Throw it out!

I am an anti-pack rat. An anti-clutter queen. Maybe it's because I've moved so much. Maybe it's the Virgo in me. No matter - if you haven't used it, don't really like it, get rid of it. I have always been this way - except for books, music, photographs, and t-shirts that have sentimental value - but now I'm on a roll.

In October 2000 we were burglarized to the tune of about $10,000 worth of, well, you name it. The obvious stuff like CD player, leather jacket, suitcases in which to haul it away. But, they also took shampoo out of the shower, food from the fridge, a 100 count bag of Halloween candy, ibuprofen... I lost my class rings, baby jewelry, grandmother's diamond. What was weird was that they didn't touch all of the baby stuff, still in the packages, easily returned to Target. I think even criminals have their limits. We were thankful that they didn't harm our animals or vandalize the house when they realized who lived there. Anyway, that got me further into the "it's only stuff mode."

Then, in January 2006, as regular readers (all four of you) know, I spent a week in Mississippi doing disaster recovery work. Once you haul virtually everything - and I mean everything - that belongs to someone out to the curb, you really know, it's only stuff. I mean, we just can't get that worked up over material goods. Seriously.

In between these two experiences I had become more and more obsessive about environmentalism and trying to "do the right thing" for my kid. As someone who used to be able to tell you where to shop and how to find "the mall" in a number of major US cities, I was becoming terribly anti-consumption. And, I love it.

So, last spring I started. Haven't worn it in a year? Out. Never use it because we've got it stashed in the back of the cupboard anyway? Out. Haven't unpacked it since moving to Minnesota in 1995? Am I really going to buy another turntable? Ummm... I'll get back to you on that one. Everything gets categorized as "If we don't use it now will we take it to Canada?" If not, gone! I'm having a blast.

The really cool thing is that while a lot of places, including the Twin Cities, have craigslist, we've also got Twin Cities Free Market. In the past month I've given away stuffed animals, kids' clothing, tapes, books, and a backpack; framed posters that haven't been on the wall since I moved in 2001, and a Walkman I haven't used since going MP3. But, this weekend was really liberating!

I used to be a real music fiend. I still love it, but I don't have time to obsessively make my own mixes, etc. I no longer even own a cassette deck. But, sure enough, I still had about 100 cassette tapes, mostly from the late 1970s to mid 1980s. A young guy had posted a "wanted" ad, looking for any LPs or tapes for his collection. He was thrilled. So was I. Then, I weeded the LPs. I kept the special ones like my very first album, A Hard Day's Night, and those that had been in my father's jazz collection. But those I'd either never listen to or would rather just have on my iPod - and, yes, I agree, vinyl is superior to all other species - (e.g., Cameo, John Denver, Hubert Laws, Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, Barbra Streisand, Tavares, Eric Burdon and War) would have to go. Along with 70+ 45s. I kept three from elementary school to put in my box of memorabilia (okay, okay - The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde, Mellow Yellow, and Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine). Anyway, a young woman e-mailed me immediately - "Please, please, please, pick me!" Off they went. She and her fiance came to pick them up. They were happy, I was happy.

So, this is a long winded way of saying that when we (FINALLY) do move there will be no expired cold medicine, platform shoes (from either the first or second time around), or clothes that don't really fit to debate keeping. And, I'll have to save for another post how much easier it is to clean the house... Well, if we could just figure out a way to tackle those black lab/springer tumbleweeds!