Wow! I have a whole week off!

[catherineldf]

Haven't had that in ages. I have high hopes of thoroughly cleaning the house for the first time in many, many months. I also decided that it was time for the semiannual 'possessions purge.' Once a year or so, everything that I haven't used in the last year that doesn't have sentimental value or prospects for future use gets put in a pile to get donated to various organizations. This time around, I decided that it had to apply to books as well so I/we cleared out 4 bags of books to be given to friends who sell used books online, The Women's Prison Book Project and sundry other organizations that do good things. The house feels slightly less crowded now and it's easier to clean. I can already feel my stress level dropping.
The purge is something I started ages ago, back when I didn't own any more than I could fit into a tiny hatchback. The initial motivation was that I was doing archaeology on constructions sites so I had a seasonal migratory loop between Texas and Maine. It was good for learning to shed unimportant possessions very quickly, among other valuable life lessons (i.e. don't share a house with a guy prone to passing out while smoking, etc.).
After that, I spent some time travelling and staying with families in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Every time I came back, I was aghast at how much stuff I owned so I'd get together with friends and hold benefit garage sales or sell stuff on consignment to raise money for the local shelter. The tradition took root so we've kept it up many years later. Now I'm looking and the closet and trying to remember what's in those boxes...
Have a lovely holiday everyone!

Comments

I remember those days

[evilroygato.livejournal.com]

when you were able to move around in a hatchback. It was very impressive. I kind of miss those days myself. When I lived in one room. Well, I miss the traveling light. I don't miss: No cats, communal or no kitchen, communal or no bathroom, surreal and/or frighteningly dysfunctional roommates. Though, I do miss myopic heather who left her shoe at the radio station at 3AM one time. She was hilarious. or when she'd fall asleep at the mic for hours at a time ('oh, gee, haha, sorry you've just heard nothing for the last hour...')

Besides you, that's about the ONLY thing I miss about that house and the tiny room on Market St.
Anyway, hope you are having a GREAT week off. :)

Re: I remember those days

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon! I'd forgotten all Heather. :-)
I miss things about the traveling light too (in addition to you :-) but I will say that at least I can pack travel luggage with the best of them now.