First-World Problems...

Remember those interminable fundraising programs your kids would be lassoed into by pretty much everyone and everything in their schools? Band and orchestra and soccer cleats and extra softballs and 600 pencil drawing sets and new basketball nets and cocaine for the teachers' lounges and....

The worst was the wrapping paper. We now have enough paper for the next 300 years, even assuming that we give gifts for National Maple Syrup Day and Executive Assistant Day and Groundhog Day and Helen Keller Day and Pi Day and Festivus and Talk Like A Pirate Day and...

But I can't quite be ruthless enough to toss it out! What if we need it?

And that exposes the larger issue of my (and probably your) inability to throw stuff away. As we get older and collect the stuff from our departed parents, we are confronted by the difficulty of letting go the past. How can I throw away six sweaters my grandmother knitted for my father? Never mind that she wasn't very good at it, and he humored her by actually wearing them! Or my grandfather's diploma? What about my dad's wallet or my mom's keys (to a house that is long gone)?

People are weird!

Posted by: CBD at 02:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Can't help

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 02:01 PM (xhxe8)

2 At some point stop buying, you have enough for your lifetime

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 02:02 PM (xhxe8)

3 Burn it

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 29, 2023 02:02 PM (Q4IgG)

4 The chocolate/almond bars were pretty good...if a little pricey.

Posted by: BignJames at January 29, 2023 02:04 PM (AwYPR)

5 My field of fucks is fallow. Maybe could sell fucks as a fundraiser.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at January 29, 2023 02:04 PM (FVME7)

6 My garage is gaining space as time rolls forward. With Future Leader leaving the fold I hope to have even more garage space.

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:05 PM (/UtnQ)

7 Gifts for "National Maple Syrup Day" should be wrapped in artisanal birch bark.

Posted by: Next2Nothing at January 29, 2023 02:05 PM (tA1/w)

8 CBD, please to introduce yourself to SWEDISH DEATH CLEANING, aka Döstädning. yourwelcome.

Posted by: runner at January 29, 2023 02:06 PM (V13WU)

9 Throw that crap in the garbage or use it for building a fire.

If you need to give a "gift", just use that "A Donation Has Been Made In Your Name To The Human Fund" dodge.

Your welcome!

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at January 29, 2023 02:07 PM (R/m4+)

10 The inability to throw stuff away. That's me.

Posted by: Tuna at January 29, 2023 02:07 PM (gLRfa)

11 Yeah, it's a problem

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 29, 2023 02:07 PM (fUnHJ)

12 Throwing stuff away is not a problem for me.

Get it naturally from my folks.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:08 PM (/P0vp)

13 horde hoard

Posted by: BignJames at January 29, 2023 02:08 PM (AwYPR)

14 My brother kept everything from my ma and dad. Kids are gone and his upstairs is filled. Wait till I die, lol.

Posted by: dartist at January 29, 2023 02:08 PM (U2hGT)

15 BignJames,

Thank you for your comment on the previous thread.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:09 PM (/P0vp)

16 8 CBD, please to introduce yourself to SWEDISH DEATH CLEANING, aka Döstädning. yourwelcome.
Posted by: runner

*looks at clutter*
I will have to kill many Swedes

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 29, 2023 02:11 PM (fUnHJ)

17 I throw away six sweaters my grandmother knitted for my father? Never mind that she wasn't very good at it, and he humored her by actually wearing them! Or my grandfather's diploma? What about my dad's wallet or my mom's keys (to a house that is long gone)?

---------

Those things give a family their history and roots. Keep them. Every item has a story. Every item proves those people actually existed.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 02:11 PM (BdMk6)

18 I hoard yarn especially. I've got more than I'll ever be able to use in my available lifetime yet I see I'll see something new and it's like.....ooooo that's pretty. Got to have it. I'm hopeless.

Posted by: Tuna at January 29, 2023 02:11 PM (gLRfa)

19 Thank you for your comment on the previous thread.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:09 PM (/P0vp)

I meant it.

Posted by: BignJames at January 29, 2023 02:11 PM (AwYPR)

20 Yup. I've often wished that the school clubs especially would have an option for "I don't want the stuff, here is a straight donation"

I have a lot of keys that should be tossed but I don't have them labeled to know, oh this is a spare key for the previous house. Thus I hesitate, thinking if I lose a main key I might end up going through all the unused keys trying to find a match. Its not sensible but I enjoy SOME of the aspects of my craziness.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 02:11 PM (3cGpq)

21 I could stand to throw away a lot. Of course, it would help if I quit buying new stuff. And don't get me started on my wife's shopping issues. I don't call her the Queen of the Amazon because of her height.

Posted by: PabloD at January 29, 2023 02:11 PM (zP5wv)

22 Confession - I have more books than I need.

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:12 PM (/UtnQ)

23 Those things give a family their history and roots. Keep them. Every item has a story. Every item proves those people actually existed.
___

Yeah, but when you come from a family that has no roots, and hides its history...well...you get some of us that has little need of such sentimentality.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:12 PM (/P0vp)

24 Puddinhead, my son, you are forgiven.

Posted by: PabloD at January 29, 2023 02:13 PM (zP5wv)

25 I also collect fishing shirts.

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:14 PM (/UtnQ)

26 Serious suggestion. If you work at a company that hires some youngish people, just outright ask them if they'd like to have some wrapping paper. We don't have such stashes. I had to buy some at Wally World in December because I didn't have any.

To the general point, I wish the secondhand goods market had less of a poor-people social stigma. It's less wasteful, and often possible to get the good stuff that's not even made anymore. I don't do it with clothing, but I only wear a few basic outfits and use them until they've got too many holes to be acceptable in a professional environment.

Posted by: CppThis at January 29, 2023 02:15 PM (PZvjL)

27 Vercingetorix is a name I always struggle to pronounce correctly.

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:15 PM (/UtnQ)

28 Eight years ago I had to move from my previous apartment to the one I currently reside. I was in that apartment 20 years. It was a one bedroom that had no closets.
How I crammed so much junk in there I could not understand but crammed I did.
I managed to throw away a lot of things like old paperwork. When it came to nostalgic items it was did I really care about the item. Wound up a lot of stuff did not.

I might have to do that again in my current apartment.

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at January 29, 2023 02:16 PM (fe7in)

29 In addition to the yarn problem, I have too many bottles of perfume, too many books, too many pairs of shoes and boots, too many sweaters.......... I'm a mess.

Posted by: Tuna at January 29, 2023 02:17 PM (gLRfa)

30 Yeah, but when you come from a family that has no roots, and hides its history...well...you get some of us that has little need of such sentimentality.
Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:12 PM (/P0vp

So your whole family was bad? I don't believe that.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 02:18 PM (BdMk6)

31 My husband is a "keeper" and I am a "tosser." It creates an occasional conflict, but between the two of us we do a fair job of keeping the possessions down.

It helps that as we get older we have less and less interest in acquiring new stuff.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at January 29, 2023 02:19 PM (fTtFy)

32 29 In addition to the yarn problem, I have too many bottles of perfume, too many books, too many pairs of shoes and boots, too many sweaters.......... I'm a mess.
Posted by: Tuna

Congrats on having the right amount of pants!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 29, 2023 02:19 PM (fUnHJ)

33 I don't know how many guitars I have....30...35?

Posted by: BignJames at January 29, 2023 02:19 PM (AwYPR)

34 "Congrats on having the right amount of pants!"

LOL

Posted by: Tuna at January 29, 2023 02:20 PM (gLRfa)

35 Marie Kondo.
Snicker if you want, but it works.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at January 29, 2023 02:20 PM (DhOHl)

36 I'm very good at getting rid of stuff.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 02:20 PM (U2p+3)

37 If the IRS had not made it even more unattractive to sell stuff online I have a bunch of stuff I could probably unload.

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2023 02:20 PM (iayUP)

38 One would never know it looking around my house but I did get rid of a lot of stuff the last 2-3 years. Mom's clothes other than the ones I kept cuz "score, shopping in the closet instead of having to mess with a retailer" Some fancy tea sets, maybe they had been gifts to mom or stuff she took that she remembered from her aunts or mom but I didn't know the history and I was never going to use them. And tossed or burned a lot of stuff with no value.

But now I find myself accumulating stuff again as dad's strength/health declines. Electric bed, maidesite chair lift, just ordered a lifting recliner yada yada.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 02:21 PM (3cGpq)

39 BiginJames, what’s your best guitar?

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:21 PM (/UtnQ)

40 I've gone through this (ha) recently. If something has meaning, keep it. If something like the wallet especially connects you to someone or something, keep it. The sweaters are nice but you don't need six to have the memory of the sweaters.

Get rid of junk. Take photos of the special not-keepers and get rid of it. Keep the special stuff. A lot of the paper stuff is easy because it can be slipped into a favorite book and kept tucked away. I have tons of bookmarks of great little 2nd and 3rd grade art projects that were brought home and I don't want to throw away that are great bookmarks and serve an additional useful purpose. Plus they make me smile and remind me of my younger kids every single time I see them.

But photographing things that I could get rid of and assigning value to the things that were actually valuable helped me a lot.

If everything is special than nothing is.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:22 PM (Kt1w/)

41 My daughter goes out right after Christmas and buys wrapping paper and bows since it's marked down as much as 80%. We must have 30 or 40 rolls. The bows loose their stickiness after a few years so those all got tossed last year.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at January 29, 2023 02:22 PM (nxdel)

42 BiginJames, what’s your best guitar?
--

The next one!

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:23 PM (Kt1w/)

43 So your whole family was bad? I don't believe that.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons
___

I didn't say it was bad.

My folks moved around alot (I was a Navy brat), so throwing stuff away was normal prior to each move. My time in the Army just reinforced that.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:23 PM (/P0vp)

44 41 The bows loose their stickiness after a few years so those all got tossed last year.
Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at January 29, 2023 02:22 PM (nxdel)

Solution: 1 roll of double sided tape.

