The placement and organization of “stuff” takes up a fair amount of my thinking time. Following are random thoughts about future organizational systems and spaces.
Chime in with your own
ideas about your own life. I see this as a big picture look at organization and decluttering, not “ I decluttered two socks, a bag of plastic ties, and a yoyo” of other threads. But hey, you can write about whatever you want to write about here.
Because I am old and have a sense of time passing quickly to the END, I want any stuff I have around me to be useful or beautiful.
A Brief History of Iris and Stuff: As a single person decades ago I didnt buy a lot of stuff because I was in simplicity mode. But Lordy did I own stuff mainly from my youth when I lived with my parents. I moved across country a few times and carted some if it with me, other stuff remained stored in my parents’ basement.
When DH and I got married I took all of those boxes. There were dishes and childhood objects like toys and a trunk full of sentimental things and ohoto albums and yadda.Because pur house was not “done” (i.e. there were no finished floors, painted walls, complete staircase until 2011) I unpacked those boxes sporadicaaly over the years. But also, smewhere in there I exercised an obsession for chinese pottery and silverplate serving dishes as well as Victorian dinnerware and table accoutremonts. Then my picture book collecting effort started in earnest in the early 1990’s and wrapped up about 2012. So in summary, I collected a ton of crap.
Around 2010 I started getting rid of all of boxed stuff feom my youth, selling or giving away sets of dishes, toys, dolls, costume jewelry. Then, because that was fun, I unloaded most all of the Silverplate servers. (I have indulged in one thing* pretty horrific as far as $$$ goes, will tell later.) Around that time I skimmed the best of my mom’s stuff (she was in a nursing home by then) and sold it, splitting profits with my brother.
Now, I am contemplating the next round of offload. We have a favorite charity to donate antiques and collectibles, our local Park Conservancy booth during our neighborhood’s house tour weekend. We help set ip and sell at the booth. This will be a semi-deep offload, where I plan to donate some of the
chinese pottery, a big Victorian chair, and other things I still like. But I no longer “love” them, ya know?
such is the saga of me and my stuff.
* silverplate foolishness: my mom had a big ornate tray that she liked a lot. I took it many years ago. The plate was wearing off. Each time I polished it I thoight “either this thing should be tossed, or I get it replated.” Well, in an uncharacteristically sentimental move, I took the thing in to get it replated. Cost: $340. It’s value now: about $100 on a good day.
I was surprised that the plating people didnt ask me for a downpayment because Once they put their silver on it they had a whole lot more money into the thing than I did. bless their hearts, they trusted me to come back for it and pay the bill. I saw many silverplate family treasures lined ip in the pickup area, so
I am not the only foolish person, I guess. But that is one giant waste of money!At least now I can polish it and bring ip the shine.