December Decluttering or 100 Items

[happystuff]

Well, I didn't quite make 100 items last month, but I still feel like I'm doing well. In trying to get the Christmas decorations out of the closet yesterday, I got frustrated with... well, the closet! Made everyone go through jackets, coats, scarves, hats, and gloves to pick out what they will use and what they won't. Ended up with a bag of 56 various winter outerwear items in the thrift store bag. Still couldn't reach the bins of decorations, so two huge camping backpacks with frames also went in the "to go" pile. Yeah! Finally reached the decorations! When I went to put the to-go items in the to-go spot, found that there was already a small bag of toys and a box of wooden trains/cars/etc. Figured I had enough for a donation run... so I did! While I didn't count every little toy, I'm putting my total for the month at 75 items.

[Float On]

We spent Wednesday in the studio.
5 - old electrical cords, probably past their prime. Will let the guys at the transfer station decide if they are useable or trash
6-8 sets of good florescent bulbs the 4 ft kind. Donating to church.
9-20 misc bits of repair tools and material for the tanks (in the box for the guy buying our equipment)
21-30 misc office items (clipboards, staplers, caculators, etc) in the donation box

I did a huge purge of Christmas décor last year when I packed up after Christmas. As I opened the boxes I was kind of hoping I'd find more to donate but nope, I did a good job and only have things I really love.

[Teacher Terry]

Hi everyone, even though I am new to the boards I have been lurking & reading for a year. I really enjoy reading about everyone's progress. I actually went through my closet & took out all the clothes that were too small for me except for the pants which I packed away. I ended up donating 50 items. The pants are mostly jeans which really never go out of style and I have the space to store them so will hold onto them for awhile longer. In the past 10 years we have moved 5 times so during that time I have been steadily dumping stuff. Also a year ago we downsized our home from 2000 sf to 1400 sf and my closets are not completely full. DH is another matter because his areas (office, basement, garage & shed are bulging) at the seams but I contain him in these areas. I read Your Money or Your Life about 10 years ago which started my journey to declutter, simplify, downsize and leave state employment to work part-time for myself.

[ejchase]

Welcome, Teacher Terry!

I've done nothing yet this month, but I have time off in about ten days, so I'm hopeful I'll get a few things out the door.

[fidgiegirl]

Wow, happystuff! Quite an accomplishment for just trying to get at those decorations!!

I echo the welcome to Teacher Terry, and you are off to a good start!

FloatOn, is it strange, knowing you are not only decluttering "stuff" but a whole livelihood? I would be interested in reading more of your thoughts about moving on from your business. Remind me of what is next, or is that still taking shape?

No further progress to report here, a few things on eBay, but mainly stuff we purchased in order to sell, so no net decrease.

[Lainey]

Hello Teacher Terry - have to say that when my son was in pre-school his teacher's name was "Teacher Terry", so it brings back sweet memories for me. Sounds like you've made a lot of progress, and glad you've de-lurked, if that's a word?

[Teacher Terry]

Thanks everyone. I am looking forward to being on the boards!

[Float On]

FloatOn, is it strange, knowing you are not only decluttering "stuff" but a whole livelihood? I would be interested in reading more of your thoughts about moving on from your business. Remind me of what is next, or is that still taking shape?

It is extremely strange because:
1) It's how we've defined ourselves for 23 years (me) and 27 years (husband)
2) It's our best community of friends - and you know the old 'out of sight/out of mind' is happening because we aren't out there on the circuit
3) I MISS THE TRAVEL
4) We almost don't know what to do with this 'free time'
5) You get really cool responses from people when you say you are glassblowers (see #1)
6) I miss the shows (see #3 and #2) but I don't miss the wind (wind/glass not a good mix - we've been in tornados while doing shows in Chicago and OKC)
7) In the back of our minds we'll always wonder - did we do the right thing. Yes...for so many reasons but it's hard to give up art.
8) I really miss the trips to Philly and Baltimore and Vegas for wholesale shows.
9) I miss the relationship I built with gallery and store owners. At our best we were represented by 200 - so many lost their businesses as well due to the economy

I am looking forward to wrapping everything up - shutting down the corporation (must get started on that paperwork) final tax reports for 8 states. No one ever gets into art excited about the amounts of paperwork that are involved.
The 15th is my last day for my Etsy shop as it currently is - focusing on clearing out what stock we have left in the blown glass. I'll re-open it at a later time after I build up more stock in my line of recycled glass jewelry. I have some more things I want to learn and expand that line as long as my supply holds up (broken glass items from our studio over the years). Currently a store I sell to in Savannah just asked me to box up everything I have and get it to her quick. I'll be sending her 100 pieces, want to keep some available.

Future will be steps down the road, making decisions as we go. Currently our goal is to get the boys through high school and into college. Then we'll have one or two years where we may stay put because DH's job will be fully invested. We're currently disagreeing about the house. I want to downsize to a rental for a couple years, he wants to stay in the house.

Thanks for asking.

[fidgiegirl]

Sounds like a scary but exciting time. I will be curious to see where the path takes you!

[ejchase]

I got rid of 21 books today, some sold to a used bookstore, others donated to the public library around the corner. And yesterday, I threw out a sock with a hole in it, and I am counting it because I used to hold on to these forever thinking I was going to sew them up which I never did!

So 22 for the month!