Posted by: CppThis at January 29, 2023 02:24 PM (PZvjL)

45 My daughter goes out right after Christmas and buys wrapping paper and bows since it's marked down as much as 80%
--

That's smart, especially if you wrap for kids.

I always look for Christmas cards but never have much luck.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:24 PM (Kt1w/)

46 Save the tubes for your bottle rocket bazooka.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at January 29, 2023 02:24 PM (yQpMk)

47 How you doing, Jewells?

Go Chiefs!

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 02:25 PM (U2p+3)

48 Ha Jewells. My family used tape on the bows, and saved the bows from year to year. But I got to a point of not wanting to wrap stuff. Gift bags or just hand someone the item if it was not an 'experience' gift.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 02:25 PM (3cGpq)

49 2 of my kids sold garbage bags in HS. Construction grade. Have enough for several more years, but they are being used daily/weekly.

Posted by: olddog in mo at January 29, 2023 02:26 PM (ju2Fy)

50 BiginJames, what’s your best guitar?

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:21 PM (/UtnQ)

Best...or one I like best? got a Suhr Custom T...Music Man Axis Sport....some Gibsons /Fenders....Parts Caster...had a couple Collings I gave to my nephews.

Posted by: BignJames at January 29, 2023 02:26 PM (AwYPR)

51
ZOMG!
There is a National Maple Syrup Day!

I am all in.

Posted by: French Toast Everywhere at January 29, 2023 02:28 PM (3CCua)

52
At some point stop buying, you have enough for your lifetime
Posted by: Skip

The economy would collapse!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 29, 2023 02:28 PM (63Dwl)

53 I remember my high school band used to sell light bulbs to raise money. My mom always bought a years worth.

Posted by: Tuna at January 29, 2023 02:28 PM (gLRfa)

54 Doing good nurse!

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at January 29, 2023 02:28 PM (nxdel)

55 Cleaning out old junk is something I’ll do in retirement or leave just it to the kids. I don’t feel guilty about not finishing the job

Posted by: 4thewin at January 29, 2023 02:29 PM (5P+bD)

56 My brother always said he would wait until my parents stuff "talked" to him before keeping something or tossing it.

Posted by: dartist at January 29, 2023 02:30 PM (U2hGT)

57 If the IRS had not made it even more unattractive to sell stuff online I have a bunch of stuff I could probably unload.
Posted by: fd

--

Yep. I'm interested to see how that plays out in regards to ebay stock and sales.

I like how the IRS said "Nah, it's not really a law, guys! Not this year!"

How in the world are you supposed to make financial decisions when you have no idea what the tax liability will be because it's at the whims of some faceless, nameless nobody?

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:30 PM (Kt1w/)

58 There was a podcast episode (#626) on The Art of Manliness with a decluttering guy who is on the "Hoarders" show. It was gave some helpful perspective on the issue of clutter. He wasn't preachy or hardcore. Advocated for Trainwreck's approach at comment 40.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at January 29, 2023 02:30 PM (V66kM)

59 I'm very good at getting rid of stuff.

I'm terrible at it. I do just barely enough to avoid pack rat status. Definitely one of my shortcomings.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 02:31 PM (Xrfse)

60 We moved out of our house of 27 years 6 years ago. Didn't have anywhere to move to so we did a lot of purging because we had to pay to store everything that was left.

Then we bought our present house from the previous owner's estate and the executors sold us the contents for a very good price because they didn't want to deal with it. So we ended up with two houses worth of stuff anyway.

Needless to say, we wore a path to Goodwill for several months, but the outcome was a very satisfactory one.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at January 29, 2023 02:31 PM (fTtFy)

61 Thankfully, no wrapping paper issues here - after a few years of not buying, I had to restock up at 70 and 90 percent off at my Target. I always buy the generic patterns, so when I have to do wrapping (which I'm about to go do for a kid birthday this week), I can pick all of the "holiday" stash I have - and my kids can steal it at will for their wrapping b/c I didn't pay a lot for it.

Townhomes with a family help one never really get too overwhelmed with stuff b/c there's nowhere to put it...

Posted by: Nova Local at January 29, 2023 02:31 PM (exHjb)

62 Well, most of the bows I tossed were messed up anyway. I don't want to but a mangled bow on a gift. I DO have some standards.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at January 29, 2023 02:32 PM (nxdel)

63 Nice collection BignJames. I’ve got two Yari’s, an Eastman Jazz Box, a Fender Jazz Master and really nice playing Ibanez single cut away electric.

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:32 PM (/UtnQ)

64 I only horde good stuff, like bits of aluminum scrap and 40 year old computers.

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2023 02:32 PM (iayUP)

65 I didn't say it was bad.

My folks moved around alot (I was a Navy brat), so throwing stuff away was normal prior to each move. My time in the Army just reinforced that.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:23 PM (/P0vp)

Understand now. Keep the pics though. Had a friend that was ready to dump some pics his dad took during his time flying B26s during WWII. Told him those were historical if nothing else.

He thanked me ten years later.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 02:33 PM (BdMk6)

66 ZOMG!
There is a National Maple Syrup Day!

It's an entire month at the North Pole.

Posted by: Buddy the Elf at January 29, 2023 02:33 PM (Qzn2/)

67 Homes are an investment. Few have old homes.
Where should i store these boxes and boxes of classified documents?

Posted by: humphreyrobot at January 29, 2023 02:34 PM (53HNX)

68 Understand now. Keep the pics though. Had a friend that was ready to dump some pics his dad took during his time flying B26s during WWII. Told him those were historical if nothing else.

He thanked me ten years later.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons
___

I do keep photos, and the letters/cards the hub and my kids sent me when I was in Iraq.
As well as my class A jacket.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:35 PM (/P0vp)

69 There was a podcast episode (#626) on The Art of Manliness with a decluttering guy who is on the "Hoarders" show. It was gave some helpful perspective on the issue of clutter. He wasn't preachy or hardcore. Advocated for Trainwreck's approach at comment 40.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife

---

I'm probably a borderline hoarder with certain sentimental things, and it got to be too much after I had kids filling up rubbermaids on one side and elderly relatives passing away and accumulating things on the other side. I'm not where I need to be, but learning how to decide that this is treasure and this can be photographed and thrown away was key for me.

IIRC mine came from a book called Clutter's Last Stand. The funny part was I picked it up at a book sale in one of those "fill a bag for $5" sales. My wife teased me mercilessly for a book on clearing clutter being part of the clutter I brought home.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:36 PM (Kt1w/)

70
My folks moved around alot (I was a Navy brat), so throwing stuff away was normal prior to each move. My time in the Army just reinforced that.
Posted by: SMH

This was me growing up, except Dad was a Methodist country church preacher. We moved around every two or three years. Smash on the other hand, lost her Dad at 7, and her Mom at 13. She'll hang on to dammed bear anything if it has a memory. I could handle it when I had access to a dump that was part of the sewage bill. Now, I gotta hire somebody to clear out the crawl space soon. Yard furniture, holiday decorations, just crap we don't need down there sitting. Mocking me.

Posted by: BifBewalski at January 29, 2023 02:36 PM (3CCua)

71 I just put the stuff I can't throw away, but is still useful at the end of my driveway next to the road.

Magically most of it disappears.

Except those fluorescent lights. Nobody touched those for weeks.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 29, 2023 02:37 PM (Q4IgG)

72 We were ruthless when cleaning out in prep for our move. The kids and grandkids took whatever they wished - which was damn little and we donated most of everything else which wasn't immediately needed. Still though, what to do with my deceased infant son's layette and my Grammi's dishes and cut glass bowls? The lovely R. insisted I keep them for now. She'll probably pass them along to a shelter after I'm gone.

And that's okay with me.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 02:37 PM (qoGsy)

73 Don't only keep family photos but scan photos and put them in a safe deposit box or somewhere similar. Once those are gone they're gone forever.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:37 PM (Kt1w/)

74 I just put the stuff I can't throw away, but is still useful at the end of my driveway next to the road.

Magically most of it disappears.

Except those fluorescent lights. Nobody touched those for weeks.

---

Your problem was you didn't put "$5 each" on them.

If people think they're stealing something they'll take it.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:38 PM (Kt1w/)

75 IIRC mine came from a book called Clutter's Last Stand. The funny part was I picked it up at a book sale in one of those "fill a bag for $5" sales. My wife teased me mercilessly for a book on clearing clutter being part of the clutter I brought home.
Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:36 PM (Kt1w/)

-----------

I come from a family of borderline hoarders and work mightily to avoid that trap myself. Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll look for it - at the library! The guy on the podcast (Matt Paxton) wrote a book called "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life." Kind of a cluttered title, to be honest, but he has some good ideas.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at January 29, 2023 02:40 PM (V66kM)

76 We have many things from previous generations, but none of these are clothing.

My husband's grandmother's diploma from teacher's college is absolutely beautiful and was kept. Kid2 had it framed and it's on the wall of the study. Some documents are lovely or interesting enough to keep. We have the lifelong Masonic membership certificate, also framed and several other things like that.

I used to have too much yarn, but I found a relatively nearby girls' knitting group and set them up for a few seasons. They make charity blankets, while learning a nice skill.

I wish I had more wrapping paper! Seriously, I never buy enough and need to go to the store for every birthday and holiday.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 02:40 PM (Zzbjj)

77 Reusable giftbags FTW.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:41 PM (/P0vp)

78 I'm steeling myself to take photos of memorabilia so that I can pitch the actual items.

Posted by: goddessoftheclassroom at January 29, 2023 02:41 PM (goJt/)

79 Brock Purdy sounds like a character in a woman's romance novel.

Just sayin.

