Thanks for asking Jeff,
Only 5 dumpsters this week as getting ready for Thanksgiving. Wrapping presents for a bunch of missed family birthdays this evening to drop off at Thanksgiving gathering tomorrow. Gifts are a bunch of things we already had including gift cards that were received as gifts and are being repurposed (Regifted). A great way to save money and cut down on the stuff cluttering our house. And as we have been getting to the bottom of stuff in these rooms we have come across lots of wrapping paper and tape and gift boxes and things we had bought for future gifts. Win, win, win!
I now have a full dresser cleaned out for my clothes and my side of the bed cleaned out except 3 boxes worth and her side except 3 boxes.
A big project the last few days has been emptying half of the 3rd bedroom/office. It was so full that things were stacked to the ceiling and coming out the door so you couldn't even see into the room. That's the way the other bedroom and garage were too, and they are also half cleaned out and accessible now. But all three are still what I call standard hoarder condition. Piles of stuff around the perimeter with access to it all through the middle. Before it was what I call extreme hoarder condition, no access and full wall to wall and floor to ceiling, so progress is great, but so is what still needs to be done.
In my mind I see a bedroom empty save a bed, two dressers, a dressing table, a stereo/TV table, a couple night stands, and a chair.
In the spare bedroom I see 2 dressers and 2 hanging closets and maybe a chair and dressing table.
In the office I see just two desks and two bookcases.
The living room will have a couch, coffee table, 2 wing chairs, TV and stereo and a bookcase. Oh, and a bird cage.
That means that each of these rooms still has dozens of boxes and bags of stuff to still be removed. So where will all this stuff go?
Well, much of it will get pitched. Catalogs from years ago. Old magazines and newspapers and bills and paperwork. I am about to toss an old school Sony TV and a few very old computer carcasses picked up off trash piles.
There will be storage in the future. But it will be normal family storage. Out of season clothing and recreational things like skis and kayak gear. There will be a shed kept for yard equipment and tools and machinery.
As I get rooms back and dedicated for their intended purposes I won't need to have a coffee pot upstairs in the bedroom.
I am filling the work van with dirty clothes that will all go to one big laundry session.
The whole place is in a state of change and flux. I am getting ruthless about removals. Once an item is out of a room, nothing comes back in.
We're down to two dogs and while I miss Susie, I know she is in a far better place. We have the Cockatiel and cage listed for sale which will leave just the African Grey.
Photos after the holiday when there is substantial progress.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Treasure your families. One of my remaining two brothers just got out of the hospital after a gall bladder removal that was so far gone it was gangrenous. Life is precious. Time is precious. Your support and friendships are precious to me. Thank You.
Bill
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If you keep that attitude, you CAN turn your life around for the better. Good luck at the Doc's.