Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Moving, Clutter & All That Jazz


We got the apartment!
We actually found out last week, but I’ve been as sick as a dog for about a week now and didn’t bother to update this.
Having a small space was not ideal; but it’s a place to call our own for a while. It’s clean and there are no holes and no mold anywhere. I’m sold. When Steve called to tell me the place is ours, I nearly cried. I don’t know if I really was that happy, or that sick. Whatever monkey had was, naturally, passed on to me. It’s been a long, hard week trying to care for a sickie when I’m a sickie myself.
Steve is signing the lease in two days and we move in on the 31st. Whoo hoo! We’re also buying a new mattress and box spring for ourselves. In the near future, we’re hoping to purchase a bedroom set (or at least pieces for a bedroom that mix well together and we can call it a set). We’re not looking for anything fancy or expensive. Just something to get ourselves started. So far we haven’t seen anything that tickles our fancy or that we can agree on. We’ll find it some day. As long as we have a mattress and some bedding, I’m happy for the time being. I say that until we actually move in and there isn’t enough room in the closet for all my…er…our clothes. I have also opted not to purchase a high chair. For those who don’t know…Monkey does not have his own high chair. I put off buying one way back due to space issues. When monkey started eating a little bit of food, I would use his Bumbo chair to feed him in. Monkey and I moved in with my parents while Steve was in Australia. Mom pulled out my old wooden high chair and dad fixed her up. Monkey was about 6 months and we’ve been using it since. I’ve decided to get one of these:

It’ll save on space. It can be used when we travel to Steve’s parents’ (a home without a high chair) and it turns into a booster chair for when the child is old enough.
I watched a Cityline episode on Monday that totally inspired me to change my life. It was a repeat show from February; c’mon, Marilyn isn’t going to do a show on Victoria Day! She’s going to be relaxing somewhere. At least she should be. Anyway…It was all about getting rid of the clutter in one’s space, in one’s life and how it can enlighten one. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. All I kept thinking about it all the clutter I have everywhere. My room is full of junk. I’m taking up at least 1/3 of my parents’ two and a half car garage (which, ironically enough can’t even fit the motorcycle because it’s so full) will clutter, I have clutter stored at my dad’s workshop and I have clutter all around both living rooms in this house (scrap stuff and toys in the basement and toys on the main level).
I am a pack rat. I can admit to that. I keep everything! I have every single letter a friend has ever snail mailed to me since I was 12. I still have my old box of memories from my first love. I still have half the stuffed animals I’ve ever owned. I still have clothes from grade six. I still have my old engagement ring and wedding band (know anyone interested in purchasing? I’ll give them a good deal). And believe it or not, I got rid of a stuff before.
I’m not one who’s into cleansing auras or anything like that; but I truly do believe by ridding myself of the clutter I don’t need, I might be helping myself somehow. I really don’t know how. It’s just a feeling I’m going off of. Maybe if I don’t have so much, I can feel freer somehow. Alright, my writing skills are lacking big time here and I’m having a hard time trying to explain where I’m going here. I’m going to stop myself right here and just say: I am going to de-clutter myself. It’s going to be so hard. I love to hang on to stuff; usually stuff I don’t need. I’m going to have to try to find the strength to just let some things go. I’ve already talked to Steve and he’s with me 100% of the way. He’ll be my rock through this. I’m positive once all the stuff I no longer need and all the stuff that has no real value to me is gone, I’m sure I’ll feel great.
Think I can do it? I’m sure someone out there is saying no. I can see Missy shaking her head if she’s reading this. How can the people who used to store mail and everything else on the kitchen table (and ate at the coffee table because there was no room at the kitchen table) do this? Simple answer…Monkey. I want to set good examples for him, as does Steve. We want to live by the rule, everything has it’s place. We want to be able to eat at the kitchen table as a family. We want to be able to find something when we’re looking for it. We’ve agreed that we lacked some serious organization before and we want to fix that now. Now bring the clutter part into all of this…Why organize clutter we don’t need? See where I’m going with this?
I will never be a minimalist. It’s just not me. I like having stuff. I’ve just reached a point where I have too much.
Let the de-cluttering, organizing journey begin!!!
Until next time…

1 comment:

Lori said...

Woo hoo! Congrats on getting your apartment! And like the saying goes 'home is where your heart is, not fancy furniture' or something like that!
Good luck with the de-cluttering too. I'm such a hoarder and can't face going into the attic anymore as its packed to the rafters! I'm sure you'll have better success than me tho!