Posted by: Gunnar Hammersmith at January 29, 2023 02:41 PM (uVQvU)

80 My sad tale of throwing things away was when I was a young kid. Would every few years toss out toys I grew out of. Matchbox cars. green army men, Lego and many other games and such.
Could cry thinking about it

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 02:42 PM (xhxe8)

81 I know! I know!

Give the wrapping paper AS gifts! For example, on National Incarcerated Individual Day, give Bluebell 30 rolls of wrapping paper!

Posted by: Weasel at January 29, 2023 02:42 PM (WoIMU)

82 Marie Kondo.
Snicker if you want, but it works.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at January 29, 2023 02:20 PM (DhOHl)

And she has recently given up on the entire mindset!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2023 02:43 PM (XIJ/X)

83 And that's okay with me.
Posted by: Tonypete

Reach out to the horde. I have a two sets of beautiful Depression era glasses that he wasn't ever going to use. He gifted the to me. I set a Christmas dinner table with those glasses and sent a picture.

Objects kept in a box are junk. Things that are used and appreciated keep the memory of those folks alive.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 02:44 PM (U2p+3)

84 Give the wrapping paper AS gifts! For example, on National Incarcerated Individual Day, give Bluebell 30 rolls of wrapping paper!
Posted by: Weasel at January 29, 2023 02:42 PM (WoIMU)

And a sharpened toothbrush handle won't work to cut it, so be sure to include a sharp blade with your gift.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at January 29, 2023 02:45 PM (Qzn2/)

85 And she has recently given up on the entire mindset!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

So, no joy?

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 02:45 PM (qoGsy)

86 Your problem was you didn't put "$5 each" on them.

If people think they're stealing something they'll take it.
Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:38 PM (Kt1w/)

LOL. This is true.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 02:45 PM (BdMk6)

87 Matchbox cars. green army men, Lego and many other games and such.
Could cry thinking about it
Posted by: Skip

---

My parents kept my Lego. Sort of. It wasn't so much "kept" as I continued messing with it off and on until I was 15 or 16 or so, and it just sort of ended up in a box and tucked away and forgotten about.

What was neat was when we had a kid and started playing with Lego they gave me that box with my old stuff, and that 30+ year old Lego clicked perfectly with the brand new Lego. I can't think of any other toys that work that way.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:45 PM (Kt1w/)

88 We now have enough paper for the next 300 years, even assuming that we give gifts for National Maple Syrup Day and Executive Assistant Day and Groundhog Day and Helen Keller Day and Pi Day and Festivus and Talk Like A Pirate Day and...

Why would Helen Keller need wrapping paper? Newspaper would be fine.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 02:46 PM (anj39)

89 Objects kept in a box are junk. Things that are used and appreciated keep the memory of those folks alive.
Posted by: nurse ratched
___

What if that's all you have?

Just old letters and photos?

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:46 PM (/P0vp)

90 Glad to read this post. Now doing the same thing, tossing boxes and boxes of old paperbacks, stuff from my parent's house (they kept my toys for 50 years! -- don't bother me, none of it was collectable, I checked). My 5th-grade flag football helmet, and 1,235 rolls of wrapping paper, 35 pounds of tinsel, and 5.3 statute miles of christmas-tree lights, old fondue sets, old glasses, sheesh. It takes forever.

But life must go on.

Posted by: Joe at January 29, 2023 02:46 PM (sbMg5)

91 To the general point, I wish the secondhand goods market had less of a poor-people social stigma. It's less wasteful, and often possible to get the good stuff that's not even made anymore. I don't do it with clothing, but I only wear a few basic outfits and use them until they've got too many holes to be acceptable in a professional environment.
Posted by: CppThis at January 29, 2023 02:15 PM (PZvjL)

An organization I belong to had a "Dirty Santa" at the Christmas social. I got a nice name brand whistle tea kettle out of it. Which the person who contributed it admitted that she had "regifted" something she had received from an uncle, but had no use for.

Posted by: Fox2! at January 29, 2023 02:47 PM (qyH+l)

92 In the camps clutter will no longer be a problem. You'll get one shirt, one pair of pants and two shoes, possibly matching. And a spoon.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at January 29, 2023 02:48 PM (Qzn2/)

93 I would think a kindergarten, maybe in a church, would like that wrapping paper for art projects.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2023 02:48 PM (4UYlo)

94 >>>People are weird!

Speak for yourself!

Oh wait, you were.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at January 29, 2023 02:49 PM (gv7Yb)

95 FWIW, I just recently heard that funeral homes welcome donations of suits (and I assume dresses, but suits were specifically mentioned) because poor people often don't have anything nice to be buried in. Something to keep in mind and worth a phone call.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:49 PM (Kt1w/)

96 OH!! One thing we did find after we moved was a pair of hand-knitted booties for an infant that my wife's Grandma made back in the Mesozoic Era. Never worn. So, those when to a dear niece (the knitter would be her great-gm) who just had her second little one. She was thrilled.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 02:49 PM (qoGsy)

97 Better punch a hole in that spoon, run a string through it, and keep it around your neck. You don't get issued a second spoon if you lose it.

Posted by: PabloD at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (zP5wv)

98 I have a two sets of beautiful Depression era glasses that he wasn't ever going to use.
Posted by: nurse ratched

Smash has accumulated a nice collection of Depression era oil/vinegar cruets over the 40 years we've been married. Some of it quite pretty, and I loathe frufru stuff, so it ain't ugly. She was going through it recently dusting it off and telling Junior-ette about some of it, what it was and how expensive it is. Told her to hire an estate sale pro to get rid of it after she died instead of dumping or 2nd hand store disposal if she didn't wanna keep it.

Prolly the kind of stuff the IRS wanna tax, huh? She may need to start canoeing with me.

Posted by: BifBewalski at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (3CCua)

99 CBD, you just described my late dad to a T. LOL

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (oABbf)

100 Why would Helen Keller need wrapping paper? Newspaper would be fine.

--

My grandmother used to wrap presents in newspaper. That's one of my favorite memories.

We're about to start learning those same lessons that made her do that into her 80s, btw.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (Kt1w/)

101 The paper is annoying. But those paper tubes it is rolled up on are da bomb!
Dog hates me when he sees one of those.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (anj39)

102 Like "mentally ill", I think hoarder is overused. As a pathology a hoarder is someone who keeps useless items. I've met hoarders who save used paper cups, old gum, old gum wrappers and would not throw away the hair from their brush. There was a Midsomer episode with Edward Fox that showed pathological hoarding. Having too many crafts supplies is not hoarding, saving old milk cartons and used tissues is.

Here's a funny "hoarder" story. A patient came in one afternoon and was carrying a large briefcase full of what looked like used tissue. The staff member in charge of cataloguing her belongings was unhappy with the job, but quickly informed me that the tissues were "heavy" and asked if I was interested. I put some gloves on and looked. Each and every tissue wad contained gold jewelry and some was pretty old. So I stayed late and helped catalog. Naturally we called her daughter to come get it. Old lady lived in a deteriorating neighborhood and made her valuables as unappealing as possible. Sort of smart.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (Zzbjj)

103 My sad tale of throwing things away was when I was a young kid. Would every few years toss out toys I grew out of. Matchbox cars. green army men, Lego and many other games and such.
Could cry thinking about it
Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 02:42 PM (xhxe

Heh. I found a lot of the shit I threw away is fetching a decent price on the internet nowadays. Many toys I thought were worthless are collectibles now.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (BdMk6)

104 I still have all my Matchbox toys as my son still has all of his Thomas The Tank Engine toys. Hopefully, I will see them both played with again.

Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:51 PM (/UtnQ)

105 What if that's all you have?

Just old letters and photos?
Posted by: SMH

Do you read them? Do you share them with your daughters? What purpose do they serve?

If you keep them to further torture yourself, why? If you keep them as an anchor to your past, share them and they are precious

Up to you.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 02:52 PM (U2p+3)

106 82 And she has recently given up on the entire mindset!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2023 02:43 PM (XIJ/X)

------------

Apparently having 3 kids made her re-think the practicality of her approach. Though I do wonder, too, if, with all of her cash, she bought a big house & doesn't have to worry about space anymore.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at January 29, 2023 02:52 PM (V66kM)

107 40 A lot of the paper stuff is easy because it can be slipped into a favorite book and kept tucked away. I have tons of bookmarks of great little 2nd and 3rd grade art projects that were brought home and I don't want to throw away that are great bookmarks and serve an additional useful purpose. Plus they make me smile and remind me of my younger kids every single time I see them.
Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:22 PM (Kt1w/)

What a great idea.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2023 02:53 PM (4UYlo)

108 The kids were horrible at picking up their stuff. Clothes, toys, it didn't matter. So we started using a "clutter box." Once a week on the day before the trash got picked up we'd toss all their shit into the box and tell them it was going to the curb the next morning. So they sort of shrugged it off until the shit we'd picked up got trashed, literally. The pissing and moaning was epic. Then, as we continued this little game they started to only pick out of the "clutter box" what they really cared about and left the rest for trash.

In the span of about 2 months the girls had just enough clothes for a week and a small handful of toys. The rest was gone and they didn't seem to care.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 29, 2023 02:53 PM (Q4IgG)

109 I tossed so much in our last move. We really downsized and don’t have a basement like we did. Without fail, we say “didn’t we have….” And it’s something we got rid of.

I am pretty organized, the rest of my crew not so much. Makes me insane.

Posted by: Piper at January 29, 2023 02:54 PM (ZdaMQ)

110 Do you read them? Do you share them with your daughters? What purpose do they serve?

If you keep them to further torture yourself, why? If you keep them as an anchor to your past, share them and they are precious

Up to you.
Posted by: nurse ratched
___

nurse,

they are shared, and both daughters are happy and surprised when we go through them, especially the granddaughters.

But thank you for your...concern.

Have a blessed day.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:54 PM (/P0vp)

111 wait , WHAT ? no more Kondo ?

