My basement has been a long and tideous task, for months I’ve been working through boxes shipped over from the UK. It was a mountain of complete chaos, the floor was covered with paper, ceramics and boxes etc. I have worked for hours in the bottomless pit trying to organise, what seems like 30 plus years of personal possessions.
I don’t consider myself a hoarder, however here is the definition of a hoarder in the Oxford Dictionary;
A person who hoards things:
Is that me, maybe another definition for clarity. The Urban Dictionary explains a little further;
(Adj) A word that describes anyone that feels the need to find, collect, keep, pack ANY and EVERYTHING becasue they do not know how to throw things away.
I don’t feel the need to find, however I do have a couple of collections, my vinyl singles and LP’s. Keep, I may fit this category because when emptying the boxes, I found in my memory boxes that I have letters received from friends when I was 10 yrs old. I have 3 large tubs of memories from travel memorabilia, invites, cinema tickets, work ID’s, cards and letters. Pack any and everything maybe from one place to another but I don’t have a problem of letting go.
In the last few weeks I have parted ways with alot of things, items of furniture and home accessories. Therefore I don’t have to pack and keep everything approach, however I do have to find ways of storing/organising things better. I have boxes of papers that I have kept, yes I can scan them but is a scan copy considered legal if I ever needed to produce the original paperwork. This would reduce my paper loading in my basement so if anyone knows the answer, that would be great. Photos, I have a few boxes and again not very organised, now I can hear a few of you saying why don’t you store them on my computer. What happens if I lose my computer? Yes I could save additional copies on a memory stick but Isn’t it nicer to look at the hardcopies on a comfortable sofa than searching through your hard drive. Clothes, we all have a little bundle that we live in hope to fit into again, why do we torture ourselves, has anyone ever fitted back into clothes they use to wear and if you did were they still in fashion, maybe not on both accounts.
I’m sure we are all a victim of the above in one way or another, nevertheless I would say it’s very invigorating to let things go for someone else to enjoy.
Do you hoard things? Or have items that you can’t let go? Do you have tips in storing items?
zebrakat 
I think that as long as you move things from one box to another you do not technically qualify as a hoarder. Or if you move a box from one place to another, that works too. It’s only when one box stays in the same place with same contents forever that you become a hoarder. That’s my strategy and I am sticking with it.
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I’m onboard, there is nothing wrong with moving one box to another, that’s organising art. 😀
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I have things I know the next generation will just pitch in the bin and set on the curb, but for now I love these lovely things that our family has cherished for generations. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
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I’m sure you are right, however you can’t replace memories. 😀
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Awesome post. My wife and I were cracking up. I am following your blog. 🙂
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Thank you so much, I’m glad I made you & your wife smile. I shall be reading your cancer journey with interest. 😄
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