Alas! No one said I could do it but it’s done.
Before moving down here from NYC I went through my things as I packed, clothes, kitchenware, shoes, electronics, CDs, DVDs, books, furniture, and donated all of it to the people who worked in my building. It still cost me $1,500 to move the rest down, a Mack truck full.
After one year on the beach, last month I had to move after my lease matured, and yet again while packing, realized that I still had too much shit. So I sold some things on Craigslist, donated others (SoBe Thrifty rocks), and the scraps went in the trash. Mind you there has been at least two other occasions where I’ve separated unwanted and unneeded items and dropped it off for donation. I took the essentials with me, two pickup truck loads, and the rest went to storage (temporary apt situation).
Since receiving the remaining 2/3+ of my stuff from the storage facility two weeks ago, I have been pondering where the hell I’m going to put all of it. Like many, my apartment has a limited amount of closet space, and by ‘limited’ I mean one in the bedroom and a tiny cubicle in the hallway. Furthermore I obviously still have too much shit. I see lots of boxes which are full of things I clearly don’t need since I lived without it for a month already.
I was determined to purge some more. I resolved that all of my clothes, shoes, accessories, and linens must fit into the bedroom closet plus the 9 drawer dresser and night table set. “No fucking way” I was told. But I have a few tricks up my sleeve.
The key to a good purge is first to understand that it’s not about “getting rid of your things” but attaining organization and sticking to essentials. In addition, you’d be giving them to someone who really needs it. I have learned that the primary rules are as follow. Throw away anything that doesn’t fit, is damaged, and that you haven’t worn or used in the past year. But it wasn’t enough. I was still holding onto things I loved even though they fall into one or more of these categories. This time however I was brutal, and my goal was achieved, with space to spare.
Three bags for donation.
Drumroll please..Ahh I feel like I can finally breathe.
“I’m done” I think to myself and exhale a sigh of relief. I give myself a pat on the back, do a little dance, and I’m ready for a celebratory cocktail.
Only to turn around to leave my bedroom and see…that I still have 10 boxes. Dammit!
I think the rule is that if you haven’t worn it in 10 months, get rid of it!
10 months, one year, what’s the difference?!