Posted by: runner at January 29, 2023 02:54 PM (V13WU)

112 Then, as we continued this little game they started to only pick out of the "clutter box" what they really cared about and left the rest for trash.

---

You are a 7th level ninja master of clutter. That's brilliant.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:54 PM (Kt1w/)

113 In the span of about 2 months the girls had just enough clothes for a week and a small handful of toys. The rest was gone and they didn't seem to care.
Posted by: Martini Farmer

At my house one of the little brothers would find his bad self in the clutter box courtesy of big Sis.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 02:55 PM (qoGsy)

114 Speaking of bad habits, I have successfully managed to laze around for nearly an entire Sunday without accomplishing a damned thing. Kind of nice but makes me feel slightly guilty. Oh, well.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 02:55 PM (Xrfse)

115 Christmas decorations...

Posted by: goddessoftheclassroom at January 29, 2023 02:56 PM (goJt/)

116 FWIW, I just recently heard that funeral homes welcome donations of suits (and I assume dresses, but suits were specifically mentioned) because poor people often don't have anything nice to be buried in. Something to keep in mind and worth a phone call.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:49 PM (Kt1w/)

Wow. What a nice idea. I have some work suits that are probably out of style and nobody would buy them if I donated them....

Thanks!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2023 02:56 PM (XIJ/X)

117 What if that's all you have?

Just old letters and photos?
Posted by: SMH

These I would never toss. We recently went through boxes of things from my late MIL's house and one of the boxes was photos and letters from her mother's house. Just wonderful. Fortunately Clara put names on the back, so we understood why she saved them. There were a few cards and letters, too. Unlike the cards of today, some of the oldest cards were like little booklets with drawings and verses, and were very pretty. My favorite was one from her school days signed by many friends. They certainly had lovely penmanship.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 02:56 PM (Zzbjj)

118 Moving to foreign countries or even to the other coast requires winnowing of possessions. I've literally left tons of stuff behind me. So all I have to do now is "control" what I choose to keep.

Like jars. Aside from Mason jars, I save all glass jars because I think someday they'll come in handy. Publius, as a farmer, saves all manner of tools and metal bits and wood.

And then there are preps, things we buy now while they're still "affordable" or at least available. I've never been a minimalist, so having a few bins of rice or whatever in the bedroom isn't a problem.

As most women do, I have clothes in my closet that I'm not currently wearing and should really donate or toss, but I don't. Not a whole lot, since I'm not really into clothing/footwear, but there they are.

CBD, I have exactly one roll of Christmas wrapping paper, and that's it.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 29, 2023 02:56 PM (Mzdiz)

119 Speaking of bad habits, I have successfully managed to laze around for nearly an entire Sunday without accomplishing a damned thing. Kind of nice but makes me feel slightly guilty.

===

well, if every day is a Sunday, then I can see why , but...

Posted by: runner at January 29, 2023 02:56 PM (V13WU)

120 95. What a great idea! I am getting ready to do a closet purge. I have frequently donated to women’s shelters so they have solid job seeking outfits, too.

Posted by: Piper at January 29, 2023 02:57 PM (ZdaMQ)

121 One of the coolest things I got from my folks was a pile of hundreds of old photographs. but with that comes the taks of sorting them out and tossing anything that seems unimportant now, like a not so good pic of Uncle Don at the kitchen table. Not every photo needs saving, but it's been hard nevertheless.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wanting to Hang Out with Tom Bombadil at January 29, 2023 02:57 PM (UQUAY)

122 Trainwreck.
Great comment!

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 02:57 PM (anj39)

123 These I would never toss. We recently went through boxes of things from my late MIL's house and one of the boxes was photos and letters from her mother's house. Just wonderful. Fortunately Clara put names on the back, so we understood why she saved them. There were a few cards and letters, too. Unlike the cards of today, some of the oldest cards were like little booklets with drawings and verses, and were very pretty. My favorite was one from her school days signed by many friends. They certainly had lovely penmanship.
Posted by: CN
___

That's so lovely.
Thanks for sharing.

I wish I could have something like that from my Gammy...oh well.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:57 PM (/P0vp)

124 Speaking of bad habits, I have successfully managed to laze around for nearly an entire Sunday without accomplishing a damned thing. Kind of nice but makes me feel slightly guilty. Oh, well.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 02:55 PM (Xrfse)

-----------

I won't judge but I'm not wasting the day. I'm going out drinking later on.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at January 29, 2023 02:58 PM (Qzn2/)

125 *waves to Miley*

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:58 PM (/P0vp)

126 I save my written teachings for the benefit of all mankind.

Posted by: Weasel at January 29, 2023 02:59 PM (WoIMU)

127 83 Objects kept in a box are junk.
Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 02:44 PM (U2p+3)

Pretty much.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2023 03:00 PM (4UYlo)

128 Speaking of bad habits, I have successfully managed to laze around for nearly an entire Sunday without accomplishing a damned thing. Kind of nice but makes me feel slightly guilty. Oh, well.
Posted by: Notorious BFD

---

I'm fairly certain that it was recently established in one of JJ's hobby threads that the HQ can be considered a hobby.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:00 PM (Kt1w/)

129 Weasel, don't forget to write down your recipes.

Posted by: skywch at January 29, 2023 03:01 PM (uqhmb)

130 Cold as hell here today. 4 degrees with a breeze that makes it even more bitter. We are also going on 50 days with snow on the ground, which has not happened here in 15 years. People are ice fishing on the lakes and ponds. Haven't seen any pond hockey yet, but I bet there are a few around town.

It's been above 40 maybe twice since November.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wanting to Hang Out with Tom Bombadil at January 29, 2023 03:01 PM (UQUAY)

131 FWIW, I just recently heard that funeral homes welcome donations of suits (and I assume dresses, but suits were specifically mentioned) because poor people often don't have anything nice to be buried in. Something to keep in mind and worth a phone call.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:49 PM (Kt1w/)

Good idea. It's just as well my old suits rot in a casket rather than my closet.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:01 PM (BdMk6)

132 I got nothing done this weekend

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (xhxe8)

133 I have a few things of my moms left I can't bear to part with. Her old coat. An ugly green thing but I don't have the heart to donate it. Her wallet. An old tin can she kept by her bedside she put little pieces of trash in.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (nxdel)

134 I have gotten pretty ruthless about purging stuff after having to assist parents and inlaws with downsizing.

Simply put, most stuff is trash--many mementoes can be shared and saved via the wonders of digital technology, and furniture from the past is usually far better made than that of today. Recent pressboard furniture is better off in a dump than keeping it for sentimental reasons. Even the poor don't particularly want it.

Posted by: whig at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (tXMz2)

135 I wish I could have something like that from my Gammy...oh well.
Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 02:57 PM (/P0vp)

I have come to realize that apart from the odd birthday card, MY grandkids will not have correspondence from me or my husband. Even if we did not live close by we'd probably never write. So we are. Not letters, but memories and family stories and history. Mine are handwritten, my husband is typing and printing his. Letters are an important historical resource for families, and in the case of writers, artists, etc they're important for cultural memory.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (Zzbjj)

136 I don't know...isn't it bad karma to burry your clothes while you are still alive...jsut sayin'

*spits three times

Posted by: runner at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (V13WU)

137 Posted by: skywch at January 29, 2023 03:01 PM (uqhmb)
----
Good point. I need to do that. Probably should file for patents or copyrights or whatever, too.

Posted by: Weasel at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (WoIMU)

138 130
'Cold as hell here today.'
Glad I don't live where you live.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (roH4R)

139 As we get older and collect the stuff from our departed parents, we are confronted by the difficulty of letting go the past.
______________

I've mentioned before my late father's butterknife officer's sword, which sits in the closet while I figure out what to do with it (mount it on a wall? sounds like the best bet). I also have all of his reports from Iwo Jima that detail the enormous casualty rate in his company.

There's no way I can part with any of these.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (GArKj)

140 Good idea. It's just as well my old suits rot in a casket rather than my closet.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:01 PM (BdMk6)

I hope wide lapels and bell bottoms are ok in the afterlife.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (anj39)

141 I have come to realize that apart from the odd birthday card, MY grandkids will not have correspondence from me or my husband. Even if we did not live close by we'd probably never write. So we are. Not letters, but memories and family stories and history. Mine are handwritten, my husband is typing and printing his. Letters are an important historical resource for families, and in the case of writers, artists, etc they're important for cultural memory.
Posted by: CN
___

That's what I've been working on for some time now, just for the granddaughters.

It's calming, just keeping a journal.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:04 PM (/P0vp)

142 The wife and I are going through this right now. we have one son and he has told us he wants nothing we have except for photos of us and him and the like when we pass. Going through the ten thousand pictures we took and tossing most out feels like I am throwing our lives away.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (uNylN)

143 There's no way I can part with any of these.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (GArKj)

Of course not!

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (Zzbjj)

144 FWIW, I just recently heard that funeral homes welcome donations of suits (and I assume dresses, but suits were specifically mentioned) because poor people often don't have anything nice to be buried in. Something to keep in mind and worth a phone call.

I don't suppose my lobster-print suit would be acceptable. Too bad, I hardly ever wear it anymore.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (Qzn2/)

145 Going through things left by my father, I came across a series of postcards written by his uncle to his aunt ... during WWI.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (GArKj)

146 Now try moving out of the house you have lived in for forty years. We had fifty plus years of our crap plus crap left by four kids and some of their friends. We had everything his mother and aunt had ever owned. (His mother made it to 99; his aunt to 97 or so.) Cleaning out his mother's desk, the XO found a paid medical bill from before WW II. Then I brought home half the bookstore with me.

