POST!! Don't know what was going on - might be my browser but I checked a bunch of settings and couldn't find a solution. I've got Chrome; next time I'll try using it instead of Firefox and see if that works better.

Good Morning 🙂

Great catching up with all your "going ons".
All day yesterday it was dark, cold and windy here.
So I played pretend make believe that it was the Zombie Apocalypse happening and the cats & I had to stay locked inside.
Worked good too even when a few cars went down the road, I just pretended that they didn't.
Rained here over night so I don't need to water anything for a few days.
Still very cold & windy today but at least the sun is shining.
😀

Porter and Tillie, I appreciate you both sharing so much.

I have had life-long medical issues, but only discovered I could not work after I was married. After trying to turn things around for a while, my then-husband dumped me because of my "mental illness". I couldn't work either. Once you got dumped into the old mental health system, even with deinstitutionalization, you were better off dead. The drugs alone killed everyone I knew back then.

I am a 35 year veteran of the mental health systems in 3 states. I left when the system here in RI began to crumble for lack of funding, and they booted me out. I sued for alimony during the divorce process, and got some in 1987. With alimony I survived for many years. There are new divorce laws in Massachusetts that are unconsciousionably cutting off older women from long-term alimony in their 60s and older. After a long battle I lost my alimony last fall, but I am all right financially because I have a small inheiritance.

Tillie, you are a very courageous woman. All things considered, I have ended up in a good place, but boy did I have to fight for it. Much more needs to be done for people who just cannot produce or work to support themselves. In this still-cutthroat society, the healthy who are lacking in compassion must be disenfranchised. I deserve a good life regardless of my ability to work.

Anyway, that is me. Take care, everyone.

Great work, CM! I'm sorry the weather isn't cooperating but you are forging ahead! WTG! You are doing it and will do it.

I'm working in getting my house cleaner before summer. The heat and humidity make me hate the mess. Can I avoid the self-loathing this year? I think I can!!!

Hi everone!
There are loads of posts to catch up on! This board has gotten wonderfully active & mostly with stories of accomplishments!!! YEA!!!
I got a lot done yesterday & today id like to finish that kitchen corner...yes, the same one that spiders chased me from last summer!
Yall are complete over-achievers next to me! Im really bad about my cleaning speed, and decision making speed!
Tillie, i read your post about you & your partner & i hope that you can somehow create something new in your life? You have so much love in your heart to share & you are so deserving of love & you could create a beautiful home if allowed to....that is my reoccurring fantasy...a partner to help me! ~♡~

PS - Tillie, you do know that if you reach full retirement age (66+ for us) and the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you can collect about half of his social security if you divorce him. You get more if he dies later on (survivor benefits).

From one survivor to another.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! You are doing a GREAT job. 😀
Setting aside that hard to sort box was the best thing to do.
Don't want one thing to stop your progress when you have other things that aren't as hard. (((hug)))
I have been having no posting issues using Internet explorer.

Yesterday the cold breeze died down and it was lovely and warm outside for two hours.
The cats and I spent those hours thinning and weeding out my garden. 😀
Saturday it snowed in Carson City and there is more snow expected over the next several days.
Too cold & windy to play outside today.

Sorry, I forgot you aren't married.

It's 82° and sunny.
The house is hot and hard walk though as so much has been moved Into place. .

We. An sing the lease tomorrow, but that means we're the new house will not be fixed of minor repairs until after we've moved in.

But at least we're on path for keys to the new place sooner than later or at the last minute.
I hadn't borrow money for family that owe me money.
A story for another day.

Today my daughter and I are on the very long sectional, listening to music eating pizza rolls.
We take turns casting videos tithe TV.
She's a rocker. Im head banger, but I'm almost 49.
So I have heard so many great songs , and try to expose her to music cultures of the past while we're in transition.
Knights in white saying
Riders on the storm
Wish you were here
Children of the sun
Aquarius
Radar love
Billy squire
Sail away
No one compares to you
I drove all night
One step beyond
Dream lover
David Bowie major Tom
On my lust today as my daughter gently sleeps.

