Packing up the house ready to move out at the end of this week has been a herculean effort. There have been occasional moments of joy on discovering long-lost treasures up in the loft, but for the most part it has been stressful, exhausting and traumatic
You see, I love things. I surround myself with things. Quite how I'm going to cope with them not around me, heaven only knows.
Everything (well almost) is packed in brown cardboard boxes and deposited in the storage unit. So far we have filled 90 boxes and got through 10 rolls of brown tape. We haven't even started on the furniture yet.
Luckily the old man is one of those guys who gets obsessive about the correct way to load the groceries in shopping bags. Imagine his joy at stacking and re-stacking box upon box in a 150 square foot metal room. He was in heaven.
I on the other hand delayed visiting the unit. I knew it would distress me. Ever since the story of the sicko who kept his murder victim in the Big Yellow, those places have given me the willies. I have much the same feelings on self storage units as I do about Magic Trees after watching Se7en. Loading up our nth box, I stupidly made a crack about body parts. Last night I watched The Lovely Bones on telly and wished I hadn't.
The amount of stuff we have is unbelievable. You see, I'm a hoarder, not a chucker. Most normal people will have one umbrella. I have 15. I also have 4 pairs of wellies and Ruby is continuing the family tradition with her 3 pairs.
Before you freak and think this is my second-hand shopping which has caused this, don't worry. It's not. It extends to every area of my life and home. Packing up the kitchen I discovered 5 bags of flour - all open all 'in use'. We always have at least 2 tubes of toothpaste on the go - hell we generally have 2 loo rolls on the go.
Once in a while I fantasise about living in a slick Barratt home with built-in everything and a capsule wardrobe to match. A life in which Sundays would be spent pruning the hedge and washing the car - not hurtling round car boot sales.
It's not me though. Can you seriously imagine me hosting #minimalistmonday? No, it ain't never gonna happen.
Grab my button
and link to my blog
Im a hoader too, and we plan to move in the next year so im going to have the same task of boxing up all my 'treasures'! eek! Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteAlthough I buy infinite amounts of stuff, I do try to operate a 'one in, one out' policy, as I can't bear clutter. Sometimes it works, other times not so much ....
ReplyDeleteThink us hoarders need to start a club,I have lots of things as I am a sentimental hoarder.I dont have more than one packet of flour tho maybe coz I am not a keen cook.
ReplyDeleteI must say I have done a cull every move I have made and have regreted getting rid of some things.So not sure what will happen next move I dunno.
I'm a hoarder too but every so often it gets to me and I have to have a clear out. Hope the move goes well!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a hoarder. I'm starting to think the way forward is storage!! xXx
ReplyDeletelol I live in a little new build house and as much as I love it, there is no storage at all.... My garage is filled with boxes of things that I'm keeping for when I win the lottery and buy my mansion.
ReplyDeleteHehe - no I can't see you hosting 'Minimalist Monday'! I can see my OH hosting it though - it's a constant battle between us I hoard-he chucks (and of course the more he chucks, the more I buy to replace, and so on ad infinitum!). I really feel for you with this house move - hope it won't be too long before you're unpacking all your lovely things again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking me up xx
oooh I could host Minimalist Monday : ) erm, looks around her room. On second thoughts, maybe not!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any new finds myself either this week so have linked up my Vintage fair post from last saturday xx
Are you sure you're not me? The flour & toothpaste sounds very familiar. I'm thinking of opening my own library, I'm sure I've got more books than our town library at the moment. But this week, I've had a break from my norm, and bought SHINY!! I'm making up for you not being able to.
ReplyDeleteJust keep thinking of the fun you'll have rediscovering all your treasure though....it will be like finding old friends xx
ReplyDeleteWow 15 umbrellas! I can't help buying loads of stuff, but then I love getting rid of stuff too!
ReplyDelete@needaphone believe me I live in a modern house lots of bedrooms and there is only three of us and I still spill out everywhere
ReplyDeleteMy issue is I never have an umbrella! LOL but it's not because I don't like to shop it's because umbrella's aren't on the top of my list.
ReplyDeleteFound some great stuff this past weekend!
Stephanie
http://junkernewbie.blogspot.com
That's what cupboards are for Liz!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll be able to unpack your things very soon! Thanks for hosting the party!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're stressed at being without things, just imagine how wonderful it's going to be when you eventually get to reclaim your stuff and find new places to display it all. xx
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about needing your things around you. We have moved house a few times and I feel so lost when all my bits n pieces are stacked in brown boxes...it actually sends me into panic overdrive, lol. My hubby is the same as yours and always stacks the boxes so perfectly...it does make things a bit easier x
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