I have solved the gift problem. The kids and their spouses get checks in the amount of their age. The grandkids all get gift cards. No gift wrapping needed. And, more importantly, no trip to the mall.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I wasn't particularly fond of the '70s the first time around at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (z7W9M)

147 My mom is pretty much the last surviving relative on both sides of my family. I've asked her to go through old photos with me to identify the subjects and label them. However, she just gets upset and cries because "they're all gone!". It's really very sad & there's no one else left with that historical knowledge. A lot of those photos will probably be tossed eventually. My kids will just get rid of my pics by hitting the "delete" button.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (V66kM)

148 I think we have a few decluttering books among our clutter.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (yQpMk)

149 As the accountant in a family full of form phobiacs, I end up as the executor for each of the previous generation as they pass on, and pretty much end up with whatever I can't sell or get one of the others to take. Got a basement of miscellaneous family stuff.
(Un?)fortunately enough, as the next generation forgets or never learns of the people and things before them, it gets easier to just toss things every time another of my generation passes.
In other words, I shouldn't have saved much of it in the first place.

Posted by: From about that time at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (4780s)

150 I've mentioned before my late father's butterknife officer's sword, which sits in the closet while I figure out what to do with it (mount it on a wall? sounds like the best bet). I also have all of his reports from Iwo Jima that detail the enormous casualty rate in his company.

There's no way I can part with any of these.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (GArKj)
***

Marine or Army?
Contact the appropriate national museum. They may be able to help you.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:06 PM (anj39)

151 I got nothing done this weekend
Posted by: Skip

Rest ?

Posted by: JT at January 29, 2023 03:06 PM (T4tVD)

152 If you're not storing your treasures in Heaven...you're doing it wrong.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:07 PM (/P0vp)

153 I hope wide lapels and bell bottoms are ok in the afterlife.
Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (anj39)

Yep. Could make for some real embarrassment at the orientation meeting if everyone else has stylish Euro-cut suits.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at January 29, 2023 03:08 PM (Qzn2/)

154 I don't know...isn't it bad karma to burry your clothes while you are still alive...jsut sayin'

*spits three times
Posted by: runner at January 29, 2023 03:02 PM (V13WU)

I'm close enough to that "special time" that it probably won't make that much difference.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:08 PM (BdMk6)

155 I've mentioned before my late father's butterknife officer's sword, which sits in the closet while I figure out what to do with it (mount it on a wall? sounds like the best bet). I also have all of his reports from Iwo Jima that detail the enormous casualty rate in his company.

There's no way I can part with any of these.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (GArKj)

That kind of stuff belongs in a military museum but finding one can be hard. I have tons of stuff from when I was stationed on the USS Midway back in the day and have been trying to donate it to them with zero luck. No one seems to want to answer emails from the museum there. It will all be tossed out when I die.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 29, 2023 03:09 PM (uNylN)

156 I had a crapton of Legos that sat in my room in my 'rents house forever, until I finally gave them to one of my cow-orker's boys.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 29, 2023 03:09 PM (llON8)

157 As I have mentioned, I have a friend who empties houses. You would be stunned to hear what people toss. In addition to valuables, many fail to look at papers believing they're worthless clutter. My friend has had to track down families to give them thousands of dollars in bonds, documentation for safe deposit boxes that they knew nothing about, as well as things like deeds and certificates of ownership for vehicles and artwork. Once in a while artwork needs proof of the provenance.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 03:10 PM (Zzbjj)

158 I wish I could have something like that from my Gammy...oh well.

Brought back some great memories. That's what we called my Pop's mom. She was an angel.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:10 PM (Xrfse)

159 Puddinhead (#27):
In restored classical Latin pronunciation, Vercingetorix would sound almost exactly like "Work in ghetto Rick's". Even closer, though less memorable, since it makes no sense in English: "Ware kin ghetto Rick's".

Posted by: Dr. Weevil at January 29, 2023 03:10 PM (jmSVU)

160 I used to collect musical instruments. I find that VSTs take up a lot less space.

Posted by: Beckoningchasm phone at January 29, 2023 03:10 PM (tCp2E)

161 147 My kids will just get rid of my pics by hitting the "delete" button.
Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at

I am going old school and taking the pictures out of boxes and putting them in albums so they can be pulled off a bookshelf and looked at. Some of them are finding themselves framed and hung in the office, too, like my granddaddy’s 1st Cav pic on his horse. I think doing this with letters would be a fun project, too. Putting them in an album makes it easy to pull out and read.

Posted by: Piper at January 29, 2023 03:11 PM (ZdaMQ)

162 There's no way I can part with any of these.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:03 PM (GArKj)
***

Marine or Army?
Contact the appropriate national museum. They may be able to help you.
Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:06 PM (anj39)
***

Sorry.
Didn't catch this part. If you do, museums may help. Also specific installation s museums may be interested.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:11 PM (anj39)

163 JT that maybe

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:11 PM (xhxe8)

164 Brought back some great memories. That's what we called my Pop's mom. She was an angel.
Posted by: Notorious BFD
___

Heh, that's what my granddaughters call me.

Gammy 2.0

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (/P0vp)

165 148 I think we have a few decluttering books among our clutter.
Posted by: G'rump928(c) at January 29, 2023 03:05 PM (yQpMk)

; )

Posted by: m at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (4UYlo)

166 Sometimes you can use a couple days doing not much

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (xhxe8)

167 >>> 130 Cold as hell here today. 4 degrees with a breeze that makes it even more bitter. We are also going on 50 days with snow on the ground, which has not happened here in 15 years. People are ice fishing on the lakes and ponds. Haven't seen any pond hockey yet, but I bet there are a few around town.

It's been above 40 maybe twice since November.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Wanting to Hang Out with Tom Bombadil at January 29, 2023 03:01 PM (UQUAY)

Unpossible! glowball warmening has made snow a thing of the past!!

We're in the middle of a possible 5-day span of rain, rain and more rain at temperatures in the low to mid 40s, which is nothing to CO, but it's a bit low for here.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (llON8)

168 I've mentioned before my late father's butterknife officer's sword, which sits in the closet while I figure out what to do with it (mount it on a wall? sounds like the best bet). I also have all of his reports from Iwo Jima that detail the enormous casualty rate in his company.

There's no way I can part with any of these.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

---

Yeah, those are absolutely in the "treasure" column.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (Kt1w/)

169 I also inherited a bunch of tools from my dad. So I have two circular saws, three hammers (he inherited one himself), etc.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (GArKj)

170 Except, I'm not an angel.
Far from it.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:13 PM (/P0vp)

171 I have thousands of old family photos. Some go back to the 1920s. After we're dead the kids are going to have a mess on their hands.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 29, 2023 03:13 PM (Q4IgG)

172 An old tin can she kept by her bedside she put little pieces of trash in.
Posted by: jewells45

I've kept a chunk of lye soap my Grammi made probably back in the early 40's. I'll never use it - but I won't get rid of it either.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 03:13 PM (qoGsy)

173 I also inherited a bunch of tools from my dad. So I have two circular saws, three hammers (he inherited one himself), etc.

Are you using the hammers?

Posted by: David DePape at January 29, 2023 03:14 PM (Qzn2/)

174 Marine or Army?
Contact the appropriate national museum. They may be able to help you.
Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:06 PM (anj39)
____________

Marine. We live outside Camp Pendleton, which I understand from my baseball buddies (half of whom are former Marines) has some sort of museum. I've thought about that too, but ...

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:14 PM (GArKj)

175 I don't know how many guitars I have....30...35?

Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Oh wait, that's not what you were doing, was it?

Posted by: Oddbob at January 29, 2023 03:14 PM (nfrXX)

176 173 I also inherited a bunch of tools from my dad. So I have two circular saws, three hammers (he inherited one himself), etc.

Are you using the hammers?
Posted by: David DePape at January 29, 2023 03:14 PM (Qzn2/)

!!!

Posted by: m at January 29, 2023 03:15 PM (4UYlo)

177 Except, I'm not an angel.
Far from it.
Posted by: SMH

Pish posh! My wife thinks you are and she's not easily fooled.

Trust me, I've tried.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 03:15 PM (qoGsy)

178 Putting them in an album makes it easy to pull out and read.
Posted by: Piper at January 29, 2023 03:11 PM (ZdaMQ)

Good way to keep them safe and valued.

One of the things I have from my grandmother that I cherish most is her voice, originally on a cassette, but now on several and on my computer. She did not have a great voice but loved to sing. When I got my first cassette recorder, I made a recording at her suggestion. Nice to have that.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 03:15 PM (Zzbjj)

179 I have thousands of old family photos. Some go back to the 1920s. After we're dead the kids are going to have a mess on their hands.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 29, 2023 03:13 PM

When my grandmother died all of the surviving kids got a huge dumpster and starting tossing everything in the house it took days and multiple dumpster pick ups. They had lived there since WWII. Fortunately my grandmother had already picked out what she was going to leave all of us grand kids and had labeled everything before her death. Everything else got tossed.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 29, 2023 03:15 PM (uNylN)

180 I have a lot of stuff from my Pop's WWII service. Have his citations and decorations in a really cool shadowbox. Also have some letters to home and other stuff. Guess that will be fodder for the dump once I am gone. Makes me sad.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:16 PM (Xrfse)

181 lol Tp.

Thanks...but I'm very much aware of my shortcomings.

And one is being quite snappish.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:16 PM (/P0vp)

182 I've lamented the loss of written correspondence and what that will take away from generations. I've bought and given a few "this is my life" type books. One that comes to mind is To Our Children's Children, but there are many others. They're just books that prompt you to write about memories and opinions and things that would help make a connection or stir memories when you're gone.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:16 PM (Kt1w/)

183 They're just books that prompt you to write about memories and opinions and things that would help make a connection or stir memories when you're gone.
___

That's what got me started.
So now, I keep a journal, and other things.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:17 PM (/P0vp)

184 Sometimes you can use a couple days doing not much
Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (xhxe

By looking at the weekly AoS comments totals, for many people, that's a feature not a bug.😁

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:18 PM (BdMk6)

185 Wrapping paper: donate it to a charity or ask your elementary school. If it's Sally Foster gift wrap, it's thick enough to use to line drawers or as a table-saver when kids are doing projects.