Wife is having a struggle day. But we're tending to her needs , and I'm just keeping calm and playing on.

I'm so glad to hear from Joan too.

Yes I'm very much looking forward to the BASEMENT
I'm basically going make it surrounded by counters .
I had that way when I had a garage. It will fit the ADHD tendencies. If I have 40 feet of counter space then I can keep projects out and unfinished.
I typically loose parts or pieces when I put things them away. And when use lists and to-do. Boxes
I'm more productive.

Like packing long term Storage's. Repair things like favorite can openers, or lawn stuff.
But like now, if my actual work space is too small to multi task then I get into trouble completing tasks. Wife's things then get piled on top of my projects. Like my stuff is not important enough to box up. No she can't get to it. I feel a bit selfish getting so much space all to myself.
We may possibly get along better when my crap isn't being mixed up with her shit. Or my daughters things.
Nor on the dinning room table when I'm obsessed about a project. Like the guy in close encounters of the third kind , making a mountain in his living room that he explain. I don't want the hoard down there. I want the creative outlet. So I'll be spending time, money, and effort Into making it both. Hoard on one wall,laundry on another and projects on the other two.

Secondly. I'm going to start saving money to buy the home as its cheaper than dirt built in 1901.
So ivw been thinking about how to do both.
Buy the house which is close to a college. And pay for the tuitions to that college. So that what I pay for her live on campus, I can buy off campus. And if I pass away , or move away she can rent the other rooms. During college years to peers .

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass
Can't think of anything I need

No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound
Nothing to eat, no books to read

Making love with you
Has left me peaceful warm and tired
What more could I ask
There's nothing left to be desired

Peace came upon me and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe, yes, to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe

Peace came upon me and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe, yes, to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe

Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe, yes, to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe and to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe, yes, to love you

Hi Joan!

Porter, I think that buying your house sounds like a good plan. Also I really like your basement concept.

I am someone who likes to leave projects out and go back to them too, but it drives dh nuts. I am supposed to have the basement, but the basement is dark and cold and I am seasonal. Also, it serves too many functions.

This is the state of my environment right now:
Basement (2 rooms) - 1 hoarded, 1 functional
First floor
Kitchen - clean
Living room - clean
Dining porch - hoarded
Laundry room - functional
Guest bath - clean
Guest room - hoarded
Second guest room - hoarded
Dd's room - functional
Dd's bathroom - functional
Second floor
Our bedroom - functional
Our bathroom - clean
Dh study - clean

My house sounds big, but the rooms are small, and the second floor is a half story, so the "full height" (7' ceilings) area is only 6 ft wide.

We also have an animal barn - functional, and a big semi-finished barn that holds cars, tractors, dh shop equipment, storage, and my pottery studio. It currently ranges from clean to hoarded by area (very clean area around dh car and tools, storage area that looks like we had an earthquake, barely functional studio....)

"Clean" means that I could have it ready for company in half an hour to half a day simply by doing normal pick up and surface cleaning.

"Functional" means I can use it for it's intended purpose, but there are barriers that have to be worked around and the only way it wold be company ready tomorrow would be if I grabbed a bunch of stuff and stuffed it in another room.

Ds is coming home with his gf in 12 days, so I need to get the guest room and dining porch up to clean. They were clean at Christmas time, so they are not too bad, but I have a lot of projects and "horizontal files" out. I'm sure some of it will get stuffed in the basement.

"Hoarded" means no one will be using this room for it's intended purpose today. Maybe next week. Maybe not.

Forgotten how much I like to clean and do chores while listening to
Hooked on classics

Heard one of those songs that trigger memories ling forgotten. Flooded with memories of the best and worst times of my life. I was moved to tears in front of my daughter. I said this is one of those days I'll remember forever, and not because I'm sad.
I love you.

