We unloaded another at my in-laws' two weekends ago (we apparently have stolen a thing or two of theirs over the years... mostly reusable food containers... with food in them).
Last weekend, I found another trunk full of crap lingering in our 806 square foot apartment.
The good news is that our new car is a hatchback, so while the trunk space might be the same as our old sedans mathematically, most of that space is vertical, and I consider the trunk to be "full" when there is no more floor space.
The bad news is that I know there is at least another 3 trunk loads full of crap in our suddenly-starting-to-feel-less-cramped apartment. And now we're getting into the sentimental crap.
The clothes my parents gave me for Christmas a few years ago because they were so "Me" (but were almost identical to items already existing in my closet).
The nicknacks from my grandmother's house that she passed on to us as she moved into smaller and smaller accomodations.
The cookie jar from Scott's youth that is shaped as a dragon, which is awesome, but is pink, which isn't so awesome.
Somethings, like the clothes, have collected enough dust in the closet that I can slip them into the giveaway pile. Somethings (like the pink dragon cookie jar) we display and hope everyone sees the "dragon" and not the "pink." Somethings go into the nearly-over-flowing-no-mom-i-won't-tell-you-which cupboard for the items where the thought outweighs the use.
How do you deal with items with so much sentimental value that you can't bear to part with them, but that don't necessarily fit into your life?
That's a hard one to part with certain sentimental items. I have two boxes labeled "Memories" that I just keep stored even though I will probably never display them. The dragon is pretty cute :) Heather
ReplyDeleteum NO you need that cookie jar. Like BAD.
ReplyDeleteI have many a plastic bin for the items I just can't let go of. Not to mention, my parents have been kind enough to let me store some things at their house, but I was also an only child, so they have room for it too.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I need to start going through stuff in our house though, I feel like we're being overtaken by "THINGS".
I kind of love that dragon, I have to say.
Um, agreeing with Hillary - DRAGON COOKIE JAR. Who cares what color it is, use that sucker!
ReplyDeleteAs for the other stuff... chuck it. You'll still remember your mom, brother, sister, cousin, third aunt twice removed loved you enough to gift you something, but in reality you may not really need another pie weight or knick knack. I keep very few non-functional things these days because I am so limited on space. The only thing I've been keeping is cards. They take up minimal space right now and I can put them in out of the way places.
It does hurt to part with some things that are particularly special. If it's something like baby blankets or other heirloom stuff, hang onto it. But stuff that only holds sentimental value because it reminds you of a special night? You'll remember the night, you don't need a physical reminder of it.
That cookie jar is the coolest thing ever! If the color bothers you, why not paint it? It's too cute to keep hidden away somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lot of sentimental stuff. Years ago, I had to get out of an abusive family situation quickly, and I had to leave behind all my childhood things. And then we got rid of more things when my husband and I moved across the country. I've gotten used to living a semi-minimalist life.