Sentimental things: Take a photo and get it out of the house.

Two years ago, friends and I took an online decluttering class from Josh Becker, a Christian minimalist. It was helpful.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 29, 2023 03:18 PM (/+bwe)

186 I have thousands of old family photos. Some go back to the 1920s. After we're dead the kids are going to have a mess on their hands.

--

One of the best computer / photo accessories I've ever bought was a $60 or so photo scanner that is handheld (it's about the size of an old laptop battery when you used to be able to remove them) and just automatically feeds photos through and saves them to an SD card. You can save the photos while you sit and watch football or whatever.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:18 PM (Kt1w/)

187 171 I have thousands of old family photos. Some go back to the 1920s. After we're dead the kids are going to have a mess on their hands.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 29, 2023 03:13 PM (Q4IgG)

Digitize them on something like Snapfish and then toss them. Your kids will thank you...

Posted by: Nova Local at January 29, 2023 03:19 PM (exHjb)

188 So now, I keep a journal, and other things.

---

*fistbump*

I try to. I'm not very good at it, but maybe the kids will look through it at some point and remember something.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:19 PM (Kt1w/)

189 That kind of stuff belongs in a military museum but finding one can be hard. I have tons of stuff from when I was stationed on the USS Midway back in the day and have been trying to donate it to them with zero luck. No one seems to want to answer emails from the museum there. It will all be tossed out when I die.
----
National Military Museum is in New Orleans I believe.

Posted by: dartist at January 29, 2023 03:21 PM (U2hGT)

190 I finally bought a new drill. The power cord on the old one had to be held for it to have juice. Now I have to toss the old drill. I hate to do it, thinking "someone handy could fix that cord" But I can't fix it myself and its probably not worthwhile for anyone to mess with it.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 03:22 PM (3cGpq)

191 One of the best computer / photo accessories I've ever bought was a $60 or so photo scanner that is handheld (it's about the size of an old laptop battery when you used to be able to remove them) and just automatically feeds photos through and saves them to an SD card. You can save the photos while you sit and watch football or whatever.
Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:18 PM (Kt1w/)
_______________

I have a document scanner I've used for that purpose, but I also inherited a whole bunch of negatives, and am trying to figure how to scan them so I can then reverse the images.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:22 PM (GArKj)

192 After my mom died, I kept a lot of stuff of hers that I didn't like, or wouldn't use, just because... it was hers.
I successfully purged things, clothes, artwork, stuff.... it isn't disrespectful of her memory.

I have put cards, notes, letters that I wish to keep in the pages of favorite books. When I find them, it is a blessing.

If something elicits a sweet memory, keep it. If it tortures you and makes you miserable, unless
You like being miserable, unload it.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 03:22 PM (U2p+3)

193 In my jewelry box, I have an Izod alligator that I bit off a guy's shirt at a frat party in 1976. I also have a key to one of my college dorm rooms. Why? I dunno.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 29, 2023 03:23 PM (Mzdiz)

194 I have a document scanner I've used for that purpose, but I also inherited a whole bunch of negatives, and am trying to figure how to scan them so I can then reverse the images.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:22 PM (GArKj)

Isn't that one of the things Photoshop is good for?

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:24 PM (BdMk6)

195 I have a document scanner I've used for that purpose, but I also inherited a whole bunch of negatives, and am trying to figure how to scan them so I can then reverse the images.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

--

I have no experience with them, but I have seen that they make inexpensive boxes where IIRC you use your phone to take the photo. By inexpensive I think $20 or so.

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:24 PM (Kt1w/)

196 Hey SMH!

Gotta take off. Mama Publius wants to shower today before the game starts. See you later!

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (Mzdiz)

197 A surprise, was looking at Doug Ross Journal and found a new Bad Blue
https://tinyurl.com/yz8dr3xb

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (xhxe8)

198
I have put cards, notes, letters that I wish to keep in the pages of favorite books. When I find them, it is a blessing.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 03:22 PM (U2p+3)

I absolutely love this idea. I have the last letter my father hand wrote tucked in my Bible. So when I am reading, I can see the letter, and feel like he is there, reading with me. Now you have given me a fantastic idea for all the special letters and cards I need to go through! Thank you!!!!!

Posted by: Moki at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (JrN/x)

199 Heh, that's what my granddaughters call me.

Gammy 2.0

Awesome.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (Xrfse)

200 Have fun, Miley. : )

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (/P0vp)

201 22 Confession - I have more books than I need.
Posted by: Puddinhead at January 29, 2023 02:12 PM (/UtnQ)
---

I took a break from packing up books to go to the library used book sale.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (Dc2NZ)

202 There is an organization that I've read about and now for the life of me cannot remember that is collection the words of veterans. A living history thing. If you have a particularly poignant letter or note, I suspect they'd love to have it.

I wish my ol man's coffee cup had survived the years. His first cruise in the navy was aboard the old Lexington in '36-37. When he left, he took it with him. Just a basic white mess hall coffee cup. Had it all through the war and it finally got broken about 20 years ago. I was talking to an assistant curator at the sub museum in Hawaii. That's the kind of thing they love to see.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:26 PM (anj39)

203 197 A surprise, was looking at Doug Ross Journal and found a new Bad Blue
https://tinyurl.com/yz8dr3xb
Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:25 PM (xhxe

Thanks, Skip!

Posted by: m at January 29, 2023 03:26 PM (4UYlo)

204 I have no experience with them, but I have seen that they make inexpensive boxes where IIRC you use your phone to take the photo. By inexpensive I think $20 or so.
--

Found what I was thinking of. Again, no experience with them and this is just a random grab:

https://tinyurl.com/2qwdaak7

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:27 PM (Kt1w/)

205 A man does not own a horse. A horse owns a man.

The modern equivalent is: When you have too many things, you don't own them. They own you.

Posted by: Henry David Thoreau at January 29, 2023 03:28 PM (TXFi7)

206 Isn't that one of the things Photoshop is good for?
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:24 PM (BdMk6)
______________

Reversing the image is easy; it's digitizing the negative into a useable form that is the hard part. I've tried, too.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:28 PM (GArKj)

207 I took a break from packing up books to go to the library used book sale.

--

THIS PERSON GETS IT

Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:28 PM (Kt1w/)

208 I have my granddaughters' artwork pretty much all over the house, even the knickknacks they make out of clay.

It's amazing to see the progression of their art.

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:28 PM (/P0vp)

209 192
If something elicits a sweet memory, keep it. If it tortures you and makes you miserable, unless
You like being miserable, unload it.
Posted by: nurse ratched at

I have my old wedding album that I have hung on to thinking my kids may want it. I would rather throw it in the fireplace or even hand it to a voodoo queen to help speed karma along. 😀

Posted by: Piper at January 29, 2023 03:29 PM (ZdaMQ)

210 That's what got me started.
So now, I keep a journal, and other things.
Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:17 PM (/P0vp)

Grandma wrote up a book of the stories Grandpa told her about growing up in Tenino Washington in the 1900's. Dad took that information and added it to research and a bunch of family pictures, and wrote a book about Tenino.

The last entry is one that didn't get into the book, Great Grandmother had a Christmas cactus that she would move from the front porch to the hallway in the Fall, and it was heavy and fragile so Grandpa and his brother Bill had to move it back and forth, and he said he hated that thing.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 29, 2023 03:29 PM (xhaym)

211 Found what I was thinking of. Again, no experience with them and this is just a random grab:

https://tinyurl.com/2qwdaak7
Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 03:27 PM (Kt1w/)
______________

Cool. Thanks! I tried putting white paper or aluminum foil behind the negatives and scanning that, but it doesn't work very well.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:30 PM (GArKj)

212 Digitize them on something like Snapfish and then toss them. Your kids will thank you...
Posted by: Nova Local

My 40yo son would disown me if i ever put the years of mostly black and white photos of his ancestors in the trash. He treasures them and every single time we get together we sit around a table passing them back and forth and reminisce. We like to touch our history and physical photos are our means.
Like Nurse said, crystal becomes junk if it sits in a box waiting for someone to value it and eventually it gets trashed, imo, actual photographs should never end up in a landfill.

Posted by: old chick at January 29, 2023 03:31 PM (sOete)

213 Palerider bet that cord on drill just has a break and if you took cover off and cut cord and reconnect it will be fine.
Just had that happen to my 4in angle grinder and it's good as new

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:31 PM (xhxe8)

214 I also have an ancient Panasonic phone/answering machine. Remember the ones with the mini-cassette that recorded incoming? It's got dozens of messages on it from both my Ma and my Pa. Haven't played them back in years and just can't bring myself to do it again. Yikes, I'm getting all wishy-washy and sentimental here. heh.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:32 PM (Xrfse)

215 I only horde good stuff, like bits of aluminum scrap and 40 year old computers.
Posted by: fd at January 29, 2023 02:32 PM (iayUP)

What about bacon grease? I'm with you.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:33 PM (BLVc0)

216 18 -- Tuna: She who dies with the biggest stash wins.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I wasn't particularly fond of the '70s the first time around at January 29, 2023 03:33 PM (z7W9M)

217 I have my old wedding album that I have hung on to thinking my kids may want it. I would rather throw it in the fireplace or even hand it to a voodoo queen to help speed karma along. 😀
Posted by: Piper at January 29, 2023 03:29 PM (ZdaMQ)

I still have the wedding book of my 2nd marriage. Don't keep it for the memories of the ex, but of the 1100 year old church we were married in.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:34 PM (BdMk6)

218 I only horde good stuff, like bits of aluminum scrap and 40 year old computers.
Posted by: fd

What about bacon grease? I'm with you.
Posted by: golfman

Dozens of worn out brooms such that only the handles with 2 inches of straw survive? Hundreds of (emply) old, plastic hanging plant baskets?

