Another day, another couple trash bags

[vanillafluffy]

In keeping with my crazy, disjointed approach to decluttering, today I'm in the Middle Room. This is the space that began, when we moved here, as the guest room. It has, over the years, become Deep Storage, mostly books and fabrics. (I'd say 70%, with the remaining 30% being clothes storage and some WTF?!.)

Eventually, I want to transform it into my office/library/sewing room. Bookcases on two walls, desk catty-corner to them, table for sewing in the middle under the light, fabric stash in the closet. I can visualize it all perfectly.

First, I need to reduce the total number of books I own by about 60% and the volume of fabric by a third. And jettison 95% of the WTF?!. Details, right? I need to make enough room to move bookcases in from the living room (This is why I refer to the whole process as the sliding tile puzzle) and slot them into place.

I keep finding shoes. Was very pleased to find a basic pair of black flats that I didn't even remember I had. Still looking for my ruby slippers...I thought they were in the living room, but no dice.

The semi-dead laptop also turned up; T gave it to me a few years ago. He dropped it on a tile floor, and now, it boots up but doesn't respond to half the keys. J says she might be able to fix it, so I'm going to take it over there and we'll see. If she can't, I won't be any worse off than I am now; if she can, well, I'll have a back-up. (It's old and twice the size of this one, but it's mine free and clear. /pep talk)

I also need to work out in the garage; I pitched a lot of stuff out there in the frenzy of clearing the living room. The bulb blew out that night. I finally got that replaced---taking my life in my hands!---so now I can see what I'm doing and hopefully not break my neck falling over heaps of clothes.

Two bags out the door so far. Go, me!
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Comments

[adventurat.livejournal.com]

Why only 95% of the WTF? If it's all WTF, get rid of it all! And get rid of more of the books, too. If they've been buried that long, chances are you won't miss any of them if you don't even open a box to see what's in them.

(I am ruthless, yo. Space is more valuable to me than the stuff that fills it, in general.)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

There are bound to be some "That's where that went!" things among the WTF?!. And there are books I *know* I have, but threw randomly into boxes without trying to categorize anything. I'm not just going to chuck whole boxes, but I'm going to be my version of ruthless.

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[kukkurkurat.livejournal.com]

Plus! If you find books that have been out-of-print for some time (there has to be those! I am sure) you can sell them. Money is good!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Money would be very good. Although most of them are cheap, nothing-special paperbacks.


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[gwylliondream.livejournal.com]

AGREEEEEEEE!

[ladyjane]

I can't believe how much you've gotten done. *high five*
Every time you post, I stare at my own tipsy piles and feel guilty. It's a GOOD guilt, though. The clutter is one of the few things I can actually do something about.


I know from experience how hard it is for book lovers to get rid of them. Do you have a used book dealer in your area that will give you cash or credit for them?

I usually wind up giving mine to our local library. I toss the really out-dated and worn stuff. They take whatever they can use, and the rest gets put in the annual book sale. Which is where I bought most of them to start with. :P

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

There's one used book store that I know of these daya. (There used to be a plethora, but one by one the owners have retired or gone out of business.) I don't go in there much, because she only does cash or check, no plastic. Still, if I can get some credit out of it, that would sweeten the pot. The rest, library or thrift store.

It's a 1400 square-foot house...there's a lot to go even before I get to the garage, which is another couple hundred sq.ft.
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[ruric.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the trimming down of books. It is one area in which I fail totally. Though I have managed to move a lot of mine from the living space to dedicated shelves in the attic. So at least they are out of immediate sight but easily accessible if I want to re-read!

You really seem to have the bit between your teeth right now! It's inspiring. *G*

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

There's the collections of authors I love---when I find a series I like, I pursue it doggedly---but there's also an awful lot of things I grabbed and never read or read once and went "Meh."---that's the stuff I need to get ruthless with.

Order is breaking out in patches---I wouldn't say I've got one whole room done anywhere, although the dining room is fairly close. Well, except for the giant pile of stuff against the wall between there and the living room.
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[gwylliondream.livejournal.com]

Good job, dear. I may even be able to consider visiting someday.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

It's gonna be awhile before it's up to your standards.


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[ang5fam.livejournal.com]

WAY TO GO, MY FRIEND!!!!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've decided I'm giving up clutter for Lent.

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