Good morning and Happy Mother's Day, everyone! I think we all know women who have been maternal and kind! I was very touched to receive a very loving card (a real card!) from a dear friend who grew up with a drug-addicted mother. The Mother's Day card thanked me for taking good care of everyone and being open and available and maternal. I know that in addition to my mom, I have been fortunate to have caring women in my life. (I'm looking at you, Tillie).

We are having a grey rainy day. I'm doing laundry and will make breakfast in a little while. This afternoon I will spend with mom and maybe watch a tv show or movie. I really can't get her out in this weather--too hard to keep her dry and comfortable in her wheelchair.

In the meantime, I'm looking to do some laundry and change my sheets. I also need to do some work, as I'm hoping to skip out early tomorrow.

So, what are you doing today? Thinking of you all and thanking you for supporting me. We can do this!

Porter
😀

(((HUGS)))

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you ((((HUGS))))
Have a pleasant day with your Mom 😀

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Hi CriticalMass 🙂

Thinking later today it might be nice enough to spend time in the garden.
The cat mint (catnip) is taking over and needs to be thinned down.
All the cats howl and fuss when I start pulling out their mint but it needs to be done.
Right now it's 55 degrees and a brisk breeze is blowing.
This morning I will just wander around in the house and think about all the chores I could be doing but I'm not.
I don't wanna and nobody can make me. 😀

Everybody, have a GREAT Sunday 🙂

Day is over. I've gotten my trash out and I've shredded some papers. All laundry done & put away. I'm trying. Dishes done too/-dishwasher is running. Kitty has fresh place mat and fresh everything.

I'd like to force myself to get rid of microwave soon. According to trash rules, I can put it out as regular trash. I'm not sure how heavy it is. Maybe I'll be brave and take care of Thursday. I do have a dinner party that night and not sure how late I'll be. I'll make it my goal to get rid of by end of month.

I am desperate to get rid of more. I want more space.

Checking in.

Doing laundry. Dishwasher has been run and I've emptied it. Doing some work so I can get a jump on tomorrow.

Had a great visit with mom today. Really nice time just hanging around. I puttered. I am keeping up with her household chores. She had someone doing her personal laundry now and someone to change her sheets. Lifts a bit of pressure off of me.

I'm going to keep working and doing laundry; haven't changed my sheets yet.

Hope you are all good. SubC, I enjoyed reading about the state of your rooms. You are doing a good job! Joan glad to hear from you again!

Hope everyone continues to move forward. I have to work on my 20% reduction plan! I have a large bag of clothes ready to go to a clothing consignment. I only chose things that are new, with tags, that I wish I'd never bought. All other clothes go to goodwill.

My interior designer will help me with my artwork. She will see which pieces will work and which pieces I can consider consigning. I have to tell myself it's okay for my tastes to change. She will work with everything I already have and other than drapes, chandelier, painting, wallpapering, will not be looking for me to buy new things. She expects to be back in US in the fall. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, I must edit, edit, edit.

Tatoulia,

Is the microwave broken? Is there somewhere you could donate it where you could just drop it off when it works for you?

Good job on your dishes, laundry, and papers.

CM, are you moving homes, or just your storage unit? It sounds like you are making steady progress. I hope the weather cooperates. A clutter club sounds like a good thing.

Tillie, I'm glad you got a chance to get out in your garden. It sounds nice.

Porter, is the big move this week then? Exciting! Sounds like a good time with your daughter too.

I started listing and bagging up yesterday and got worn out - colors, textures, memories.... Do far I "rescued" a sweater, a shoebox full of small toys, and a little (coffee cup sized) bear from my Dd's pile. As a percentage, that is really good. I am letting some hard things go. Toys I made for her when she was little, souveniers from activities we did together or milestones in her life (the keychain her dad bought her on their trip to NY!), she threw away a bag of photos and I didn't even look at them!

I really need to finish bagging and take that stuff today! Dh and I had a fight last night (technically about an upcoming visit to his family, but it root because he came home and I was wiped out and hadn't made dinner) so I am exhausted and everything is harder. When things are not good with him, everything in my life is off. He's my center.

