Random Crap

[rosarugosa]

I live by "a place for everything," but occasionally it is necessary to revisit some of those little stashes of random crap that collect in certain draws, cupboards, etc. Sometimes the place for some of this stuff should really be the wastebasket! So this weekend, I cleaned out a small miscellaneous cabinet and bookcase in the kitchen. It's so neat and less cluttered in that area now. I am very pleased!

[Fawn]

It is always fun for me to fingure out I do not need the random crap and move it on through the universe to someone that can use it. For me, keeping things out of the trash is half the fun.

DD has been busy in her room most of the day, and I hardly recognise it. Most of the high school momentos are put away or in the recyle bin. I guess now that she is accepted to college, she is thinking about what she wants to take with her and I'm guessing....not a lot of high school stuff, in case she wants to re-invent herself while she is there.

[Lainey]

DD has been busy in her room most of the day, and I hardly recognise it. Most of the high school momentos are put away or in the recyle bin. I guess now that she is accepted to college, she is thinking about what she wants to take with her and I'm guessing....not a lot of high school stuff, in case she wants to re-invent herself while she is there.

That's very mature of her. Sounds like's she ready to emotionally move on.

In the meantime, I've done the same as far as clearing out some misc. drawers. I realized I can do that easily while watching some programs I recorded, and sure enough it only took a few minutes.

why oh why do we procrastinate on this simple stuff? at least now that chore is out of my brain's to-do list for a while.

[CathyA]

"random crap"...........lol! I have so much of that stuff.

This weekend, DH and I went through several shelves of files (insurance, school info, etc., etc., etc.) I took 2 big loads to the trash burner and have 2 bags full to recycle. What a GREAT feeling to get rid of stuff, heh?

[Mrs-M]

Oh... you've touched on one of my very favourite things to do, Rosarugosa! I LOVE cleaning out/organizing hiding places of accumulated things!

[shadowmoss]

I am going through all the stuff I have down here and deciding if I'll pack it to ship back whenever I end up moving back or just donate it. Most of my stuff is old. Right now I am deciding on glassware. Before my stuff got down here I needed glasses to drink from, so I bought a cheap set from the PX. I now also have the box of glassware I bought in WA before I came here. I discovered this weekend when I opened that box that not all of the glasses are there. I started to pack it, but can't bring myself to close the lid on the shipping box. I'm thinking that glassware is something I'll donate down here, both sets.

Repeat this for everything I own. sigh. I keep thinking that if I can pack it away and not need it here, do I really need it at all? Then again, I will need my long sleeved winter clothes again at some point, and I'll have a kitchen again at some point. An international move is motivating, but I don't pay for it either direction so it isn't quite as motivating as if I was paying hard earned money to get the stuff back to the US.

[Fawn]

shadowmoss--really, all you need is one glass/mug. And you can find a nice one you like at Goodwill when you get back.:)

[kitten]

Love the title "random crap" too - had to see this thread!

I'm doing battle under the counter of our bathroom. Before moving here I got rid of five boxes of bathroom-type crap, and I've still got six more to deal with. Lots of band aids that fell out of their boxes, spools of thread, a jillion tubes of Neosporin in its various incarnations (ointment or cream, regular or anti-itch, your choice) and the little tubes of stuff that come with larger purchases, that make you want to buy them in the first place because you think you're getting a great deal. (not)

I read a Joseph Epstein piece where he describes moving house with professional movers. They made a detailed inventory of the contents of all his boxes, and he had to describe what was in them. One box had him kind of stumped. He told the woman on the phone that it had figurines, carvings, mementos, trophies, that kind of thing. And she said, "Uh huh, one box of shit."

[CathyA]

LOL kitten........I'm afraid I'd have tons of those kind of labeled boxes!

[HomemadeChange]

[QUOTE=Fawn;123972]It is always fun for me to fingure out I do not need the random crap and move it on through the universe to someone that can use it. For me, keeping things out of the trash is half the fun.

[QUOTE]

Me too! I love coming up with new ways to recycle and repurpose "treasures."

[Lainey]

I was just thinking - other than medical-related, or paper bills or Identification-related files, it seems like artists in the mixed-media world would like all of the flotsam and jetsam from our drawers.

I wish there was a h.s. or college art program that would accept it and then keep it in a giant box for students to use however they wished.

[Dhiana]

A group of artists I belong to had an Art Swap/Picnic. Everyone, from quilters to painters to jewelry designers, brought materials they were no longer using from their studio. So often we start on one kind of art or craft and then move on to the next to learn different techniques.

The Art Swap was very successful. A lot of friends were invited and it added more members to our group. One of the members who came was also a middle school teacher who took a lot of the leftover items.

[shadowmoss]

Glassware, the old set, given to a co-worker. One box gone. I'm telling myself that anything I can replace for $25 when I'm back in the States I'll get rid of. Fawn, I do pretty much just use one coffee travel mug and one glass. I'm working on it. :)

[Lainey]

A group of artists I belong to had an Art Swap/Picnic. Everyone, from quilters to painters to jewelry designers, brought materials they were no longer using from their studio. .

That's a great idea. One woman's jar of extra buttons is another woman's art project!

[Fawn]

Lainey--woo hoo! Who wants my buttons?

Shadowmoss--no kidding?!? You are a minimalist!!!! Who knew?

[jp1]

Me too! I love coming up with new ways to recycle and repurpose "treasures."

I'm actually just the opposite. I dont mind the task of decluttering but i hate the task of finding someone who might have use for my castoffs and i feel bad about it if i just landfill perfectly functional stuff. So it tends to sit in my home not being any more productive than it would be in a landfill. Re-reading this makes me think that i should just toss things sunce i' at leadt get the psychic benefit of the decluttering.