Grampa was your man!

Posted by: Tonypete at January 29, 2023 03:35 PM (qoGsy)

219 Sometimes this sort of thing hurts too much to deal with.
When Dad was clearing out the house that he owned with his first wife, my real mom, he apparently swept everything in the way of paperwork into a box, taped it shut, and it stayed in a closet until he died a couple of years ago.
I have been going through it to burn it all, fifty seven year old check stubs, receipts, congratulation cards from the wedding, unanswered letters and dog licenses.

Found my original birth certificate, though!

Posted by: Kindltot at January 29, 2023 03:36 PM (xhaym)

220 212. I don't toss photos, and handling things can be precious.
As for crystal and vases, my kids have many of the grandparents' and great grandparents' things. Kid2 has one of her china cabinets too.

Another thing I have is one of my grandmother's perfume bottles with some of her favorite scent. Still smells nice and olfactory memories are very evocative. I also bought a fresh bottle when I found out it was discontinued.

Posted by: CN at January 29, 2023 03:38 PM (Zzbjj)

221 166 Sometimes you can use a couple days doing not much

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 03:12 PM (xhxe

If you can do it, yes. My problem is I never get a day off. I am retired. There is always a chore or something I feel I must do to not be totally lazy.

Posted by: Gref at January 29, 2023 03:39 PM (AMIL/)

222 When my mom went into a nursing home I found about a dozen large grocery bags (back when they were still paper) full of correspondence that she'd open and then replace in the envelope. I almost threw out the lot, but then soldiered up and went through them all. Besides any number of bills, credit cards, etc. I found that the fire insurance on her house had lapsed 18 months before.

I almost plotzed on the spot. I called my insurance broker, and drove to his office hot foot, checkbook in hand.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 29, 2023 03:39 PM (GArKj)

223 Just gonna leave this here:

https://tinyurl.com/yya7y523

Posted by: SMH at January 29, 2023 03:40 PM (/P0vp)

224 A man does not own a horse. A horse owns a man.

So...horses = cats.

Posted by: Gref at January 29, 2023 03:41 PM (AMIL/)

225 I have my old wedding album that I have hung on to thinking my kids may want it. I would rather throw it in the fireplace or even hand it to a voodoo queen to help speed karma along. 😀
Posted by: Piper

Ha! I pulled a few photos of my wedding to the boys's dad. The rest I tossed.

I have my great grandfather's cast iron frying pan. I have my grandmother's wedding ring and my other grandma's sterling.

If you never use it and your kids don't really care... if you have the space, why purge? If you have to choose, keep things that are useful.

Try not to get rid of letters or pictures. They don't take much space.
I purged great grandma's afghans. The colors are awful. The yarn stinks and itches. They took up space. I'd never take them out of the trunk.

So. Sorry. Yuck.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 03:41 PM (U2p+3)

226 When you have a minor structural house fire AND it's 95 degrees AND you're approved for a FEMA buyout, it's still not easy to sort the chaff.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:41 PM (BLVc0)

227 When you have a minor structural house fire AND it's 95 degrees AND you're approved for a FEMA buyout, it's still not easy to sort the chaff.
Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:41 PM (BLVc0)

Hmmmm...
How do you fake a FEMA buyout?
Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:43 PM (anj39)

228 People are weird!

There are those who say this is particularly true of current and former New York Yankees fans.

I report, you decide.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 29, 2023 03:43 PM (a3Q+t)

229 I have the afghan my grandma crocheted for me 52 years ago. It has been on every bed I've slept in, other than on vacations.
I told my son I want to be buried with it, wearing one of my Lantz nightgowns.

Posted by: goddessoftheclassroom at January 29, 2023 03:44 PM (goJt/)

230 When you have a minor structural house fire AND it's 95 degrees AND you're approved for a FEMA buyout, it's still not easy to sort the chaff.
Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:41 PM (BLVc0)

Rummaging around in an attic during the summer tends to weaken selectivity.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:45 PM (BdMk6)

231 Another thing I have is one of my grandmother's perfume bottles with some of her favorite scent. Still smells nice...
Posted by: CN

I only have one grandchild that I've never met, but, we keep in touch through email.

If when I'm gone she held on to such a lovely memory as you have of your grandmother I'd be blessed.

Posted by: old chick at January 29, 2023 03:46 PM (sOete)

232 My wedding video begins with the groomsmen putting golf balls on the church front lawn. There is a conspicuous passing of a Wild Turkey bottle in the scene. Young and stupid, carefree.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:46 PM (Xrfse)

233 Those things give a family their history and roots. Keep them. Every item has a story. Every item proves those people actually existed.

Depending on how your family works, these things could be used as a fake fundraiser (to tie both of the First World topics together). Auction them off at each family reunion.

And if someone actually likes them enough to not offer them for auction the next year, win-win!

We do something similar at our high school reunion, where a couple of souvenirs get auctioned off each time. It’s fun, though it might make more sense for an every-five-years event than an every-year event.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at January 29, 2023 03:47 PM (EXyHK)

234

Kitchen stuff is my downfall. How many whisks do I need? All of them. I love all the kitchen stuff I have. When I cook I have what I need. We are moving to a bigger house here in Wyoming next week. The kitchen is twice as big. Watch out, lol, I'm sure there is stuff I need.

Posted by: four seasons at January 29, 2023 03:48 PM (ichPI)

235 Hmmmm...
How do you fake a FEMA buyout?
Asking for a friend.
Posted by: Diogenes at January 29, 2023 03:43 PM (anj39)

Did not fake. Matthew, then Florence. 2 500 year floods 2 years apart. Fire just expedited the process.

Had been there for 25+ years. Floyd didn't come close to the house.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:48 PM (BLVc0)

236 When Mom died, Dad started throwing stuff out. And I mean... wow... really paring things down!

Then, as he began 'dating' again, started giving away Mom's lovely crystal pieces and collectibles. To them, not saying a word to my sister or me.

When Dad's cancer returned, he began giving away any and every thing-- to any and every one-- except us kids.

He spoke often of getting rid of furniture & photos and so many other items, some of which he simply threw away rather than leave behind. Things that were not junk, things that any of us kids would've loved to have.

Ugh.

Posted by: JQ at January 29, 2023 03:48 PM (o0Fxd)

237 If I had my way, and I don't, wrapping paper would be brown craft paper of white copy paper.

Posted by: WhitePunk at January 29, 2023 03:48 PM (iO4Ix)

238 My wedding video begins with the groomsmen putting golf balls on the church front lawn.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:46 PM

Ah, the ancient ritual designed to propriate ye olde putter and make it straight?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 29, 2023 03:49 PM (a3Q+t)

239 of = or

Posted by: WhitePunk at January 29, 2023 03:50 PM (iO4Ix)

240 Too bad Dad didn't empty the house before he died. That, of course, was left to me. All the junk.

Posted by: JQ at January 29, 2023 03:50 PM (o0Fxd)

241 We now have enough paper for the next 300 years, even assuming that we give gifts for National Maple Syrup Day

Decorated with festive presentations of French Toast, no doubt.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 29, 2023 03:51 PM (a3Q+t)

242 Rummaging around in an attic during the summer tends to weaken selectivity.
Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:45 PM (BdMk6)

Yet we went back. 30+ years of Christmas ornaments and all.

And golf trophies, of course.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:51 PM (BLVc0)

243 We do something similar at our high school reunion, where a couple of souvenirs get auctioned off each time. It’s fun, though it might make more sense for an every-five-years event than an every-year event.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at January 29, 2023 03:47 PM (EXyHK)

My class has reunions every five years. Every time there's a table with pics of those that have passed.

We're starting to drop like flys now.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 03:51 PM (BdMk6)

244 My grandkids were rummaging through my wife's dresser drawer and found what appears to be a giant black dildo. I still don't know what to make of it.

Posted by: Bruce H. Mann at January 29, 2023 03:51 PM (D25PY)

245 Why would you wrap gifts for Helen Keller Day? It's not like she can see what the gifts are, any way.

Oddly, that day is the exact same day as Re-Arrange Your Furniture Day.

Posted by: GWB at January 29, 2023 03:52 PM (B7zYP)

246 Sorry you are having to go through that Golf man. (stupid auto cucumber won't leave it w/o the space)

Wanting to take some time to sort out what was wheat and what was chaff was what led me to start doing some decluttering a few years ago. I didn't want to get in a situation of just tossing everything when it comes time to settle the estate. I'm fighting inner "keep it, might want it someday" inherited from both parents, plus 29 years of it being my personal habit but I need to have less stuff. My mom was an organizing whiz and used the skill to create storage for extra stuff. I am a disorganized mess and need to limit stuff so I can the things I need or want.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 03:52 PM (3cGpq)

247 Speaking of sentimental stuff you just can't bring yourself to toss, I have the stuffed rabbit that my parents bought for me on the day they brought me home. He was my companion as a kid and I wore him out to the point that my mother had to twice "re-skin" him.

He is threadbare and raggedy like (like me), but I will never toss him. My husband and kids know that when I die that he is to placed in my coffin before they close it. I would never let Mr. Whiskers go to a landfill.

Posted by: cfo mom at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (Q8bDL)

248 Are there places that will take good (or goodish) furniture that isn't needed anymore?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (Dc2NZ)

249 "find the things" ugh, stupid typo.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (3cGpq)

250 We're about to start learning those same lessons that made her do that into her 80s, btw.
Posted by: Trainwreck: Billions of people stuck with a broken immune response at January 29, 2023 02:50 PM (Kt1w/)

Except now we don't have newspapers.