I am continuing to purge more paper than comes in and keeping the kitchen under control. The kitchen is harder than it should be and I am sick of it already, which is another thing that contributed to not making dinner.

I also really wanted to have lunch with a friend today and when I called him, he was busy. Phone calls are hard for me except to my mom and kids. And then the vision of my day collapsed because I was mentally planning it around lunch.

A good thing that happened yesterday - when I was at the food bank I talked to the gardener, and she says I can bring some of my non-recyclable plastic containers for clients to take home strawberries, and also, she knows a guy who can use almost all the other ones for his summer stand! Next week I am going to empty a whole laundry basket from my basement!

I have to go into work to take care of some things (unpaid 🙁 ) today, so I will drop more recycling. I only have five more days of easy recycling drop. After next week I will have to figure out what to do over the summer.

Hi porter, that sounds rough! I don't know you well enough to really offer advice, but just an idea - could you buddy up teenage daughter and sis in law during the move?

Anonymoniker, I'm a gardener too. We've had a lot of rain, but I'm hoping to get done work done this weekend.

Wow Tillie, you guys must have a really strong relationship! I thought dh and I were solid, but I think he would leave.

Tatoulia, your closet sounds lovely! I'm glad you had a good trip.

I got ahead on the paper again. Up one gallon of milk for the day, kitchen is a little messy, but just dishes messy. I am not a dried/spoiled food dishes piled around hoarder - just a lazy housewife who often doesn't unload the dishwasher until there is a whole new load in the sink and on the counter (rinsed). Rarely does anyone else who lives here do dishes.

I have hurt my ankle and am hobbling around. I don't remember doing it, but it is swollen and hot (and sore)

Hi tatoulia,

Happy Mother's Day back and to all. My oldest called me today and wished me a "happy mothers against war day" because she knows I am anti Hallmark holiday. She donated diapers to a mom in need in my name.

I'm doing laundry too. I'm starting to get a picture of what you are doing with your space and it sounds exciting. Is the redecorating a reward for clearing out?

I'm glad you have help with your mom. We kept my grandmother in her home until we lost her at almost 101, and her cleaning lady was essential!

Good luck on your reduction plan!

Tillie, did you get out in your garden? I did. I pulled weeds and picked a baby greens salad. Your home sounds better than I was imagining. I was afraid he had hoarded you into one small room.

Maybe in my family we should call today "mothers against hoarding day" because when I called my mom, she was working on her stuff. She has big plans for when I go to visit in July, but I know we will only do a tiny part.

But my dd attacked her room! Dh would say she hardly did anything, but I think it looks really good. It's very close to "clean" (there are two small bins of stuff on the floor that simply have nowhere to go and her desk is not really usable.) she purged clothes and 5 pairs of shoes, toys (I have to confess that I will probably rescue a few of the toys for my grandchildren bin), books, and decorative stuff.

I worked a little bit in the guest room. It is still hoarded, but, I cleared off the bed and then put my goodwill stuff on it for dd to add to. So, tomorrow I make a list for taxes and Tuesday I go to goodwill, and hopefully the bed will be cleared off. Ds called today too and I am looking forward to seeing him!

Tatoulia,

Is the microwave broken? Is there somewhere you could donate it where you could just drop it off when it works for you?

Good job on your dishes, laundry, and papers.

CM, are you moving homes, or just your storage unit? It sounds like you are making steady progress. I hope the weather cooperates. A clutter club sounds like a good thing.

Tillie, I'm glad you got a chance to get out in your garden. It sounds nice.

Porter, is the big move this week then? Exciting! Sounds like a good time with your daughter too.

I started listing and bagging up yesterday and got worn out - colors, textures, memories.... Do far I "rescued" a sweater, a shoebox full of small toys, and a little (coffee cup sized) bear from my Dd's pile. As a percentage, that is really good. I am letting some hard things go. Toys I made for her when she was little, souveniers from activities we did together or milestones in her life (the keychain her dad bought her on their trip to NY!), she threw away a bag of photos and I didn't even look at them!

