17 August 2005

Bin it!

Compared to most apartments in NYC, mine is quite roomy. I only share it with one person, which makes the bathroom situation ideal For some reason, though, my home is always a mess. Always! Every room is filled with papers, books, clothes, stuff! We have many closets, which is little consolation as they are all full. I've learned to walk gracefully simply to be able to navigate around the apartment without stubbing a toe.

The worst of it is, I've thrown out or given away so many items in recent months. Somehow, though, I keep accumulating - even when I do lay off the shopping, Bonnie. I can't get it together. Is this an indication of some kind of mental issue, or am I just making excuses? Is there some kind of therapy program for the chronically disorganized? Packrats Anonymous? I don't want to end up on one of those home makeover shows, crying over complete strangers throwing out my things ("Catherine, do you really need all those teapots?" "But I'm the Tea Queen of Astoria!" "No, you're the Rubbish Queen and we're gonna auction off all your teapots." "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" )

On the positive side, I just cleaned up my desk at work. It is possible....

6 comments:

Stevie ~ mono no aware said...

You have a way with words girl...
You’d make a great story teller…your quite witty and eccentric. LOVE IT!

Want some solutions...
Hang out with more Japanese folks...and learn the art of being a minimalist...but what do I know .I got the same problem only with papers...scraps of fabric, worn out torn clothing that ONE DAY…I shall redesign…
DAG i have bins upon bins full of everything and anything…which ironically for the past two years I’ve not even looked into…so are they necessary?
Great book 'Organizing from the inside out' by Julie Morgenstern -offers some interesting theories as to why folks become pack rats... as well as some ideas how to organize.
Why not try placing certain objects deemed unnecessary into bins and hide it…see how long you can survive without them…then after a period of ‘whatever’ without looking into the bin 86 them…
To be Japanese…But then you have to be rich to have some super chic drawers or closets or any other stash away place…how do they do it????
Less is more…zenning out rather then collecting dust…?
Focusing on spiritual rather then material…
Yup...minimizing is the way to go.
Just look at it this way…if one day you need to run away ASAP…what will you take…will you be able to find these items without losing valuable time?
But dare I offer suggestions when I can preach it but not apply it. But I have been trying.

leanordprice04203511 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Marie said...

Yeah, it's hard. Now that I'm moving I'm going to try my hardest not to take everything. I have stuff in the garage that I don't use, but I don't want to get rid of. Like Barbies, toys, etc... I would love to just take clothes and minimal things but it's just a struggle.

k said...

story of my life. except i live with 3 other packrats. ha!

Anonymous said...

throw it out, give it away, minimalize...great slogan for life in these crazy times

reminiscent of sanikdote's entry about exhaling, extricating, enema-izing...

refreshing and energizing concepts yet so hard to actually apply!

what makes us hold on so tightly to the rubbish and refuse in our lives??????

BonBon said...

Or you could always give stuff to your ever appreciative sister! ;)