Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Storage Solutions Don't Solve Anything.

You know, I have to smile and shake my head when people are spending stupid amounts of money on over-priced "organizing solutions" at The Container Store, when they could get their home far more organized for almost nothing (or actually nothing) by getting rid of the excess, period.

Putting your clutter in boxes doesn't mean you've "organized" it. It means you're hiding it away so that you (maybe, possibly, perhaps) won't feel guilty for not dealing with it or stressed from having to look at it. I know - I've done it. I've bought a plastic bin or two, those hanging closet shelves that start to sag and collect dust within a month, all of these things that promised to make my life "better" and "more organized" -- but all they did is add to the clutter in my home while I tried to pretend that I was organized.

The fact of the matter is, when you have to move again, you'll still have to put those boxes on a truck, still have to haul them around. Worst of all: you'll still have that nagging little voice giving you the guilt trip, asking when you're going to shred those old papers, scan those photos, or go through Aunt Betty's what-have-you collection (that you never really wanted, but can't give up because you're afraid someone will ask what happened to it).

That's why I want all of my excess stuff GONE - out of the apartment, out of my life. I don't want to have some great opportunity and end up not taking it because I can't deal with packing and moving all my stuff. If you (or someone you know) has passed up a job, an educational opportunity, or a life experience because of their stuff, they no longer own their stuff, their stuff owns them - and that's no way to live.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Still More Books

Well, I've been going through the books some more, and I actually established a "desert island shelf" - the books that would go with me, even if I suddenly had to up and move to another city or country or outer space. Okay, just joking on the last, but these are the books I love and reread fairly regularly.

It was easier to make that shelf than I thought it would be, though, for the sake of my sanity I didn't include manga in that. They have their own shelf, though since many are series as opposed to stand-alone stories, I'd give myself two shelves, if pressed, for manga.