Clearing My Clutter

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:56 pm

I'm doing a Winter Cleaning event so I might be able to accomplish more instead of incessantly moving around all the "stuff" I never use in an attempt to find the things I need.

The general hope is that I'll discover or create the perfect place for every item in my home so I always know where it is. Meanwhile I'm aiming to discard everything I keep for the wrong reasons. eg)my old digital camera... it just doesn't seem right to throw it in a garbage bag even though it doesn't work anymore.

If there is anything I'm unsure about re keep or discard, I'll post it here and you can all help me figure out if I need it.

so far: condoms: doesn't seem like they'll be useful but I'm still willing to hope :wah:

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:03 pm

Mostly done with the bedroom though I haven't started laundry. I suspect I'll have more to add by the end of the day.

I think the main problem is just that I need different furniture.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:08 pm

That reminds me of a joke I heard way back in the 70's. Remember that was Cold War times.

For propaganda purposes, the Soviet government ordered 100 million condoms from an American manufacturer. Knowing it would reach the media, all the condoms ordered were to be at least 10 inches in length and 7 inches in circumference and extra thick for endurance.

When the company manufactured the condoms they labeled all the boxes "medium".

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:11 pm

Ahso!;1349744 wrote: they labeled all the boxes "medium".

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 5:20 pm

Broken camera--OUT. Why save it if it doesn't work?

Condoms--Keep just 1 just in case. The rest can go. You always can buy more if need be.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:10 pm

What about those books you have read? Do you keep them or give them away? I have a problem throwing book in the trash.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:12 pm

If a gentleman can't provide his own, he's not worth the effort

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:30 pm

koan;1349756 wrote: If a gentleman can't provide his own, he's not worth the effort

:wah: koan...forget about the condoms.....I need advice on books. :wah:

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:32 pm

books are my weak point. I have a lot of trouble letting them go. I did read that donating them to the library clears room on the shelf for new knowledge while making sure I can always access favourites from the past.

Is that the advice you meant or you're looking for a new title?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:39 pm

Advice: I have an old hair straightener that I bought for about $30 and I have a new one that's incomparably better that I bought for $120... so do I throw out the old one or keep it for backup in case something goes terribly wrong and I need to service the good one?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:42 pm

Foam curling rods: bought them to see if they'd come in useful. I've now got short hair. What if I grow it longer again?

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:46 pm

koan;1349760 wrote: Advice: I have an old hair straightener that I bought for about $30 and I have a new one that's incomparably better that I bought for $120... so do I throw out the old one or keep it for backup in case something goes terribly wrong and I need to service the good one?
That is the thinking that led to the clutter.

I have the same problem, BTW. (Not the hair thing, but the clutter)

I am clearing out my stuff in preparation for a pending move.

The several moves, I hauled a lot of the stuff along, thinking I could sort through it when I get to the new place.

This time, I am sorting into two piles. The first one gets packed.

Then I call Sally Ann to come pick up the rest.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:57 pm

what about a crappy backup router? all ISPs provide wireless routers now so, by the time I might find myself wishing to use it again the technology will be primitive.

But what if I need it?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:28 pm

tools.

I mean, you have them just because you might one day need them... right?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:30 pm

Vitamins.

Just because I don't take them doesn't mean I don't need them.

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:34 pm

My motto has always been,

Better to have what you don't need than to need what you don't have.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:55 pm

On the other hand, if you have trust, you will have the means to acquire what you need when you need it.

Post by **LarsMac** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:45 pm

Well, there it is, then.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:32 am

koan;1349766 wrote: [QUOTE=koan;1349763]Foam curling rods: bought them to see if they'd come in useful. I've now got short hair. What if I grow it longer again?what about a crappy backup router? all ISPs provide wireless routers now so, by the time I might find myself wishing to use it again the technology will be primitive.

But what if I need it?[/QUOTE]Toss them. We've got both curlers and old routers from years ago. Some of the curlers are from the eighties! We use none of them. You can probably get far better for next to nothing now anyway.

koan;1349772 wrote: Vitamins.

Just because I don't take them doesn't mean I don't need them.Check the expiration. Take them if they're still good.

eta: on second thought, toss the vitamins, too. Get some fresh veggies & eat. For Chrissakes, you're wasting away.

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:00 am

Accountable;1349808 wrote:

eta: on second thought, toss the vitamins, too. Get some fresh veggies & eat. For Chrissakes, you're wasting away.

:wah:

no fresh veggies for me until after the dental work today

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:11 am

koan;1349766 wrote: what about a crappy backup router? all ISPs provide wireless routers now so, by the time I might find myself wishing to use it again the technology will be primitive.

But what if I need it?

Does that mean the 14.4 modem I'm keeping "just in case" ought to go too?

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 12:55 pm

You could keep it for the off chance you get stranded on a desert island and there are no better options around. :yh_giggle

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:47 pm

:yh_rotfl

It seems that there is a need for three piles:

1. Things we use now

2. Things we want to get rid of

3. Things just in case we may need them in the future because we never know when they might come in handy and we certainly do not want anything to go to waste and do not want to pay the extra money to replace it

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:36 pm

Keep whats meaningful and or useful. Embrace the minimalism.