http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080611/full/news.2008.886.html.

I think they will do a good job of getting rid of questionable stuff they they prob do not need now and prob will never need in their life going forward. I think the important, useful, and expensive stuff will go in my/our parents’ crawlspace. I think the video game stuff will be split, temporarily, between my two brothers. I think I’ll raid the storage from time-to-time to borrow something I probably “need” but can’t readily afford(card table, ice cream maker, etc.).

The bigger conversation here is a conversation regarding the definitions each of us use for words such as “useful,” “need,” “expensive,” “crap,” “possessions,” etc. I do see value in each and all of us cutting back on the amount that we own. I, though, don’t see that as what Jeff was hinting at would happen for T and him. All they own that is not “complete and utter shit” is going to the parents’ house. And man, is Mom excited about it.

There was also personal things we got rid of. The book, Letters to a Young Artist, that I had given to my husband when we first met in 2000. I had written a note in the front about his art career, encouraging him. $2 and it’s gone.

So it is tough. There is no doubt you will struggle with this. But as someone on the other side of the process, I can tell you it feels great. It’s like a bandaid. Best if you just rip it off quickly. Once it’s gone, it is freeing to know that you can travel light. Big picture: You’ll get there. Just might sting a little.

Dump it and feel the freedom. We went through a massive purge the year before we left and it was incredible the amount of things that hide in closets, under the bed and desk, and in the garage. The reason is always the same: “we might need it.” Truth is we really don’t, and if we’re wrong we’ll borrow it or buy it… but we haven’t had to.

Google “discardia” or “simplify” and pick up some great tips. I realized if we are not using said item, someone else could, so I do my best to sell or donate–Hurray for eBay, Craigslist and freecycle.

Oh, and when we get home I’m doing another purge.

My problem is two-fold, and does not directly connect to being a pack-rat in my current state: 1) I don’t organize well from the get-go(that’s both Theresa’s skill and neurotic detriment) and 2) I’m very attached to my academic work. For example, I not only save the original digital copy of a paper, but I also save material “drafts” that were part of the writing process and the graded copy. I also save all notes, research material, readings, etc. Mutiply that over 3 years of humanities grad school with 6 classes a year (with three more years to go), and you can figure out how many filing cabinents I am going to need. And don’t forget about the books that have accumulated.

Problem 2, though, is complicated by problem 1. I rarely get the “crap” into the filing cabinents until 2-4 semesters after the work is finished. You think I could use XMas and Summer vacations to do this work, but instead, I just enjoy using the papers as carpet. Amanda loves it too. Alot.

Seriously, my physchological disorder is not pack-rat-ism as much as it is fear of order. I like messes. They make the material(my papers) seem approachable. Once I get everything filed away, I am scared to mess the order up(the same reason for why I hate putting clean clothes away). Without order, though, I spend(waste) alot of time looking for whatever it is I am looking for. My current solution to all this is to look for a bigger apartment — which, I’m afraid, could turn me into a pack rat afterall.