Are you the kind of person that just cannot let go of 'things'? You want to keep an old shoe just because it reminds you of the time when... Often this can lead to a warehouse of things or junk for want of a better word.
I used to be like that and one day I just threw out a whole bunch of things that I kept and carried on my back for years... and you know what... it was hard at first but in the end it felt great!
The closets in my house are the mobile home version of 'walk in'. The closet in the small bedroom is half full of old clothes. I'll never be able to get into them again. Yet I won't get rid of them. (maybe someday I will miraculously loose 3 dress sizes and be able to wear them)
I finally threw out all my old shoes. I tried to wear them, but my feet have grown some and they really hurt. I was raised to NEVER wear someone elses shoes, so I just threw them out.
I also have three good size boxes full of papers ~ Quotes and sayings from Religious leaders in my church. Why I am keeping these is beyond me, because I can go on-line and find them there faster then rummaging through boxes of papers. Guess I should shred them, and put them out in my composter.
Mom always admonished us to get rid of anything that hadn't been used in three years. So I guess it is time I once again followed her advice.
Edited: AGene on 3rd Mar, 2004 - 6:28am
I had no idea I was a "junker" until recently. And only because my house is full of stuff. When I first moved back to California from Tennessee, I had only what fit in my small car -- and that was me and the baby, her toys and stuff, our clothes and shoes, and my computer.
I now have 1500 square feet of space packed full of stuff!! 2 sofas, 2 desks, 2 dining tables with 4 chairs each (one set out in the shed), 3 or 4 computers plus extra moniters and keyboards etc etc etc I can't possibly list it all. I have three or four different places stacked up with stuff I've been "meaning to" give away, and just haven't got around to it. Meanwhile, it's taking up space.
How did I get all this stuff???? Where did it come from?? I sure didn't buy most of it... A lot is going to be thrown out or given away before we move at the end of the month, I'm not moving all this junk.
Roz
ya i guess u could call me a pack rat. alort of things seems to be hard for me to part with and so i put them away and 4get about them until i find them accidently a couple years later. sometimes its fun to remember good times but other time it takes up alot of space.
I used to be the world's worst pack rat. Now if I don't need it, I throw it away. If it is lightly used (like clothes, shoes) I donate them to the women's shelter for abused women and children. Even with the girls' old toys they don't play with anymore, I donate those to the locate children's mansion for abused children.
I've got to admit that I am a great hoarder of things, and can't bear to let go!
I'm going to put this down to either learnt behavior or inherited genetics, as my Dad is worse at this than I am, and my eldest Son is only slightly better than me at throwing things away.
My husband on the other hand, is the opposite end of the spectrum, and would quite happily empty every single household item into a garbage bag and throw it away!
He has no sentiment for keeping anything, and he knows that if I am in the house when he's having a clear out, I'll pull it out of the bag as quick as he puts it in...now he normally clears out when I'm not there to hinder him!
DianeC, I couldn't help but laugh at your response. I visualized your husband throwing away your stuff and you swiftly pulling them out of the trash bag!
I keep all my precious junk for sentimental reasons: for instance, my first pair of jeans that I bought with my first salary from my first job. I was forced to throw it away because it had holes in the legs and my spouse didn't want me to wear it like that! I still have my "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" book (it is a good thing since they made a movie recently based on the book); I have a beautiful pair of biscuit coloured shoes that no longer fit me but I always look at them and remember how comfortable they were; a lot of clothes that do not fit anymore (I am supposed to get the Turbo Jam CD to lose weight and be able to wear these timeless outfits) and last but not least, lots and lots of pens. Some pens do not even have refills available in Trinidad but I still keep them because I am a proud pack rat!