I've always had trouble with clutter. When I was kid, we had these types of school desks that had a top with hinges so we could put our books in there. Many kids keep their desk insides neat. Mine were just stuff tossed in there. My sister, who is 6 years younger than me, and we shared a bedroom. Her side was neat and perfect. My side, a the foot of my bed, was a pile of clothes. Poor sister! It got to the point where we drew an imaginary line down the middle of the room, between where our two beds were (against the opposite walls, if you see what I mean.) I was demanded by my sister that none of my clutter/stuff dare cross that line onto her side of the room. It was sort of a joke,but she meant it,and I honored her directive.

This type of clutter behavior has been with me all my life. I keep neat and organized drawers, closets, kitchen cupboards and frig, office supplies and the like, in good order. The lived- in, visible parts of the apartment are cluttered.

Now I have help. I have a cleaning woman 2 hours a week, and a general helper 2 hours a week. Before I got help, my apartment was a complee disaster. I moved 8 boxes of paperwork from my old apt. to this one, and then in the new apt. I got a helper. It took us at least 2 years to sort through it all. My fear was that I might have tossed in some important personal papers.

I am not a hoarder. I'm a clutterer. There's a big difference.