...but you're right, if you don't use it, lose it!
Mike is in his office right now, cleaning off his desk. It's a major undertaking. He has so many papers.....and will put such on any flat surface he can find....his dresser, the kitchen table, the dining room table, his desk, the work space table in his office, his garage workbench...you name it, if it's flat, it's going to have papers on it.
I've tried to confine the paper piles to one area, his home office. I just take the stuff that's mine and put it away, then move the papers that are his and put them on his desk!
As for clothes that hubby won't give up, even if he doesn't wear them, well, I state I'm going to do some closet cleaning and then take all our clothes out. Generally I've got stuff that can either be donated to a charity or should just be thrown out. He sees me working on my stuff and easily recognizes that his stuff is next. I then put back all I know he uses and the stuff of some special significance. After that I gather up a bunch of the clothes and go to where he is and ask about each piece of clothing I've got in my arms, pointing out that it's either torn or worn or stained and isn't good to wear for work or play. You have to be prepared for the "I can use it while working around the house or yard," song. Make sure there are enough old shirts, jeans, shorts for that sort of work and tell him you've got a good pile of them for him. Then tell how others less fortunate might have some use for the things he's not using and hasn't used for years.
Now, toys, well, we do become attached to our children's toys. They bring back such pleasant memories....but they take up space. There are some that are really special, I'm sure. Keep those. I've got a box filled with special toys Jim liked and the other were donated or thrown out. You could take a picture of the toys to keep as a reminder, pictures take up less space than the article itself.
It's hard work, Dawn, paring down our things....we collect for many reasons. Each article we own represents something emotional for us. Decide if the emotional response if good or bad. If it's good and you can use the article or toy, then keep. If it isn't used, or if it brings back very negative responses emotionally, then it goes. I had 4 beautiful gowns sitting in the closet. Wore them for military functions and just kept them. They were lovely, but time had passed, none of them fit any longer and yet, there they were, taking up valuable closet space. Heck I'd rather be in slacks and a sweatshirt anyway, so one day, I just bit the bullet and out they went. Someone was thrilled to get them I'm sure and you know what, I don't even miss them. I've got pictures of myself in those gowns if I want to look at them.
Get started, do what you need to do and ask Brad for his help and cooperation. Readying for a move is time consuming and difficult work, and you shouldn't have to do it alone.
Love,
Me
Posted on Oct 24, 2004, 5:34 PM from IP address 68.107.116.212