Reorganizing a home that's been a collection spot for all kinds of objects for 30 years is a mighty task. As I empty every drawer and cabinet, I'm walking through time from our very first days in this house in our thirities with a small baby to our current situation as empty nesters with three young adult sons. A lot of life has happened in those thirty years, and there's evidence of those life events in every draw, cabinet, and closet.
The most difficult part of the house purge project is the question of what to keep and what to give away. Almost every object holds value, and considering if we'll use those objects again or if their sentimental value is worth keeping the objects is a weighty, time-consuming consideration that forces you to recognize your age, life place, chapters past, and future chapters too. It is not a simple task.
As with all things, this emotional task profits from a systematic approach that streamlines the decision making.
What is that system?
First, I'm approaching the task room by room.
Next, as I sift through every space, I'm making piles of like-objects and asking the questions:
- Will I use this again?
- Can someone else use this?
- Should the object be tossed or recycled?
For objects that we use regulary, I'm keeping those objects handy in readily accessible places. For objects we use now and then, I'm packaging those objects in easy to access clear plastic boxes that fit nicely under beds or in storage closets. And for those objects that can be recycled or tossed out, I'm putting those in the correct bin for our community's regular trash/recycle pick-up.
As I sort, I'm also thinking about our lifestyle going forward. For example, I'm keeping our favorite games, children's books, baby blankets, and toys for that future time when we'll likely have grandchildren and when we'll host our large extended family. I've also carefully stored objects related to hosting our family members and friends--objects we haven't used in a year since we've had few guests during the pandemic, but objects we hope to use again when this pandemic passes.
While I complete this task, I am also preparing the house for the fact that we might move to a new home in the future. So, in a sense, I'm also staging the home for easy viewing. If we stay, we'll have a well-organized, clean home, and if we move, our home will be ready to sell.
As I write about all the time, a good purge results in less things, more time which is my aim as I value time above objects, and look forward to having more time for adventure and ready access to the clothes and equipment I need for those relatively simple adventures in the mountains, at beaches and lakes, and in wonderful cities near and far.
The result of this task will also give me ready access to the materials I need for my hobbies and pursuits including reading, writing, drawing, cooking, gardening, crafting, and entertaining.
If I were to begin my life in this home again, I would probably buy a few less usesless objects, and focus a bit more on quality with the purchases instead. In general though, we focused more on experience than objects, and I believe that was a good aim for our family. The big purchases such as bikes, gaming systems, computers, a swing set, and sports equipment led to lots of good times over the years. Similarly board games, crafting supplies, and cooking and entertaining tools brought us together in positive ways time and again.
The purge continues today with a focus on paperwork and clothing. Fortunately lots of paperwork today has moved to the computer which is much easier to find and work with. As for clothing and shoes, I'll organize those items by the kinds of events they serve such as party clothes, everyday wear, professional attire, and outdoor adventure items.
We've been fortunate to have such a warm and welcoming home for thirty years. We have had many good times here, and it will be interesting to see what the next chapter brings. Will we stay or leave? No matter, in short time, our home will be ready for the next step.