The Stuff You Keep
- Thread starter Pinga
- Start date
Welcome to Wondercafe2!
A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!
BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
- Pronouns
- She/Her/Her
So, apparently, we keep everything. Ever. I haven't been able to navigate to the back of the garage, or into the shed, or the basement room, in some years. We never throw out furniture. Even if broken.
I don't know many of those bins I could fill. It's a friggin' nightmare, and it paralyses me.
I don't know many of those bins I could fill. It's a friggin' nightmare, and it paralyses me.
Pinga
Room for All
For my husband, it was all of his darkroom stuff that took up a lot of space, and then his photography business items.
We had all our camping gear, including all of our outdoor stuff from when we tented as a family -- most of that was sold via kijiji -- easy to find people who wanted it.
We had things that we liked for decor -- ok, i had a very very old bird cage, that i always thought that i would paint up and use for some form of decoration. (found out it went to the dump on one run)
We had stuff for files that really needed to go.
We had stuff that didn't get sold at garage sales that ended up going upstairs to attic prior to going out to garbage or..somewhere
We had christmas decorations no longer used. canning equipment.
Books and books and books including textbooks
some furnishings, like a tea-cart
then, there was the stuff in closets, like albums -- 4 milk crates worth, and 2 record players (his and mine), extra computer equipment and sound equipment.
you couldn't MOVE up in the attic.
We had all our camping gear, including all of our outdoor stuff from when we tented as a family -- most of that was sold via kijiji -- easy to find people who wanted it.
We had things that we liked for decor -- ok, i had a very very old bird cage, that i always thought that i would paint up and use for some form of decoration. (found out it went to the dump on one run)
We had stuff for files that really needed to go.
We had stuff that didn't get sold at garage sales that ended up going upstairs to attic prior to going out to garbage or..somewhere
We had christmas decorations no longer used. canning equipment.
Books and books and books including textbooks
some furnishings, like a tea-cart
then, there was the stuff in closets, like albums -- 4 milk crates worth, and 2 record players (his and mine), extra computer equipment and sound equipment.
you couldn't MOVE up in the attic.
Pinga
Room for All
Some things I found homes for
I had a bunch of vases -- knew a woman who delivered flowers to shut-ins. Asked her if she would like them -- was thrilled -- they were hers.
Had a bunch of plant pots. Found a roadside seller of plants from their garden. Asked if they wanted the pots. They did. Took them there.
I had a bunch of vases -- knew a woman who delivered flowers to shut-ins. Asked her if she would like them -- was thrilled -- they were hers.
Had a bunch of plant pots. Found a roadside seller of plants from their garden. Asked if they wanted the pots. They did. Took them there.
Northwind
Stationary nomad.
- Pronouns
- She/Her/Her
When we started thinking about downsizing a few years ago it was overwhelming. The basement had become the catch all place for the stuff we didn't want to address. So, I started there. I started with big garbage bags and tossed the no brainer garbage. That cleared enough space to feel like I had done something. Then I shredded my files from my private practice. Enough time had passed that I could legally do this. I filled about four large recycling bags with shredding and overheated the shredder a few times. I was surprised at how wonderful it felt to do that. It felt like I was dumping baggage I didn't know I was carrying. Then I tossed stuff in piles. Books when in one spot and were not sorted at that time, yarn in another, etc. Eventually things got sorted, donated or sold and we had downsized. It was a pretty freeing process.
I had my great-aunt and uncle's bedroom set and some other things that had been passed down. We discussed what to do with them. I realized the bedroom set had become an anchor and that my aunt and uncle would not want that for me. I had other things from them that didn't anchor me down, like values and memories. So, we sold all that with no regrets. It was nice to see these items go to new homes where they would be loved and enjoyed.
I had my great-aunt and uncle's bedroom set and some other things that had been passed down. We discussed what to do with them. I realized the bedroom set had become an anchor and that my aunt and uncle would not want that for me. I had other things from them that didn't anchor me down, like values and memories. So, we sold all that with no regrets. It was nice to see these items go to new homes where they would be loved and enjoyed.
Pinga
Room for All
My mom's dining room furniture was a gift to me, and was really important to my parents, but, as i thought about it, more to my Dad.
I knew that I did not want to take it to the new house. was able to pick up an item on kijiji for $500 that is working fine, and likely will get something else in a few years. Not as high a quality by a long shot, but, also not as big.
We tried to sell as a unit --hutch, dining room table & chairs, buffet -- no go.
Sold off the table & chairs first, then the buffet. Hutch is still here, and I am loath to throw it away. yet...not sure what else to do with it. for now, i am using it for office supplies.
I knew that I did not want to take it to the new house. was able to pick up an item on kijiji for $500 that is working fine, and likely will get something else in a few years. Not as high a quality by a long shot, but, also not as big.
We tried to sell as a unit --hutch, dining room table & chairs, buffet -- no go.
Sold off the table & chairs first, then the buffet. Hutch is still here, and I am loath to throw it away. yet...not sure what else to do with it. for now, i am using it for office supplies.
Northwind
Stationary nomad.
- Pronouns
- She/Her/Her
It seems like keeping one thing like the hutch is a nice compromise.
I sort of regret not keeping one china tea cup and saucer. I may pick up a cup and saucer at a thrift shop and do something crafty with it as a memento. Of course living in a small space means I need to think carefully about this.
I sort of regret not keeping one china tea cup and saucer. I may pick up a cup and saucer at a thrift shop and do something crafty with it as a memento. Of course living in a small space means I need to think carefully about this.
Mrs.Anteater
Just keep going....
WhenI moved to Canada, most of my boxes were filled with books. I had also a good supply of childrens books, thinking I wouldn’t get German books in Canada. Turned out, Junior was not a reader nor would he speak German. Books went on kjiji.
Still, I have too many. The though- I just need to read them one more time before tossing them. But in real, I find interesting English books all the time.
My other problem is that I love pretty boxes. Ikea is my favourite place. And boxes that “ could be useful”. I have two boxes of boxes. And a bunch of pretty boxes that don’t have anything in it.
Still, I have too many. The though- I just need to read them one more time before tossing them. But in real, I find interesting English books all the time.
My other problem is that I love pretty boxes. Ikea is my favourite place. And boxes that “ could be useful”. I have two boxes of boxes. And a bunch of pretty boxes that don’t have anything in it.