Posted by: GWB at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (B7zYP)

251 After my first year or so working as a bookseller, I came to the conclusion that they can print more books than I can read any day of the week. Many of you would cry bitter tears at the number of boxes of books I abandoned when we moved. But the XO passes by the library on his way home from work. The library has an excellent website. If it's one of my favorite authors, I buy a digital copy. As a last resort, I grit my teeth and order from ABE. (It really pisses me off when a digital paperback costs as much as a new book. And I can't blame Amazon; the publisher sets the price. But I know that publishers gross a little less than 50% cover price when they sell books directly to booksellers. You'd think the damn publishers would knock a couple bucks off the price of a digital paperback.)

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I wasn't particularly fond of the '70s the first time around at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (z7W9M)

252 We're starting to drop like flys now.

Three of my classmates here in the last 3 months. Two were described in the obit as "unexpectedly".

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 03:55 PM (Xrfse)

253 Now talk about the many charities supposedly helping disabled veterans.

What do they send you to get a donation? Why, really useful things like: calendars, note pads, calculators, copies of the Constitution, and---especially this year---garden gloves. (I have ten pair now).

They often arrive with 4 or 5 shiny nickels to instill guilt if you take them but don't give them 50 bucks in return.

The need to up their game, pdq.

Posted by: Noam Sayen at January 29, 2023 03:55 PM (QhceL)

254 Okay, here's the fix for the yarn. All that yarn is weighting you down. You are keeping a lot for imaginary projects you will never make. And it's holding you back for the things you want to do.

I wound up with two garbage bags of yarn that I gave away. It was snatched up by a young would be designer that needed something to play around with. And it felt great. I threw out some handspun before the move, because the joy was in spinning.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 29, 2023 03:55 PM (4IUUf)

255 Posted by: PaleRider at January 29, 2023 03:52 PM (3cGpq)

Thanks. We were blessed enough have somewhere to go. The house where my wife's parents lived for 40+ years.

Yet more clearing out stuff.

It's relatively easy to chunk your own. Harder when it was someone else's.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:56 PM (BLVc0)

256 We, too, have an overabundance of wrapping paper! Enough to last the rest of our lives. Yay-- one less expense to cut into our food budget.

Also, all those 75% off and 90% off lights and decorations. Again, never have to buy them again.

That's our best hedge against inflation, I guess.

*turns away, sobbing*

Posted by: JQ at January 29, 2023 03:58 PM (o0Fxd)

257 He is threadbare and raggedy like (like me), but I will never toss him. My husband and kids know that when I die that he is to placed in my coffin before they close it. I would never let Mr. Whiskers go to a landfill.
Posted by: cfo mom at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (Q8bDL)

Now, these are the things you keep.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 03:58 PM (BLVc0)

258 Have a good one, y'all. Maybe see ya later this evening. Thanks for the thread, CBD.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 29, 2023 04:00 PM (Xrfse)

259 224
'So...horses = cats.'
I have a cat in my lap right now. She's just like a squirmy toddler. Better than a horse.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 29, 2023 04:00 PM (roH4R)

260 Now talk about the many charities supposedly helping disabled veterans.

What do they send you to get a donation? Why, really useful things like: calendars, note pads, calculators, copies of the Constitution, and---especially this year---garden gloves. (I have ten pair now).

They often arrive with 4 or 5 shiny nickels to instill guilt if you take them but don't give them 50 bucks in return.

The need to up their game, pdq.
Posted by: Noam Sayen at January 29, 2023 03:55 PM (QhceL)

Shame there's non-profits that get rich off that. Timely, Pa-in-law has a Wounded Warrior flag that I would like to throw away. Not sure he would appreciate it, though.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 04:01 PM (BLVc0)

261 248 Are there places that will take good (or goodish) furniture that isn't needed anymore?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (Dc2NZ)

In my neck of the woods - Habitat or Goodwill.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 29, 2023 04:01 PM (PiwSw)

262 Leave your cares and woes
FOOD NOOD

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2023 04:01 PM (xhxe8)

263 In my neck of the woods - Habitat or Goodwill.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 29, 2023 04:01 PM (PiwSw)

YES. Most helpful.

Posted by: golfman at January 29, 2023 04:02 PM (BLVc0)

264 I bought some books on clutter, but now I can't find them.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 29, 2023 04:05 PM (PiwSw)

265 He is threadbare and raggedy like (like me), but I will never toss him. My husband and kids know that when I die that he is to placed in my coffin before they close it. I would never let Mr. Whiskers go to a landfill.
Posted by: cfo mom at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (Q8bDL)

Unless, of course, your kids decide the memory of it is too precious to bury. It could go either way. And you won't be able to argue with them.

Posted by: Pork Chops & Bacons at January 29, 2023 04:05 PM (BdMk6)

266 For many years, I enjoyed making lots of peppermint bark to give away as Holiday gifts. And I enjoyed doing this even more once I figured out how to reverse-engineer leftover holiday giftwrap into paper gift sacks (fashioned like little brown lunchbags and made well in advance of the Holidays) ... The finished bark pieces got placed first into small dollar store sandwich bags, then into the homemade gift sacks ... Granted, it took multiple attempts to get the measurements and locations of the "folds" the way I wanted them to be ... Then I next created templates using cardboard ... I also needed to learn where glue sticks would work better than tape (in some places, though not all) ... Finally, to close off the top of the finished bags, I would punch two holes through the paper layers then run gift ribbons through the holes and tie into bows.

Posted by: Kathy at January 29, 2023 04:05 PM (JklXp)

267 257 He is threadbare and raggedy like (like me), but I will never toss him. My husband and kids know that when I die that he is to placed in my coffin before they close it. I would never let Mr. Whiskers go to a landfill.
Posted by: cfo mom at January 29, 2023 03:53 PM (Q8bDL)

Now, these are the things you keep.
Posted by: golfman

I have the cross my mom gave me for my First Communion when I was six. I wear it often. I also have my grandfather's high school yearbook. It's fun to look through. And my other grandfather's Marine album when he was in China/Japan before WW II. It's gruesome.

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 29, 2023 04:05 PM (U2p+3)

268 We have the luxury, I guess, of having plenty of spare rooms, and two big garages with storage lofts. The kids don't think they want my grandparents' new 1922 bedroom and kitchen furniture with the store receipt still stapled to the back, retrieved from the Old Place attic when we took it down, but it's up there so they can reconsider later. I think they will.

A friend had to go back home to move his kooky mom "into care," and was on the third or fourth stack of old newspapers headed out when a pile fell over and he saw the stock certificates between the pages.

Son was home for a few days over holidays, and we went into the playroom that had plastic bins of Lego parts. Had the nicest couple of days, sorting by color and size and shape and building the kits back up. Yes we have the boxes, and most are worth a few hundred each.

If you have a compulsion to expunge your family's memories, you're the one with a mental illness. I call it Kondo Disease, and like the wandering sickness, there is a lot of it going around. It is a rage.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at January 29, 2023 04:07 PM (jYCXf)

269 I have the cabled sweater I knit for my husband. He really loved that sweater. I will keep it for now. Someday in the future, I hope I can find someone in need of a large cabled sweater to give it to.

The other thing that helped during the move is don't keep someone else's memories. I'd heard the story behind a lot of the stuff but they weren't my stories. I just kept things that were useful to me.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 29, 2023 04:13 PM (4IUUf)

270 For the person asking about the negatives (and slides?) Many years ago, I got a Canon 9000F Mark II scanner, and it came with frames for negatives and slides and with software to get them to scan decently. After that is when I mess with the "tweaking". That model seems to still be pretty popular for people who aren't professionally scanning stuff

Posted by: Katja at January 29, 2023 05:23 PM (GDvjU)

271 I find it's always easier to dispose of these sentimental objects if you take a picture first - this way you will always have it even once the article itself is gone from your life.

Posted by: Pmax at January 29, 2023 05:26 PM (mwt9d)

272 There's a Youtube channel called A to Zen life. The woman who does the videos is a hoarder turned minimalist and she's really good.

I was watching her a couple of days ago, and as I was packing up the Christmas tree yesterday and sorting ornaments and stuff, it finally dawned on me that I don't owe "the universe" to keep stuff forever. My family very much had the depression-era mindset of using what you have, not wasting stuff, and using things until they were done, but seriously, I don't need to feel bad about dumping crayons that have been broken to nubs. I shouldn't feel bad about throwing out plastic containers that "could be useful". Mind you, I try to keep the hoarding stuff down, but I can be a little bit more ruthless about going through stuff without feeling bad about it.

Posted by: Katja at January 29, 2023 05:29 PM (GDvjU)

273 Have you guys seen this? I feel like it should be on an ONT

2023 40th Tokai TV Cup Tokai Stakes
The jockey falls off right at the start and the horse continues running to win the race.
Talk about heart of a winner!

https://youtu.be/MDGcMwgGlg8

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 29, 2023 05:45 PM (fUnHJ)

274 Also guilty of this behavior. I can lay my hands on my father's wallet, and he's been gone for over 25 years. I have my mother's old recipe box and her battered and spattered recipe book, full of recipes that I doubt I would ever make. I have a LOT of things from my grandmother that I get out every year at Christmas (that woman REALLY loved Christmas).

Posted by: Nancy at 7000 ft at January 29, 2023 05:57 PM (0tmoY)

275 I also have retained all the boxes of papers accumulated from earning my college degree, as well as an accumulation of textbooks. I've retired at this point, and I can never see me seriously using these textbooks again, let alone all the notebooks from college in the mid-eighties. How do I get rid of these things? That's four years of the hardest I've ever worked in my life.

Posted by: Nancy at 7000 ft at January 29, 2023 06:02 PM (0tmoY)

276 Actress Annie Wersching, borg queen Star Trek Picard, dead at 45

Posted by: SMOD at January 29, 2023 07:34 PM (RovqD)

277 I’m terrible at getting rid of things, terrible amd
Trying to do this right now

It’s hard, really hard, I’m the last of my family of origin

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