Photo freak and pack rat

The other day as I was cleaning things in the basement, I realized just how much crap we have. The sad thing is, over half of the stuff haven’t been touched in years. Years! Reportedly, one of the rules of thumb one can use to declutter is, if you haven’t used it in one year but might later, then box it up. If you haven’t touched it in 2 or more years, then it’s time to donate it / throw it away.

But how do you give away your $125 college books that you might use as a reference in your professional career, one that you might likely go back to in the future? Loads and loads and loads of pictures that were captured in a time capsule, pre-digital age? How do you file away the pictures from the high school dance that you always had to sneaked out of the house to attend? What about those fancy pants that are way too small at the hip/waist after having two children, hoping someday you might fit into them again but probably the bigger reason is to show them to anyone who’s willing to believe that you were once rolls-free? OK the solution to the last question is kind of obvious and the question itself dumb, but you do know what I mean though.

The things that we collect and accumulate over the years, the things that define us who we are (that line was from A Civic Action I think) . Things. Things that have significant meanings to you but hardly anyone else.

Some things just can’t and shouldn’t be garage saled. Impossible to be thrown away but kept inside boxes and containers, to be looked at once every few years or so.