I really need to finish bagging and take that stuff today! Dh and I had a fight last night (technically about an upcoming visit to his family, but it root because he came home and I was wiped out and hadn't made dinner) so I am exhausted and everything is harder. When things are not good with him, everything in my life is off. He's my center.

I am continuing to purge more paper than comes in and keeping the kitchen under control. The kitchen is harder than it should be and I am sick of it already, which is another thing that contributed to not making dinner.

I also really wanted to have lunch with a friend today and when I called him, he was busy. Phone calls are hard for me except to my mom and kids. And then the vision of my day collapsed because I was mentally planning it around lunch.

A good thing that happened yesterday - when I was at the food bank I talked to the gardener, and she says I can bring some of my non-recyclable plastic containers for clients to take home strawberries, and also, she knows a guy who can use almost all the other ones for his summer stand! Next week I am going to empty a whole laundry basket from my basement!

I have to go into work to take care of some things (unpaid 🙁 ) today, so I will drop more recycling. I only have five more days of easy recycling drop. After next week I will have to figure out what to do over the summer.

I'm so glad I posted about my SIL.
After sleeping on it , and reading the replies.
I know I control my impulsuses and any reward would not worth an aftermath of it were found out.

She's just one of those people I don't avoid, and am Vlad when she gets close. However if I keep it innocent then no one gets hurts.

When my dad was found out when I was 14, my mom was very hurt. And the way they tried to hurt eachother in court only hurt themselves and me. My older brothers left into separate to they could barely afford. And I was stuck living in a 5 bed room house with no furniture's except my room.

Dad would come once a week with food. But my brother would come and eat alot of it. Living there was empty house , my friends would come late Friday's and Saturday's and drunk stoned and whatever else they wanted. I started to see how drugs and alcohol affect good judgement. So I never felt the need to buy any for myself. Just if it was being shared. And I never did anything worse than pot or alcohol, except when a friend put acid on a piece of candy. I Hated it , with a capital H.
I eventually returned to my boyhood. Which was spent wondering a large wooded area where a creek went through the outskirts of a large city.
As a boy a fish, my friends and would build forts, and shelters , and hunting blinds. When the house was sold , I sent to my grand mother's, but she died withing a month of my living there. I was almost 17 . I started living in the woods . But would still go to school . And when winter came I lived in abandoned houses. Near the school. Using firewood from the woods in the fireplaces. I was never caught. Even though my dad was giving my mom money for keeping me , she be never told my dad she didn't know where I was. I finally dropped out of high school . And didn't my GED until my second marriage.

Before my grandmother died. She was talkings to my mom on the phone and my mom was having anxiety attack. My grandmother said they all cheat , all men cheat. After the phone call I made a promise to my grandmother that I would never cheat on my wife. I was thinking I would never hurt someone I took a vow to god that I wouldn't be with someone else I am married to. So after writing to you guys and getting feed back, I'm reminded of something like a passionate moment can cause a lifetime of pain.
I feel very strong now about it, even if she laid in front of me begging , lol, I would not allow my wife or child be hurt by that. So I will keep the flirting to just smiles and compliments.

Today I'm mowing the yard for the last time.
Moving as much to the porch and the room by the door were moving out of. And clearing the upstairs of everything. And making repairs to nail holes and any other repairs.

Sunday , I'll just keep organizing it so just flows out room by room. The new place is only 1.2 miles away , so I'm renting a $20 a day uhaul box van I have nothing bigger than that.

Leaving the sectional couch half there and half here. So there is a place to sit at either house.

Here's the hoarder thing.
In my current house. I have no garage, attic , or basement. At the new place there is no garage , or attic. But the basement is as large as first floor.
So there is opportunity to keep all hoarding clutter down there as an orgasization wall of photographed tubs and containers.

So the living spaces will be cleared .
And there are closets in everyroom.

We selected thus house based on pro and cons.

PROS.

. I can afford this house. And my car on my pay earnings without assistance.

. Has shower and bath on same floor as my wife's bedroom.

