Unpacking
Every day I try to unpack one box, and slowly my back room is looking less and less like a hoarder’s. It’ll probably be two or three more weeks until I’m completely moved in. I tried to get rid of stuff before I moved, but there is still SO MUCH STUFF.
It’s amazing how much I’ve managed to hang on to when ninety percent of what I use on a daily basis is my laptop, some clothes, the furniture, a small fraction of my toiletries, and a few kitchen things. And yet, discounting the furniture, the greater volume of stuff in my apartment falls into the category of things I touch a few times a year, at most. It’s sentimental, archival, seasonal, or used for a specialized purpose, like wrapping paper or sewing tools. Or it’s junk; there’s plenty of that, too.
When I see each tchotchke or scrap of paper individually, I think about what it means to me, what amazing project I’ll use it for in the future, or how I want to show it to my grandchildren. When I see everything like up together, filling boxes and spilling out of bookshelves, I want the throw the whole lot on a bonfire.
In other news, the weather is fantastic here in Houston. I put on a jacket to walk the dog tonight, but only because my shorts didn’t have pockets.
Tags: decluttering, moving, stuff