. Only 3 steps up from where her car parks.
. Has air-conditioning.
. All electric.
. Positions half way between high school and work.
. On a major bus route.
. 1minute away from highway on ramp .
. 1 minute from largest supermarket in city.
. Not on busy street or where cars can speed.
. Broadband hook up or satalite.
. Ceiling fans in each room.
. Upstairs has 3 small bedroom 1 room will be a music room for daughter and her friends.

. I personally will make my room basically a guest room. For when mother in law comes. And sleep on couch the long sectional. My wife calls out for help alot need help out if her bed or cramps. So if in speaking distance , isn't as disturbing as running down stairs to help her. Plus daughter has three friends that stay with her regularly. That's four people. Plus a mother in law.
They can stay upstairs. .
Even the basement is large enough for an air mattress. .

The basement is a large open room. With only a few supporting walls.
Washer and dryer in the basement.
I plan to take all my cabinets and counters that did not belong to the old house to the new basement.
And put as many counters in the basement as possible.

It's a little damp, but I'm sure I can find the leaks and address them . And buy a dehumidifier and keep the place dry as bone.

So what little space I lose buy not having a personal bedroom , I gain by having an organized basement with enough work space to play with my creative outlets like rammed earthouse and hydrogen flying bicycles without having to put them away.

CONS.

No dishwasher hook up. Almost a deal breaker!

SO IM I'm looking forward to see if it all fits .
The hoarding clutter , in the house without being in the common areas.
I told my wife I will keep her hoard in the basement and manage it the same way I did when it was in storage.

Whatever doesn't fit I moving to the storage.
The than at storagecis to sell it all. Or donate it. Keep the money in a CD deposit account , so I can buy replace money for replacement items .in a two year 6% cycle. And buy from the sold items manifest as needed used from LETGO or other used item sites.

Feeling very positive.

Great progress SubC!

My friend is an artist and designer who lives overseas. She has decorated many homes in Europe & the Mediterranean. She saw my house two years ago. I have a lot of stuff but each room is usable and passable. A lot of things stuffed into closets and hidden under the bed. Just a lot. Lots. Every cupboard filled, pretty much every surface piled. (Not as true as it once was but still pretty accurate). I still want to let go of more--Tillie always reminds us that space is important--it's an object in its own right. My friend was here after I did the major clean out, which included getting rid of every thing in a giant off-site storage space. My friend owns a lot of things, as she has more than one home.

I have very high ceilings and beautiful antique columns in my home. They caught her eye. She and I antique when she is in the states, and it was this recent trip when she offered to do my place. I have no doubt that it will be beautiful. Although she knows I have too many things, she doesn't see it as hoarding the way I do. So it's not exactly a reward-although I will reap the benefits, it is more of her desire to tackle a new place. I'm sure after she's done with mine she will try to get my BF to agree to have her arrange and do his place. He has beautiful art and antiques. She was instrumental in his acquisition of a stunning antique desk, and she really inspired him to start going to auctions and antique stores.

I am using this as a chance to continue in my quest to get rid of stuff. I find it very distracting and upsetting to have so much stuff. I want cleaner surfaces and not so much stuff to deal with. I will do what I can to move toward a 20% reduction. I want space. I want open space.

I have one piece of furniture that I am looking forward to consigning. It is too large and tends to gather clutter. I am hoping that I can find its replacement before I let it go (I know exactly what I want) but sometimes I wonder if I should just get rid of it first. My consignment shop said they'd love to have it.

I need to get rid of my microwave in the kitchen. I don't know what's stopping me. I just don't want it anymore. It takes up too much room. I want the space. But I have a million objects on top of it. (Formerly a million and a half, so I claim progress). Little tiny things from my childhood like little figurines and an old Mrs Butterworth syrup jar. But all the old tiny glass jars and beads and glass this and that have been removed and donated.

See how awful this is for me? Just terrible. I used to have probably seven different comforter/bedspreads which I changed frequently. I've eliminated those. I've gotten my towels under control. I'm a giant work in progress.

And so the struggle continues.